House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Rob Zombie

Writer (WGA):

Rob Zombie (written by)

Release Date:

11 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

The most shocking tale of carnage ever seen.

Plot:

Two teenage couples traveling across the backwoods of Texas searching for urban legends of serial killers end up as prisoners of a bizarre and sadistic backwater family of serial killers.

Plot Keywords:

House | Corpse | Serial Killer | Murder | Roadside Attraction

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Chad Bannon	...	Killer Karl
William Bassett	...	Sheriff Huston (as William H. Bassett)
Karen Black	...	Mother Firefly
Erin Daniels	...	Denise Willis
Joe Dobbs III	...	Gerry Ober
Judith Drake	...	Skunk Ape Wife
Dennis Fimple	...	Grampa Hugo
Gregg Gibbs	...	Dr. Wolfenstein
Walton Goggins	...	Steve Naish
Sid Haig	...	Captain Spaulding
Chris Hardwick	...	Jerry Goldsmith
Ken Johnson	...	Skunk Ape Husband
Jennifer Jostyn	...	Mary Knowles
Irwin Keyes	...	Ravelli
Matthew McGrory	...	Tiny
Jake McKinnon	...	The Professor
Sheri Moon Zombie	...	Baby (as Sheri Moon)
Bill Moseley	...	Otis
Irvin Mosley Jr.	...	Lewis Dover
Robert Allen Mukes	...	Rufus (as Robert Mukes)
Walter Phelan	...	Dr. Satan
Michael J. Pollard	...	Stucky
David Reynolds	...	Richard Wick
Tom Towles	...	George Wydell
Rainn Wilson	...	Bill Hudley
Harrison Young	...	Don Willis
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Samantha Larsen	...	Sex slave (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Tow Truck Driver (uncredited)
Freddy Waff	...	Mental Patient (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Zombie

Writing credits (WGA)
Rob Zombie		(written by)

Produced by
Andy Given	....	executive producer
Andy Gould	....	producer
Joel Hatch	....	associate producer
Robert K. Lambert	....	associate producer
Guy Oseary	....	executive producer
Danielle Shilling Lovett	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Scott Humphrey
Rob Zombie

Cinematography by
Alex Poppas		(director of photography)
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kathryn Himoff
Robert K. Lambert
Sean K. Lambert		(as Sean Lambert)

Casting by
Dean E. Fronk
Donald Paul Pemrick

Production Design by
Gregg Gibbs

Art Direction by
Michael Krantz

Set Decoration by
Lisa K. Sessions

Costume Design by
Amanda Friedland

Makeup Department
Mustaque M. Ashrafi	....	makeup artist (as Mustaque Ashrafi)
Kelly M. Beatty	....	key makeup artist
Michael Burnett	....	special makeup effects artist: corpse bodies
Norman Cabrera	....	makeup effects
Gray Creasy	....	special makeup effects technician
Michael Deak	....	makeup effects (as Mike Deak)
Pete Farrell	....	special makeup effects artist
Patricia Gundlach	....	key hair stylist
Matt Henkelmann	....	makeup effects
Jake McKinnon	....	makeup effects
Bart Mixon	....	makeup effects (as Bart J. Mixon)
Cristina Patterson Ceret	....	contact lens technician (as Cristina Haines)
Gary J. Perticone	....	hair stylist (as Gary Perticone)
Vicky Phillips	....	department head hair (as Vicki Phillips)
Gilbert Romero	....	makeup artist
Gilbert Romero	....	special makeup effects artist
Keith Sayer	....	department head makeup
Leslie Ann Sebert	....	makeup artist (as Leslie Sebert)
'Evil' Ted Smith	....	makeup effects (as Ted Smith)
Laurie Smith	....	contact lens technician
Cedric Summerbell	....	makeup effects (as Cedirc Summerbell)
Wayne Toth	....	makeup artist
Wayne Toth	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Wayne Toth	....	special makeup effects

Production Management
Andy Given	....	unit production manager (as Andrew D. Given)
Joel Hatch	....	unit production manager
Virginia Landis Albertson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ty Arnold	....	second assistant director
Marco Black	....	first assistant director
Wendi Lampassi	....	second assistant director
John Nelson	....	first assistant director
Robert Schroer	....	second second assistant director (as Robert D. Schroer)

