Rob Zombie’s film production has always was controversial. Strangers on the internet have repeatedly come close to fighting each other while debating the value (or lack thereof) of his work. This is news to no one. However, I was a little surprised to learn that Zombie agreed with the haters regarding his directorial debut. House of 1000 Corpses. Now that the series is on Prime Video, maybe it’s time to re-evaluate it?
“The first movie (I directed) that people seemed to love is just a disastrous mess,” Zombie told Screen Rant. “When it came out, it seemed like everyone hated it. Now everyone’s acting like they’re loved in some way. All I see is mistakes, mistakes upon mistakes, mistakes upon mistakes… mistakes upon mistakes.”
I understand the tendency to criticize one’s own work harshly. When I reflect on my work, I sometimes cringe at perceived imperfections and ponder what I could have done differently. However, I am a diehard fan of House of 1000 Corpses. Sure, it’s not a perfect film. But the frenetic energy and unbridled excess make it an entertaining work. His appreciation for exploitation cinema is palpable and shines through.
I have previously discussed the merits of the image in a Dread Central editorial. Here is an excerpt Piece.
All in all, Zombie’s feature debut isn’t without its problems. But the flick has a sleazy tone and visual aesthetic that makes it seem very much like a lost export from the grindhouse days. House of 1000 Corpses captures the essence of a bygone era and is a loving nod to the exploitation films fans grew up with.
Although Zombie doesn’t seem to overlook the weaknesses of his debut film, I will still tirelessly argue for this film to be celebrated more than he does.
Zombie’s gruesome tale of satanic misdeeds unfolds as follows: Two young couples travel through the woods of Texas searching for urban murder legends, only to find themselves captured by a bizarre and sadistic backwoods family of serial killers.
The trailer is embedded below if you want to refresh your knowledge. If you want to watch the film again from start to finish, you can find House of 1000 Corpses Streaming on Prime Video as of publication of this post.
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Rob Zombie
