House of 1000 Corpses

Review by Peter

Production Year: 2003
DVD Release Date: August 12, 2003
Studio: Lions Gate
Director: Rob Zombie
Cast: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R

Rob Zombie, best known for his music, decided to take a stab at film and the horror genre with House of 1000 Corpses. Written and directed by Zombie, House of 1000 Corpses no only pays homage to the horror classics before it by adapting a similar style but does so while remaining original. No doubt that many true horror fans will not only appreciate Rob's new movie but will also enjoy it.

House of 1000 Corpses follows two couples who, traveling backwoods areas in search of unusual roadside attractions, end up at a bizarre museum that happens to feature a serial killer tour ride. During the tour ride they learn about a local legend named Dr. Satan. After leaving the attraction they run into a young woman who is stranded and in need of a ride home. Car problems eventually leave the two couples stranded at the young woman's house, where they discover that she and her family are anything but normal, and soon they are fighting for their lives.

It would be a great disservice to Rob Zombie and this movie not to discuss the soundtrack. This is one movie where the soundtrack is simply exceptional. I was originally skeptical of the soundtrack because I am not a big fan of Rob Zombie's music but there is no denying that he knows how to select songs. Each track is great at emphasizing the specific scenes as they play out and the music plays a major role in House of 1000 Corpses.

Video Quality

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) the picture quality is very good with a clean transfer that boasts good color levels. Pixilation does appear at times throughout the movie but never interferes with the enjoyability of the movie.

Audio Quality

This DVD contains three audio tracks. The first is the Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround track which offers a pleasing sound mix with good voice levels and separation. The second track is Dolby Digital 2.0 and provides a good audio presentation of the movie for those without the benefit of 5.1 Surround Sound. The last track is a music soundtrack that highlights the music that plays throughout the movie. With the exceptional soundtrack for this movie it might be worth your wild to check this track out. Finally, English and Spanish subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Surprisingly, this DVD contains some nice extras and did get special treatment from Rob Zombie. While I would not say that this qualifies as an ultimate edition (hopefully House of 1000 Corpses will eventually get that treatment), it is certainly a special edition.

The first extra is the commentary track by Writer/Director Zombie. This is one area where many directors can fall short but Zombie pulls it off with fantastic results. He keeps the viewer interested through humor and his analysis of the film. You will notice some quiet spots but overall this commentary is quite interesting.

Making Of Featurette - A short look at the making of the film with some cast interviews. Unfortunately, it is too short to be considered valuable material. (4 minutes)

Behind The Scenes - Another short feature that takes a look behind the scenes of a single scene. Once again this is just too short to be considered valuable material. (2 minutes)

Tiny F****d a Stump - This short clip contains a hilarious joke about Tiny, the giant brother of Baby and Otis. This feature is definitely funny and shouldn't be missed. (3 minutes)

Casting - The casting tape of Dennis Fimple who played Grandpa Firefly. This feature is also amusing and worth a look. You can easily see why Fimple was selected to play the role. (2 minutes)

Rehearsals - Shows the cast rehearsing for three different scenes. The rehearsals are short and give the viewer an idea how the cast prepares for a scenes.

Interviews - Short interviews with Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Sheri Moon and Wayne Toth about the movie.

Also included is a Stills Gallery, Early Teaser Trailer, Theatrical Trailer and a Radio Spot.

Summary

House of 1000 Corpses may not have won any awards but it stands as a strong showing from a freshman director. Rob Zombie's vision is not only horrifying but also very enjoyable and his selection of the soundtrack was also superb. This movie is recommended to those who are not put off by gore and enjoy horror classics such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare On Elm Street and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Horror fans can only hope that Zombie sticks around to resurrect the faltering horror genre.