Art Department
Oscar Alvarado	....	carpenter (as Oscar A. Alvarado)
Brian K. Anderson	....	swing (as Brian Anderson)
Eric Andresen	....	painter
Bennett Andrews	....	greens foreman
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker (as Fredrick Apdito)
Rick M. Atwell	....	propmaker
Matthew Kern Atzenhoffer	....	set dresser (as Matthew K. Atzenhoffer)
Maria L. Baker	....	set designer (as Maria Baker)
Tammy Banal	....	on-set dresser
Ellis J. Barbacoff	....	assistant property master
Tobey Bays	....	set dresser
Daniel Beralas	....	painter
Brian Berkel	....	propmaker
Cliff Berns	....	painter
Dominique Blaskovich	....	scenic artist
Tony Bonaventura	....	property master
Donald Boyd	....	painter
Maxwell Britton	....	swing (as Maxwell Jean Britton)
Bob Carmody	....	propmaker
Mike Carrillo	....	property master
Tim Castagnola	....	labor foreman
Darrin Denlinger	....	storyboard artist
Colin De Rouin	....	set designer (as Colin de Rouin)
Gerard A. Dery	....	greensman (as Gerard Dery Jr.)
Craig Diantonio	....	painter (as Craig L. Diantonio)
Christopher Elledge	....	swing
John Empero	....	propmaker
Steven Eustace	....	property master
Tom Fedele	....	painter
Pete Flynn	....	swing
Michael Grover Forster	....	propmaker
Martin Goulding	....	painter
Mariana Grubbs	....	painter
Anthony A. Guilar	....	propmaker
Curtis Hamill	....	painter
Mitchell Hammer	....	painter
Tim James	....	assistant property master (as Timothy A. James)
William Johnson	....	propmaker (as Bill Johnson)
Keith A. Kropf	....	painter
Maureen Kropf	....	painter (as Maureen Krope)
Jeffrey A. Leake	....	propmaker
Yvonne Lopez Bas	....	scenic artist
Ramón López	....	propmaker (as Ramon Lopez)
Dave T. MacDonald	....	propmaker (as Dave T. Macdonald)
Sergio Martinez	....	painter
Matthew Martin	....	propmaker foreman
Atron McFadden	....	labor
Anthony Medina	....	propmaker (as Tony Medina)
Kiven Meyer	....	painter
Dorit Oberman	....	swing
Cesar Orozco	....	carpenter
Perry L. Paolone	....	painter
Missy Parker	....	art department coordinator
Tim Park	....	set dresser
Jean-Pierre 'J.P.' Patry	....	painter (as J.P. Patry)
Lisa Penaranda	....	set decorating buyer
Lisa Penaranda	....	set dresser
Edmond Scott Ratcliff	....	set dresser
Gerardo Rodriguez	....	painter
Jonathan Rose	....	labor foreman
Chris Santini	....	construction coordinator (as C.R. Santini)
Clare Scarpulla	....	set designer
Terry Sheffield	....	drapery foreman
Erin Smith	....	assistant art director
Russell J. Smith	....	production illustrator (as Russ Smith)
Michael Spitaletto	....	painter
Tim Stadler	....	painter
Rick Staves	....	drapery
Dugald Stermer	....	swing
Robert Tagle	....	painter
Adam Tankell	....	graphic designer (as Adam Tanrell)
Rick Tanner	....	painter
Daniel Tull	....	scenic artist
Freddy Waff	....	leadman (as Freddy A. Waff)
Nate Walton	....	painter
Paul Walton	....	head paint foreman
Rick Welden	....	construction coordinator
Mykal Williams	....	set dresser
Mark Wong	....	painter
Isaac Wright	....	labor
Ricky Zamudio	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Mike Anderson	....	utility sound technician (as Mike 'Fuzzy' Anderson)
Joe Barnett	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susan Cahill	....	sound editor (as Susan Gamsaragan)
John Carlson	....	digital transfer engineer
Benjamin L. Cook	....	sound effects editor (as Benjamin Cook)
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
Robert Getty	....	dialogue editor (as Robert Garry)
George Haddad	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Hertlein	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Hartlein)
Frederick Howard	....	sound supervisor (as Fred Howard)
Michael Kamper	....	sound effects editor (as Michael Kemper)
Dave Kustin	....	assistant sound editor (as D. G. Kustin)
James P. Lay	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Lyle	....	foley artist
Derek Marcil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist (as Diane S. Marshall)
Cynthia Merrill	....	foley artist
Joe Michalski	....	utility sound technician
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
Benjamin Pedersen	....	assistant sound editor: temp mix
Brian Robinson	....	boom operator (as Brian N. Robinson)
Buck Robinson	....	sound mixer
Anne Slack	....	sound effects editor
Brian Slack	....	engineer: facility
Alec St. John	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Roy Augenstein	....	special effects technician
Jared Baker	....	special effects technician
David Blitstein	....	special effects coordinator
Kam Cooney	....	special effects coordinator (as M. Kam Cooney)
Michael Deak	....	special effects
John Fontana	....	special effects technician (as Johnny Fontana)
