Well, it has happened. A bomb has been dropped. I am not talking about the situation over in Iraq, either. No, this bomb was dropped on Hollywood this weekend and the casualties were devastating to mainstream Hollywood. 1000 casualties actually. 1000 corpses. This weekend director Rob Zombie and Lions Gate Films unleashed the film "House of 1000 Corpses" on the unsuspecting and unbelieving movie audiences of the world. It was said that it would be completely different from the usual horror tripe we have had to deal with since Wes Cravenäs "Scream." It would be gorier, more violent, and sicker than any movie to hit the screen in recent years. Boy, did it deliver. It axed a wedge in Hollywood so big that they had to use buckets to catch all the blood-stained money.
"House of 1000 Corpses" is about four young friends who stop off at a unique gas station that doubles as a museum for mass murders and madmen. Through the station owner, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), they learn of the mysterious mass murderer, Dr. Satan, who attempted to turn his victims into super soldiers. Interested in the legend, the teens then make way for a local spot where the good doctor was last seen. What they find is a disturbed family, lead by Otis (Bill Moseley), which teaches them the meaning of the word hell.
The filmäs cinematography is fantastic. It mixes a bunch of film and supposed home video footage together to give it a surreal look. "House" is Zombieäs first time out in the directoräs chair, and he shows his love for horror movies using classic shots and even creating some new shots that build tension to its peak. The movie starts off slow, at a near crawl, but suddenly out of nowhere the film goes full speed into the world of the insane and illusions. Part of the time you wonder if the characters are dreaming, whether itäs really happening, or if are they already dead. It is a demented roller coaster ride that will find filmgoers leaving the movie very disturbed. "House" isnät a cheap, jump out of the closet, scare flick. It is a mental flick set to detonate your mind and your senses.
The most memorable performances are done by Sid Haig and Bill Moseley. Haig as Captain Spaulding is the funniest thing since Chris Rock, but at the flip of a dime can turn around and become the meanest son of a bitch since Charlie Manson. Moseley as Otis Driftwood delivers the performance of his life. Moseley perhaps has displayed on the screen the most sick and twisted killer since Hannibal Lecter in Otis. Violent, deadly, and plain sick, Otis is played with such precision and purpose that you almost fall into the world of the twisted, fully believing. Moseley has had experience in a part such as this as Chop Top in the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2." However, since then he has fine-tuned his psycho craft and now is a master. Sheri Moon, the love of Rob Zombieäs life, also gets an honorable mention as the sweet, sexy, and psychotic Baby. Her portrayal of a young female in a murderous family is only outshined by her beauty. She fully uses both to the maximum in this film.
After the first weekend "House" scored number seven on the weekend box office charts, higher than anyone in Hollywood expected and even Zombie and Lions Gate were surprised. It is a huge wake-up call for Hollywood. Consider this: "House did not rake in mega millions like the number one movie at the box office, "Phone Booth." That is because "House" has only limited release. In the US and Canada only 590 theaters are playing "House" right now. "Phone Booth" has almost 2000 theaters playing the movie. Doing the math with the amount of money each made compared to how many theaters it played in, "House" actually came in at number two on the box office charts. That is some serious money, and already there is talk of expanding the viewing area of "House." Hopefully Hollywood will finally shove off all the parental groups and begin making real horror films. 'Jeepers Creepers," "The Ring," "Scream," and "Darkness Falls" all fall short of what a horror movie should be. "House" dominates where they have failed.
"House of 1000 Corpses" is a definite winner and worth the money of a movie ticket to see and experience. It pays homage to old horror movies while not being scared of trying something new. It is completely different from what we have been seeing coming out of Hollywood these days. What makes things even more exciting for horror fans is the fact the R version of "House" on the screen is not the whole story. Rumor has it that 30 minutes were cut from the film to avoid the NC-17 rating. Worry not, horror fans, for in an interview with Heavy Metal Magazine, Rob Zombie says that the movie will be returned to all original form with all the footage included in a special DVD uncut, unrated, sometime hopefully in October. Just in time for Halloween.
Psychos and horror fans, all hail to the new king of horror movies.
Andrew Kinback likes horror movies and heavy metal. He's cool.
Responses:
Refresh frame to view latest entries.
|
