Review of The Devil's Rejects (2005) by Stuart K — 16 Jan 2012

After House of 1000 Corpses (2003) became a cult hit, it gave Rob Zombie the clout to make a sequel. But, it wasn't going to be a carbon copy sequel, it was going to be different in tone and style.

Much darker, much grittier, with much more blood and gore, and it feels closer in tone to the 70's films it's referencing, but it's very uncomfortable to watch. Set a year later from House of 1000 Corpses, this has Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), Otis B.

Driftwood (Bill Moseley) and Baby Firefly (Sheri Moon Zombie), ending up on the run after Sheriff John Quincey Wydell (William Forsythe) seeks vengeance for the death of his brother, and gets an order to have the Firefly family arrested or killed.

Only Mother Firefly (Leslie Easterbrook) is killed, while the Captain, Otis and Baby end up on the run with the law on their tail. Otis and Baby end up taking travelling musicians Roy Sullivan (Geoffrey Lewis) and Adam Banjo (Lew Temple) and their family hostage, meanwhile the Captain has agreed to find refuge with his half-brother, Charlie Altamont (Ken Foree) who is an African-American Pimp.

It's very nasty, and while the House of 1000 Corpses was more off the wall and psychedelic, this is dark, raw and much like films such as Last House on the Left (1972) and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).

It's nasty, but it's got something about it...