Roger Lifsey	....	special effects set foreman
Michael O'Brien	....	mold department: Ex Mortis Effects
Christine Onesky	....	special effects technician
Gil Romero	....	special effects makeup
Brian Sveum	....	special effects technician
Wayne Toth	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Richard Eberhardt	....	lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
David Feinner	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Dave Feinner)
Christopher Grandel	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Michael L. Griffin	....	lineup: Howard Anderson Company (as Mike Griffin)
Peter Koczera	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Peter Kozera)
Derek Ledbetter	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Steve Mayer	....	lineup: Howard Anderson Company (as Steven Mayer)
Leilani McHugh	....	lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Hillary Murray	....	effects color timer: Howard Anderson Company
Ken D. Smith	....	digital fxs supervisor: Pacific Title & Howard Anderson Co. ) (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt performer
Jon Braver	....	stunt performer
Gregg Brazzel	....	stunt coordinator
Gino Crognale	....	stunt performer
Wally Crowder	....	stunt performer
Alisa Hensley	....	stunt performer (as Alisia Hensley)
Terry James	....	stunt performer
Louis Kiss	....	stunt performer (as Lou Kiss)
Jake McKinnon	....	stunt performer
Roger W. Morrissey	....	stunt performer (as Roger Morrisey)
Tony Santoro	....	stunt performer
Michelle Sebek	....	stunt performer
'Evil' Ted Smith	....	stunt performer (as Ted Smith)
John Vitale	....	stunt performer
Webster Whinery	....	stunt performer
Laura Lee Connery	....	utility stunts (uncredited)
Chris Nielsen	....	stunts (uncredited)
Nicole Randall	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jared Abrams	....	second assistant camera
Michael Albala	....	lighting technician
Dominic Aluisi	....	second assistant camera
Kathy Andreasen	....	rigging gaffer
Pete Asidilla	....	grip
Eddie Avila	....	camera loader
Clint Borden	....	grip
Albert Gerald Bozian	....	crane operator
Joel Bystrom	....	grip
Dan Carpluk	....	grip (as Daniel Carpluk)
Paul Ciancetta	....	lighting technician
Joe Clarke	....	rigging best boy
Sean Patrick Crowell	....	key grip (as Sean Crowell)
Suzanne Davis	....	video playback
Josh Denering	....	grip
Matias Farias	....	crane operator
Dominik Feller	....	rigging electrician
Tom Fraser	....	camera operator
Jim Gordon	....	grip (as James T. Gordon)
Bruce Alan Greene	....	Steadicam operator
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
R. Dana Harlow	....	grip
Charles Hart	....	grip
Don Hastings	....	technician: Musco
Roger Herren	....	assistant balloon light technician
James J. Hughes	....	grip
James Irons	....	grip (as James B. Irons)
David Irwin	....	lighting technician (as David J. Irwin)
Ricky Johnson	....	grip (as Rick Johnson)
Dan Jones	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Ian Jordan	....	balloon technician: Lights Up
John Keefer	....	grip
Tom Keefer	....	grip
John Koth	....	best boy grip (as John R. Koth)
Logan Leabo	....	gaffer
Charles Lenz	....	grip (as Charles F. Lenz)
Chuck Linkes	....	lighting technician
Christopher Lucchese	....	dolly grip (as Chris C. Lucchese)
Christopher Mapes	....	video engineer: studio segments
Tim McGinnis	....	lighting technician
Richard C. Miller	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Richard Miller)
Gary Molyneux	....	grip
David Myers	....	additional second assistant camera (as Dave Myers)
Jeff Nakamura	....	best boy electric (as Jeffrey K. Nakamura)
Jeff Nemeth	....	grip
Tom O'Connell	....	grip (as Thomas J. O'Connell Jr.)
William O'Melia	....	rigging gaffer (as William P. O'Melia)
Nathan A. Pelland	....	lighting technician
Rick Phelps	....	grip (as Richard C. Phelps)
Lex Rawlins	....	first assistant camera
Thoma Reavis	....	rigging gaffer (as Thomas Reavis)
Daniel Robinson	....	grip
Chris J. Rossi	....	rigging key grip (as Chris Rossi)
David Scott	....	rigging gaffer
Domenic Sfreddo	....	lighting technician (as Domeni Sfreddo)
Mike Shaheen	....	video playback
William Skinner	....	lighting technician
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Calvin Starnes	....	grip (as Calvin R. Starnes)
Steven C. Steig	....	lighting technician
Al Stewart	....	grip
Robert Stillman	....	grip (as Bob Stillman)
R. Michael Stringer	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Paul D. Strong	....	balloon technician: Lights Up
Mark Vollmer	....	grip
André T. Williams	....	lighting technician (as Andre T. Williams)
Jerald L. Wilson	....	rigging gaffer (as Jerald Wilson)

