J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
One of the cool things about working for yourself is deciding to up and leave at 11:26 am to go see the 11:40 am matinee of Devil's Rejects. And I am glad I did.
There are so many things I want to say about this film but do not know where to start. First thing that comes to mind is 'Instant Horror Classic' in the vien of Texas Chainsaw & Last House on the Left. This sequel to House of 1000 Corpses has left the ranch and taken the show on the road; and what a ****in ride it is. Gone is the funhouse rock-a-billy carnival atmosphere that pays a nice homage; but not like Tarantino does it; this is grindhouse homage. This is the kind of film that a high schooler does not need to see (Unlike say Halloween or Friday the 13th).
This is not a date flick; (depends on the kind of girls you date.) This film is an in your face, graphically violent, rock and roll, hookers, travelling band, skank ass motel 6, whore house, cocaine induced, dusty ass western vigilante justice story topped with a meaty ass role from Priscilla Barnes of Threes Company. I love Barnes, I have loved this woman since they kicked Suzanne Somers to the curb; I alway wondered why Jack didn't get with her as a child. She had the lovliest long legs....... Oh sorry.
Her role in this film is, whats the best way to put it? Gutsy? Risky maybe? It's an intense scene and when you see it and the context in which it plays out you're gonna feel the pain. Ill leave it at that.
Oh oh oh and Elizabeth Daily too. I about jumped out of my seat when I saw her walk down the stairs.
Who the **** is Elizabeth Daily are you asking? How about Deborah Foremans friend in Valley Girl (Bathroom scene?). No. How about Baby Doll in Streets of Fire? How about Pee Wee's girlfriend in The Big Adventure? Better Off Dead with John Cusack? This girl had songs on the Breakfast Club soundtrack. This girl sang in the film Scarface! Fine; the girl that does all the voiceovers for the Rugrats and Powder girls. (Sorry. Closet Fan moment over)
Before any of you worry about this film gloryfying violence; it does not. Not at one point during the film did I find myself on the side of the The Devils Rejects (Unlike Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs; who didn't find it cool he escaped in the end and went off insearch of the dickweed Head monkey?). These are some sick, twisted mean bitches.
This film feels like a Helter Skelter induced road trip. This could happen. This does happen,. This has happended. The violence in the film is depicted in such a graphic and realistic way; people that get shot drop like flys, people that get stabbed react like they just got stabbed.
This might be the ballsiest film I have seen in years. Maybe ever. Or maybe its just been so long since a film came out like this. One that does not apologize but attempts to take it as far as it can. This is the kind of film that leaves you looking over your shoulder; not the bullshit 'scary mask' you can find in the Halloween Shop but the regualr looking people from down the street; okay, a little on the stonerish, white trashy side but still, the one that is hitch-hiking or that lives in that 'one house'.
This is by far Bill Moseley's best role. Familair with Bill? How about Texas Chainsaw 2 ("Lick my plate Dogdick"), Night of the Living Dead 90, Army of Darkness, HBO's Carnivale? It's a great role and staring through the beard and sky blue eyes and listening to him wax on in medieval fashion is a treat.
Best line: "Son, the next time you open your mouth it better be some Mark Twain bullshit cause it's gonna be etched on your tombstone."
Sheri Moon is great and cute and scary. It's erie to see her turn on the charm and then a second later be ready to cut your throat. Ken Foree is onboard as Charlie; Sig Haig's brother and is wonderful and Sig is just genius as Spaulding. It even has Micahel Berryman from The Hills Has Eyes and Weird Science.
The Cinematography is barebones basic cinema-verite from Phil Parmet sans a few crane shots. I loved it; gritty and raw as if we went along for the ride in 16mm.
I hope this film does well; I'm predicting 40 Million domestic; maybe 15 Million more Worldwide. This is a horror film. This is a genre film. This is the way a scary film oughta be made. None of this bullshit PG-13 'Scary' movies.
The soundtrack is wonderful; from Freebird to Three Dog Night to Elvin Bishop to a whole slew of artists; the manner in which these songs are used by Rob is great. There is a great song used for the end titles and when someone finds out what it is please tell me.
Any complaints? I missed Karen Blacks Miss. Firefly. This could have been Miss Blacks best role.
This film is great. If your 'amped' to see it; you're gonna love it. If your afraid to see it do yourself a favor and go see it; if you have no intention or desire of seeing this then maybe its better that way; cause you aint gonna get it.
Whatever you do; if you have not seen House of 1000 Corpses; rent that first.
One critic put it this way; and I do agree:
"Zombie doesn't play anything safe. His whack-job family's grotesque crimes are fetishized in alarming detail...
....Devil's Rejects is often sickeningly funny and also seriously disquieting. You won't find any of Quentin Tarantino's ironic quotation marks lurking around here-Rejects is not a winking homage intended for art-house audiences. This flick is the real grindhouse deal-every death hurts, and it hurts real bad.
...A horror movie for people who still remember when horror movies had enough balls to actually be horrifying, Devil's Rejects is a pungent rebuke to Michael Bay's flashy '70s shlock remakes and a finger in the eye for all them J-horror, PG-13 Ring folks who think dripping water is inherently scary. The Devil's Rejects is a movie for the children of Gitmo-and it's probably the one we deserve. "
Gee that paragraph sounds familiar, huh?
I LOVED IT.
4 out of 5 Hudson Stars
http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//devilsrejects2.jpg?
