When Halloween is approaching, I think about spooky movies. I like freaky, over the top horror flicks, so I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a cool, fall night then watching House of 1000 Corpses. Who knew Rob Zombie could make movies? He’s freaky enough to get into horror films and make a movie nobody has really ever seen before. That’s exactly what he’s done with House of 1000 Corpses. This movie marked the directorial and screenwriting debut of Zombie, and he does so with plenty of attitude and pizzazz. This is what you expect of the horror genre, and is why this film is the perfect Halloween movie.

If you like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre you will like House of 1000 Corpses. This movie obviously pays homage to the classic horror film (and several others). The plots are similar though Zombie puts his own twist on the story making a new film all his own. Zombie also pays homage to the Marx Brothers (naming multiple characters after Marx Brothers characters). House of 1000 Corpses is available in the newly released Rob Zombie DVD Boxset from Lionsgate Home Entertainment, with the sequel to this film, The Devil’s Rejects. I can’t think of any better box set to purchase and watch this Halloween.

House of 1000 Corpses takes place in rural Texas. Four teenagers (two couples), Jerry (Chris Hardwick), Denise (Erin Daniels), Mary (Jennifer Jostyn), and Bill (Rainn Wilson) travel together through the backwoods of Texas. They are following up on urban legends in an attempt to write a book on the off-road attractions. During their trip, they stop at the shop of Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig). It’s an off the road shop dealing with the weird, obscure, and potentially murderous. It is here the four learn about Dr. Satan, and they set out to find out if the legend is real or not.

Along the way, they pick up a hitchhiker, Baby Firefly (Sherri Moon), and then their tire is blown out. Luckily, Baby’s brother, who lives in the area, is a mechanic, so they can stay at her house while her brother fixes their car. At the house, they meet Baby’s mother, Mother Firefly (Karen Black), who obviously has more than a few screws loose. The brothers of Baby are all interesting as well, which makes the relatively “normal” teens uncomfortable. By the time they hear their car is fixed, their ready to leave, practically running from the house.

The Firefly boys include Tiny (Matthew McGrory), the 7 ft. 6 imposing giant of the family, Rufus Jr. (RJ – played by Robert Mukes), Grandpa Hugo (Dennis Fimple), and the psychotically insane Otis Driftwood (Bill Moseley). These psychotic serial killers, who live at the house of 1000 corpses (they really aren’t kidding), are insane and it is pretty clear they have no plans of letting these four off the Firefly property alive. To throw a wrench into their plans, or try, is Deputy Steve Naish (Walton Googins), Lieutenant George Wydell (Tom Towles), and Denise’s father, Don Willis (Harrison Young).

The soundtrack for this film just adds to the creepiness of House of 1000 Corpses. As you would expect, there are multiple songs by Zombie. You can see his music fitting in a horror flick. There is also music from the Commodores, Slim Whitman, and Buck Owens amongst others. The audio quality of this film is spectacular. I didn’t have any trouble understanding anything and the music didn’t swell above spoken dialogue. The video quality is also pretty good. It’s decent transfer for a film made in 2000 (released in 2003).

This release of House of 1000 Corpses is complete. This means there are not a plethora of directorial cuts or deleted scenes, though there are a few extras included on this disc. These include audio commentary, a featurette, rehearsal and cast audition footage, and interviews with the cast. While this may not seem like a lot, the meat of the disc is the film and it is what’s going to fill your appetite for horror. This isn’t your typical horror movie, and yet it is. You will see quick glimpses of nudity, inventive methods of murder, corpses, deranged villains, and an interesting location, all in one film.

Bottom Line: If you like horror movies, the Rob Zombie Box Set, which includes House of 1000 Corpses, is a necessity for your horror collection. Like a train wreck you simply cannot avoid staring at, House of 1000 Corpses will keep your interest and keep you rooting (possibly) for a deranged group of serial killers, whose only goal is to kill their next victims and have fun while doing it.

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