Casting Department
Chris Bustard	....	extras casting
Greg Sacks	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sara Daubney	....	costumer (as Sara W. Daubney-Kinney)
Sloane Morrison	....	costumer (as Sloane Perry Thorne)
Jennifer Starzyk	....	costumer (as Jennifer L. Starzyk)
Cesha Ventre	....	costumer
Josephine Willes	....	costumer
Christi Work	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark Bourgeois	....	assistant editor
Bob Fredrickson	....	color timer
Lara Khachooni	....	assistant editor
George Koran	....	telecine colorist
Chris Miller	....	post-production services
Anne Sawyer	....	assistant editor
Ronald White	....	assistant editor (as Ron White)

Transportation Department
Richard G. Almo	....	driver
Casey Boden	....	driver
Stephan Brooks	....	driver (as Stephen Brooks)
Byron Carter	....	driver
Lonnie Craig	....	transportation
Harold R. Davis	....	driver
John P. Dobry	....	driver
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver
Felician Ghitescu	....	driver
Michael Grooms	....	driver (as Michael Wayne Grooms)
Deborah Hardman	....	driver
Flint Hardman	....	driver
Gary Hardman	....	driver
Ron Hardman	....	transportation captain
Eddie Hatch	....	driver
Marlo Hellerstein	....	driver
Don Herman	....	driver
Gregory S. Hoslet	....	driver
Peter Mandel	....	transportation captain (as Pete Mandel)
Vern McKinney	....	driver (as Verne McKinney)
Leon L. Meek	....	driver
Joe Moreno	....	driver (as Joe P. Moreno)
Russel Overstreet	....	driver (as Russell Overstreet)
Tommy Rizzo	....	driver
Michael Rooke	....	driver
Akao Shibuya	....	driver
William Splawn	....	driver
Roger Spurgeon	....	driver
Jennifer Tabish	....	driver
David Torgerson	....	driver
Paul Veluzat	....	driver (as Paul Robert Veluzat)
Rene Veluzat	....	driver
Zvi Gabriel Venyige	....	driver
Erik Von Hof	....	driver
Gary Wigglesworth	....	driver
Allan Yamauchi	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Scott Adair	....	financial services (as Scott 'Deep Pockets' Adair)
Alexa Alden	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Linden Bierman-Lytle	....	accounting production assistant (as Margaret L. Bierman-Lytle)
Jeff Bock	....	production assistant (as J.T. Bock)
Anna Bradley	....	production assistant
Edward Cass	....	production office coordinator
Ryan Demarti	....	production assistant
Nancy Diaz	....	production assistant
Sharon C. Dietz	....	production office coordinator (as Sharon Dietz)
Isabel Ferrer	....	payroll accountant
Chloe Finch	....	daily production assistant
James Flemming	....	catering: Deluxe Catering
Toby Forlenza	....	script supervisor
Clare France	....	assistant to first and second assistant directors
Katy Genovese	....	payroll accountant (as Katy Tatian-Genovese)
Cheryl Harris	....	animal trainer
Marvin Hayes	....	production assistant (as Marvin Lee Hayes)
Kathryn Loraine Hibbs	....	production accountant (as Kathryn Hibbs)
Tony Hill	....	set medic
Ryan Hintz	....	post-production accountant
Jason Inman	....	set medic
Roy G. Irwin	....	set medic
Eric Johnson	....	production assistant (as Eric Ernest Johnson)
Sean S. Kanase	....	production assistant
Richard Katzenson	....	chef
Eric Klosterman	....	location manager
Timothy Kreis	....	production assistant
Tim Lamprose	....	set medic (as Timothy Lampros)
Yvonne Lopez Bas	....	production assistant
Stephen Maloney	....	production assistant
Laci Dionne Maltbie	....	production assistant
Lance Mancuso	....	set medic
Don McClanahan	....	fire safety advisor
Charles Mcdonald	....	title design: Howard Anderson Company (as Charles McDonald)
Gary McPeak	....	fire safety advisor (as Gary A. McPeak)
Eric Melstad	....	production assistant
Christopher Miller	....	location manager
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal trainer
Teresa Ann Miller	....	animal trainer (as Teresa A. Miller)
Julian Morales	....	assistant to chef
April Morley	....	animal trainer
Michael D. Morris	....	animal trainer
William Nuzzo	....	craft service (as Bill Nuzzo)
Robert H. Phillips	....	fire safety advisor
Karen Radzikowski	....	production assistant
Richard Rebol	....	fire safety advisor
Nancy Reid	....	assistant production coordinator
Joshua Reitman	....	production assistant
Pascual Romero	....	promotional consultant
Juan Murillo Ruiz	....	assistant to chef
David Shephend	....	fire safety advisor
Jeff Silberman	....	production legal services (as Jeffrey Silberman Esq.)
Erin Smith	....	production assistant
Amy Snetzler	....	production assistant (as Amy K. Snetzler)
Donald F. Spinney	....	animal trainer
Brian C. Sullivan	....	production assistant
Samuel W. Sullivan	....	production assistant
Shaun P. Sullivan	....	production assistant (as Shaun Sullivan)
Rhys Summerhayes	....	production assistant
Donna Leigh Tatum	....	production assistant (as Donna Tatum)
Jon-Paul Velasquez	....	production assistant
Stacey Wahlstrom	....	production assistant
Jack Wamsley	....	fire safety advisor
Diane Wells	....	set medic
Richard Wicklund	....	teacher (as Dick Wickland)
Jenni Wieland	....	assistant accountant (as Jennifer Wieland)
James E. Wilder	....	fire safety advisor
Cloudia Wintermute	....	production assistant
Deborah Wuliger	....	publicist
Oorala J. Yamada	....	production assistant (as Ooralla Yamada-Walman)
Oorala J. Yamada	....	set production assistant: re-shoots
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (uncredited)

