The Devil's Rejects is the most enjoyable theatrical experience I've had this year. And no, I'm not kidding. I had a blast.
A few mild spoilers are ahead, if you care.
I didn't expect too much from Rob Zombie's sequel to House of 1,000 Corpses, which had its moments of creepiness and sick humor, but which mostly irritated me with its MTV-type quick cuts and pointless camera trickery (such as switching randomly to black & white or grainy video), which to me are more indicative of ADD than an actual directorial style. Kind of like a Rob Zombie video. But Devil's Rejects somehow hits all the right notes, and it hits so many different notes. It goes from Peckinpah-influenced shootouts to Tobe Hooper-inspired dirty horror; its humor ranges from the light and ridiculous (a movie critic's examination of the aliases used by the Rejects — all Groucho Marx characters) to the sick and awful (vehicular manslaughter has never been funnier); it has scenes of intensely claustrophobic terror which open up into the panoramic vistas of a road movie. And Zombie has laid claim to a more personal directorial style with this film. Zombie, weird as it is to say it, has grown leaps and bounds as a filmmaker and storyteller from his first project to his second.
What Devil's Rejects does may not be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying it does it very well. It's less a straightforward horror film than its predecessor; Zombie has said that if 1,000 Corpses was his homage to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Rejects owes just as much to Dirty Harry or Bonnie and Clyde, or, as mentioned earlier, Peckinpah at his most sadistic (perhaps best exemplified by Straw Dogs). The horror and violence this time out are more humanized, and all the more brutal and affecting for it. The characters, while certainly still whacked-out, aren't as inexplicably, campily bizarre, and therefore easily dismissed, as they were in the first film. Here, they're not quasi-supernatural horror monsters; they're just mean and evil criminals, which makes their actions far more brutal and chilling. And taking the action (mostly) out of the freaky Firefly homestead — especially in the scenes in which the Rejects hold a band of traveling country musicians hostage in a tiny motel room — grounds the movie even further, intensifying the reality of the horror all the more. (The fact that the fictional band, Banjo & Sullivan, has a greatest hits compilation available for purchase adds yet another level of twisted reality to the film.)
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Nice, I loved it too, although my favorite of he year is still Sin City.
2 - Tom the Dog
Hey, the first comment on my first post here. Thanks, Chris!
And Sin City already seems so long ago, I can scarcely believe it was released this year.
3 - Chris Beaumont
Welcome to BC, may your stay be long and fruitful!
I track every film I see theatrically, and I did my mid year ranking about a month ago, posted here at BC, and Sin City topped that list. It hits DVD next week.
Rejects was a wonderfully gritty film, I look forward to what Rob may have in store for us down the line.
4 - Aaman
And the star just passed away.
5 - Chris Beaumont
Yes Matthew McGrory (Tiny) he was only 32.
6 - Temple Stark
Eric Berlin picked this for an Editor's Pick of the Week. Go find out why HERE and grab a button.
Thank you.
7 - bunghole
The "devil's rejects" was a great movie and it was way better than house of 1,000 corpses. Captain Spaulding was hilarious! Sheri Moon is smokin! I'm glad Rob put her but in a few scenes. I hope he films another movie. ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!
8 - bunghole
I've always seen Sheri Moon and Rob Zombie in pictures together. I've also noticed things like baby's buttcrack showing (which I like) in Rob's films. One day, I wondered, are they together? And later on I was on a website that was talking about their "relation ship". I thought, I knew it. Sheri Moon is hot. I like her body but she's not too big in the chest. Unless I just didn't get a good enough look. She should get some implants unless she's comfortable with her body. ROCK N ROLL!
9 - bunghole
Rob Zombie is a great heavy metal artist. I'm a heavy metal fanatic. But I don't really like his satanic things, like on his c.d.'s. If he ever reads this I hope he doesn't take it offensively because I want him to keep up the good work, and I hope he soon records a new album. ROCK N ROLL!!!!!!!!!
10 - bunghole
I read the comment policy and hope my comment about Sheri Moon is not deleted because I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm sorry if I have.
11 - bunghole
The devil's rejects was one of the best freaking movies ever made! My top 15 best movies are below.
1.the shining
2.the passion
3.green mile
4.sling blade
5.pulp fiction
6.Butterfly effect
7.from dusk till dawn
8.forrest gump
9.the devil's rejects
10.jarhead
11.chasing amy
12.bad santa
13.spinal tap
14.freddy vs. jason
15.just like heaven
12 - bunghole
If anyone finds out if Rob Zombie will make another movie, post a comment about it.