When there are no more heroes left, you will be left with the Devils Rejects. This is one insane movie. A gritty revenge/horror film that seems to come straight out of the 70's. This film represents a huge step forward in Rob Zombie's skill as a director. Not to say he is the greatest to ever step behind the camera, but he is showing much more control over the medium, an ability to tell a story and deliver interesting characters. Much more so than the ill-received House of 1000 Corpses, which, for the record, I enjoyed.
We pick up right shortly after the events of that earlier film. Tiny is taking care of some, uhhh, business, while the rest of the Firefly clan was still in their slumber. All the while, a parade of Ruggsville county police approach the home. They are being led by Sheriff Wydell, brother of Sheriff Wydell from the first film, and hellbent on exacting revenge. Then a full blown shootout ensues, which results in Otis and Baby hitting the road, getting ahold of patriarch Captain Spaulding, and going on the run the only way they can.
This is probably the most unsettling film to get a major release so far this year. The film has more than it's share of violence, torture and blood. There are no heroes in this film, it revels in the depraved nature of all involved. It also has a sense of humor, some campy dialog, but all is played straight, which just adds to the twisted nature of these people.
The performances are surprisingly good all around. The centerpiece would have to be the next entrant in the hall of creepy clowns, Captain Spaulding himself, played with a maniacal glee by Sid Haig. This guy is insane, he takes the role over the top, but is oddly grounded in the way he plays the role. I especially liked his carjacking sequence, plus his interactions with Ken Foree (from the original Night of the Living Dead), who plays Charles. Not to be outdone is the truly insane Otis Driftwood, played by Bill Mosely. This guy is unsettling, he pulls no punches and is rather ruthless when crossed. The final member of our Rejects is Baby, brought to screeching life by Rob's wife, Sheri Moon Zombie. She is sweet and funny and weird and can kill without remorse, plus Rob loves to show her behind, not that many are complaining.
On the other side of coin is the equally sadistic Sheriff Wydell, brought to life by William Forsythe. Now, he may be a lawman, but he is not a good man. He walks that thin line that can become all to easy to cross. Not to be outdone by any of them are the supporting cast, including the previously mentioned Ken Foree. There is also Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes), providing some comic relief. Leslie Easterbrook steps into the matriarch Firefly's shoes and is deliriously over the top. Then there is Geoffrey Lewis who plays one of the hostages.
One thing I noticed after leaving the theater, is that the film shares many structural similarities to, wait for it, The Empire Strikes Back. It is weird, but stay with me here, I will try to give a brief overview of this thought, but try to avoid spoilers. First there is the attack on the Firefly home, this can be equated with the battle on Hoth. Next, Otis and Baby's flight to safety can be likened to Han, Leia, and crew's fleeing Hoth to Cloud City. In Cloud City Han meets up with Lando, here they meet with Charlie. The call to Captain Spaulding, and his subsequent route to meet the rest of the clan is Luke's premonition on Dagobah and flight to Cloud City. I can't really say more without giving too much away, but there is more.
This is clearly a film that not everyone is going to like. It is gritty, disturbing, and there are no likable characters. Although, I dare you not to have some sort of desire to see the Rejects come out on top. Zombie does a good job at making you want to care about these depraved individuals. I guess that would be a testament to his growth as a filmmaker. This is an accomplished film, it tells a story, has colorful characters, and is not afraid of taking the viewer to the edge of the abyss only to see the darkness in it's glory.
One last thing to mention before I close, is the wonderful use of music. Zombie has compiled a collection of Southern fried rock that fits the film like a glove. The use of music here is nearly at the level of Quentin Tarantino, who is a master at using the right song at the right moment. From The Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider," to the extended (well, maybe a bit too extended) "Free Bird" sequence, it is right on the money.
Bottomline. This is a very good film, one that will divide the audience, and in both cases it will have accomplished what it set out to do. I look forward to future offerings from Rob Zombie, potentially more tales of the clan Firefly? Or perhaps he could try his hand at that rumored new rendition of Last House on the Left? Anyway, I recommend that you steel yourself and step into this funhouse of sadistic violence and righteous revenge, not to mention the comedy.
Highly Recommended.
Also at Blogcritics.
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