Thanks
Dennis Fimple	....	in memory of: 1940 - 2002
David Fox	....	acknowledgment: House of 1000 Corpses mouthpiece
Jeffrey T. Light	....	acknowledgment: House of 1000 Corpses mouthpiece (as Jeffrey Taylor Light)

Production Companies

• Spectacle Entertainment Group
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Alamode Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Art Port (Japan) (theatrical)
• Gateno Films (2005) (Peru) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (Spain)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy)
• H.O.M. Vision bv, Spakenburg (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• H.O.M. Vision bv, Spakenburg (2004) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Imagem Filmes (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Kamer-Ton-Film (Russia)
• Lionsgate (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Metro Tartan Distribution Ltd. (UK)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• Quasar Films (Argentina)
• Shooting Gallery
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (digital opticals by) (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Art F.X.

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring (AHA 00336)
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies provided by (as Chapman Leonard)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutter (as Executive Cutting)
• Geffen Records  soundtrack available on (as Geffen)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles by (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters  acknowledgment
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Near North Insurance Brokerage  insurance provided by (as Near North)
• Widget Post Production  re-recording facility

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sadistic violence/gore, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

89 min | Argentina:105 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS (uncredited) | DTS (uncredited)

Certification:

Germany:18 (cut) | Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/18 | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | Germany:18 (SPIO/JK) (uncut) | Denmark:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:R | Chile:14 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (uncut) | Singapore:NC-16 (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | Spain:18 | UK:18 | USA:R (No. 37744) | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:18A (British Columbia)

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Spectacle Entertainment Group

Trivia:

The film's script was constantly changing throughout filming, leading to an entirely different ending at one point. Originally Grandpa Hugo was going to be revealed as the mad doctor (who in the rough cut was not even called Dr. Satan).