There are so many things I want to say about this film but do not know where to start. First thing that comes to mind is 'Instant Horror Classic' in the vien of Texas Chainsaw & Last House on the Left. This sequel to House of 1000 Corpses has left the ranch and taken the show on the road; and what a ****in ride it is. Gone is the funhouse rock-a-billy carnival atmosphere that pays a nice homage; but not like Tarantino does it; this is grindhouse homage. This is the kind of film that a high schooler does not need to see (Unlike say Halloween or Friday the 13th).
This is not a date flick; (depends on the kind of girls you date.) This film is an in your face, graphically violent, rock and roll, hookers, travelling band, skank ass motel 6, whore house, cocaine induced, dusty ass western vigilante justice story topped with a meaty ass role from Priscilla Barnes of Threes Company. I love Barnes, I have loved this woman since they kicked Suzanne Somers to the curb; I alway wondered why Jack didn't get with her as a child. She had the lovliest long legs....... Oh sorry.
Her role in this film is, whats the best way to put it? Gutsy? Risky maybe? It's an intense scene and when you see it and the context in which it plays out you're gonna feel the pain. Ill leave it at that.
Oh oh oh and Elizabeth Daily too. I about jumped out of my seat when I saw her walk down the stairs.
Who the **** is Elizabeth Daily are you asking? How about Deborah Foremans friend in Valley Girl (Bathroom scene?). No. How about Baby Doll in Streets of Fire? How about Pee Wee's girlfriend in The Big Adventure? Better Off Dead with John Cusack? This girl had songs on the Breakfast Club soundtrack. This girl sang in the film Scarface! Fine; the girl that does all the voiceovers for the Rugrats and Powder girls. (Sorry. Closet Fan moment over)
Before any of you worry about this film gloryfying violence; it does not. Not at one point during the film did I find myself on the side of the The Devils Rejects (Unlike Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs; who didn't find it cool he escaped in the end and went off insearch of the dickweed Head monkey?). These are some sick, twisted mean bitches.
This film feels like a Helter Skelter induced road trip. This could happen. This does happen,. This has happended. The violence in the film is depicted in such a graphic and realistic way; people that get shot drop like flys, people that get stabbed react like they just got stabbed.
This might be the ballsiest film I have seen in years. Maybe ever. Or maybe its just been so long since a film came out like this. One that does not apologize but attempts to take it as far as it can. This is the kind of film that leaves you looking over your shoulder; not the bullshit 'scary mask' you can find in the Halloween Shop but the regualr looking people from down the street; okay, a little on the stonerish, white trashy side but still, the one that is hitch-hiking or that lives in that 'one house'.
This is by far Bill Moseley's best role. Familair with Bill? How about Texas Chainsaw 2 ("Lick my plate Dogdick"), Night of the Living Dead 90, Army of Darkness, HBO's Carnivale? It's a great role and staring through the beard and sky blue eyes and listening to him wax on in medieval fashion is a treat.
Best line: "Son, the next time you open your mouth it better be some Mark Twain bullshit cause it's gonna be etched on your tombstone."
Sheri Moon is great and cute and scary. It's erie to see her turn on the charm and then a second later be ready to cut your throat. Ken Foree is onboard as Charlie; Sig Haig's brother and is wonderful and Sig is just genius as Spaulding. It even has Micahel Berryman from The Hills Has Eyes and Weird Science.
The Cinematography is barebones basic cinema-verite from Phil Parmet sans a few crane shots. I loved it; gritty and raw as if we went along for the ride in 16mm.
I hope this film does well; I'm predicting 40 Million domestic; maybe 15 Million more Worldwide. This is a horror film. This is a genre film. This is the way a scary film oughta be made. None of this bullshit PG-13 'Scary' movies.
The soundtrack is wonderful; from Freebird to Three Dog Night to Elvin Bishop to a whole slew of artists; the manner in which these songs are used by Rob is great. There is a great song used for the end titles and when someone finds out what it is please tell me.
Any complaints? I missed Karen Blacks Miss. Firefly. This could have been Miss Blacks best role.
This film is great. If your 'amped' to see it; you're gonna love it. If your afraid to see it do yourself a favor and go see it; if you have no intention or desire of seeing this then maybe its better that way; cause you aint gonna get it.
Whatever you do; if you have not seen House of 1000 Corpses; rent that first.
One critic put it this way; and I do agree:
"Zombie doesn't play anything safe. His whack-job family's grotesque crimes are fetishized in alarming detail...
....Devil's Rejects is often sickeningly funny and also seriously disquieting. You won't find any of Quentin Tarantino's ironic quotation marks lurking around here-Rejects is not a winking homage intended for art-house audiences. This flick is the real grindhouse deal-every death hurts, and it hurts real bad.
...A horror movie for people who still remember when horror movies had enough balls to actually be horrifying, Devil's Rejects is a pungent rebuke to Michael Bay's flashy '70s shlock remakes and a finger in the eye for all them J-horror, PG-13 Ring folks who think dripping water is inherently scary. The Devil's Rejects is a movie for the children of Gitmo-and it's probably the one we deserve. "
Gee that paragraph sounds familiar, huh?
I LOVED IT.
4 out of 5 Hudson Stars
http://www.moviesonline.ca/movie-gallery/albums/userpics//devilsrejects2.jpg?
Code Blue is probably my favourite song of theirs, have you seen the video on their site and it's a really old perfomance of that (a really low quality video)?
