Devils Rejects: The "Chainsaw" of our day? Well maybe...

Just about. The opening prologue sets the mood for the film just as Tobe Hooper's "CHAINSAW" did back in the day. The neat thing is, director Rob Zombie did it in a way where he was ripping it off in a good way. He didn't copy the scolling credits, but he did end the prologue on the title of the film, which all you nuts know is exactly what happens in "Chainsaw". "They were known as, The Devil's Rejects." Great stuff. The rest is one big road film following and entering the minds of some of the most psychotic killers to grace the screen in years. A Tale Of Murder, Mayhem and Revenge. The state police raid the Firefly family house, but they have already escaped. Otis, Baby, and Captain Spaulding go on a killing spree across the country. But that's not going to stop Sheriff Wydell, (played by the someday should be knighted, William Forsythe) from trying to kill each and every one of them. If you remember in "House of the 1000 Corpses," there is a bald headed cop who gets capped in the head by Mama Firefly...that's Sheriff Wydell's brother and now he wants revenge. First off, William Forsythe made the movie for me. The guy is the meanest looking motha I have ever scene. Someday, I will work with him. You have my word. That's right, I'm going to have him and Bo Hopkins in the same movie! Anyway. Forsythe delivers such a raw, viscious performance that just glows on screen. It strange because I would have expected to be more excited when the killers were on screen. No way. Forsythe took the cake. And it's so nice to finally see him in a major role again. The last thing I can remember him in was Warren Beatty's "Dick Tracy" as Flattop. Every scene he is in is good, but there were a couple that stood out to me. One is when he is sitting in front of a mirror building himself up for a three man raid on the family. At the climax of the scene he whips his cigarette into the mirror and spark fly everywhere. Another involves a movie geek whom he calls into his office for clues involving Groucho Marx. When the movie geek starts to talk poorly about Elvis Presely, Forsythe throws a fit. "DON"T F*** with the king, man!!!" There is also a pretty evil scene involving a staple gun, but you are just going to have to see that yourself. Next, I have to touch on Sid Haig. Zombie found a goldmine with that guy. I think Haig is already, but is at least soon to be one of the most memorable faces in horror cinema. The guy is 60 years old and he pulls off the psychopath thing so well. And he is just so gross! I love it! His best scene, by far, involves him trying to steal a car from a mother and her 9 year old son. "Do I stutter, B****?" Well he was crazy in "Coffy" so I guess once a psycho always a psycho. Overall the movie is one sick and twisted grindhouse extravaganza. It was very well executed technically and emotionally. The handheld photography was the best I have scene in a film since "Private Ryan" which is kind of a weird comparison, but not a lot of movies boast about their hand held cinematography. This one should. I have to say that there were some scenes that were way too graphic involving strong sexual violence, but I suppose it makes sense if you know the family. That doesn't necessarily mean I like it. But the essence of the violence is just so raw and brutal that it may be hard to watch sometimes. Most movies show this level of violence slighty more stylized, which makes it easier to watch. There is nothing stylized about this. This film shows violence in its pure form. It's very evil and mean spirited. But it needs to be for the movie to work right. Rob Zombie, your attempt at true grindhouse cinema was a success. Now, you and me are going to have to talk about this monster hot rod movie you have going. I've wanted to make a film like like for years. ps. William Forsythe made this film successful.