FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES

I feel that there is no better way to kick off my Fright fest than with a review of one of the best atmospheric Halloween films you can find, House of 1000 Corpses.
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"Howdy Folks! You like blood? Violence? Freaks of nature? Well then, come on down to Captain Spaulding's Museum of Monsters and Mad-Men."

This is one of those films where you're either going to LOVE IT or HATE IT....there's no in-between. Me???? I LOVE IT!!!!

House of 1000 Corpses is Rob Zombies sick love letter to the joys of Halloween and Tobe Hooper. It also happens to be his directorial debut. It takes place in the era that Rob apparently pines for (since every single one of his films seems to be inspired by it) the 1970s, 1977 to be exact. There's not much story to the film, in it we follow a group of typically dumb college kids on a road trip to the seediest roadside attractions out there. They eventually wind up at Captain Spauldings Museum of Monsters and Mad-Men, owned by crazed clown Captain Spaulding. Intrigued by Spauldings tale of local legend Dr. Satan they set off to find the mysterious legends grave, only to be sidetracked by a flat tire and wind up in the one place they do NOT want to be stuck in.

While the story may not be elaborate the characters and atmosphere sure are. The sadistic killers in this film are the halloween obsessed Firefly clan/family. There's super-sexy Baby (Sheri Moon), who has an obsession with the movie stars of old, Otis (Bill Moseley), a sadist who hates women and pretentious teens, Mother Firefly (Karen Black), the sex-obsessed matriarch of the family who considers herself a M.I.L.F (She's NOT), and there's Tiny (Matthew McGory), a mentally challenged man that seems to have a fondeness for girls. Rounding out this wonderfully deranged cast of characters is Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), a crazed clown that flies into a fit of rage when he belives someone to be insulting him or clowns in general. All put on truly memorable performances here as sick people who's idea of a fun night out is brutally torturing and killing a bunch of innocently stupid kids.

As if the colorful cast of characters weren't enough to warrant this film a viewing, the atmosphere created here is top notch. the whole film has a VERY Halloween feel to it. It helps that the film takes place on Halloween, the Firefly clan are strong Halloween enthusiasts, and that the cast resemble a bunch of crazed carnies. This is a world I wouldn't mind stepping into for a while.

The kills witnessed here are nothing to shake a stick at. While it's not too hard to enjoy all the blood-letting to be found in the film, in the end it's sure to leave most with a bad aftertaste. After all, the audiences role in the big picture is that of Voyeurs and aren't we just as guilty as the sadists in the film if we revel in their acts of violence?


In the end, I love how unapologetic this film is, the atmosphere created here, and the sick characters that are put on display. The films not afraid to be what it wants to be, critics and general audiences be damned. It's refreshing to see such an original take on the Halloween film, and while it is obviously inspired by Tobe Hoopers Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it's still much more fun than the former. So, if you're into blood, violence, and freaks of nature...the House of 1000 Corpses is just about guaranteed to be the film for you.

4.5/5 Stars

Be sure to keep an eye out for Rainn Wilson, who got his start here.

BEETLE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHT FEST HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!!!! BE SURE TO KEEP A WEATHER EYE OUT FOR MORE SCARY GOOD REVIEWS.