Goofs:

Continuity: The TV announcer pronounces Dr. Wolfenstein's name "Wolfen-STEEN". Dr. Wolfenstein pronounces it himself "Wolfen-STINE".

Quotes:

[first lines]
Announcer: Attention boils and ghouls, it's time for Dr. Wolfenstein's Creature Feature Show.
Dr. Wolfenstein: Ah! The doctor is in! Don't scream, don't move. Stay tuned for channel 68's Halloween Eve movie marathon! I'm your host, your ghost ghost, with the most, Dr. Wolfenstein! I will be with you until the end!

Movie Connections:

References Go West (1940)

Soundtrack:

Pussy Liquor

Derivative Music Video Horror Mess

Initially I had little or no interest in this film but after hearing good things about it from a lot of sources I decided to check it out. Unfortunately for me this was not a new classic of horror that some people hail it as, it's a disjointed mess that's light on scares, originality, and fun. House of 1000 Corpses somehow manages even to mess up when it comes to plot structure, something even the lowest of horror movies can usually pull off.

It does have a few redeeming elements; the carnival sideshow style of horror is an interesting motif for the film, Sid Haig's character is cool and underused unfortunately, and occasionally Zombie manages to unnerve by using quick jumps to snuff like 16mm footage, a technique that would have been better served if the director was able to exercise more restraint, especially in the early film. The film also contains a rather clever plot misdirection about mid way through, a subplot about cops and one of the victim's father that makes you think the plot is going to evolve one way, but then completely changes direction you. I have to give credit to Zombie for fooling and surprising me.

The film's real problem is in the comparison it invites with its betters, this film basically is "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", and it doesn't hold up well to the seminal 1974 classic. A movie that was made for approximately $140,000, that still manages to be way more effective then House. Maybe if you stripped Zombie of his 7 million dollar budget he would have been able to show his true film-making chops and been able to pull off the low budget fun and carnage he so desperately tries to achieve with this film; more likely this film would have been stripped of it's disguise of high production values and clever sets, and be revealed to everyone as the naked unfocused mess that it is. Even with its budget, the gore is nothing; there is nothing shocking or creative or fun. Maybe the unrated version is better, but since it's completely unavailable I have no way of knowing. As the R rated version stands it fails as a gross out flick and then later goes on to fail even completely at the loftier goal of actually being scary. When I first watched TCM I really was unnerved by it, and I found myself thinking about for weeks after. I watched House of 1000 Corpses today, and nothing has stayed with me; what little effect it had on me was gone the second I stopped watching it. Hell, I might even be fooled into renting this again years from now when I completely forget about it.

"So what", you might say, "it's not scary, not all movies of this variety have to be scary, look at Evil Dead 2". Well the problem is it's not really fun either. The teen victims are completely indistinguishable, which in fairness is pretty common complaint for this genre, and the killers, who the film is obviously in love with, are just too gaudy and derivative of slasher stereotypes. The one that had the ability to stand out from the crowd, Sid Haig's Captain Spaulding, disappears for most of the movie. So for most the film you are left with a plot, that much like victims, runs but never gets anywhere. It almost seems like a masturbation reel for serial killers. I get what he was going for, I've seen the dinner scene from Texas Chainsaw Massacre (there is that comparison again, but I can't help if the shoe fits), Zombie just doesn't achieve the disquieting creepy effect that film had. Towards the end the plot just spirals out of control into what I think was a failed attempt at surrealism, personally I was just glad it was going somewhere. After what is a close approximation of the last teen going through a house of horrors, the films ends on a truly predictably note that once again feels ripped from TCM.

Overall this movie just kinda sucks plain and simple. I get that it's a homage, but it's just not a particularly effective one. Zombie might eventually be able to develop his directing into something interesting but first he has to clear the hurdle from music video style and shock to film atmosphere and substance. I will end by saying one more positive thing about the film; it's not the 2003 remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.