The Devil's Rejects: Unrated Blu-ray Disc Review

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Title: The Devil’s Rejects: Unrated

Region: A

Media: Blu-ray Disc

Genre: Horror

Stars: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, Ken Foree, Matthew McGrory, William Forsythe, Leslie Easterbrook, Geoffrey Lewis, Priscilla Barnes, Dave Sheridan, Danny Trejo, Diamond Dallas Page, E.G. Daily, Tom Towles, Michael Berryman, P.J. Soles, Deborah Van Valkenberg, Ginger Lynn Allen, Duane Whitaker, and Kane Hodder

Writer: Rob Zombie

Based On Characters Created By: Rob Zombie

Director: Rob Zombie

Feature length: 111 minutes

Extras: Feature Length Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Rob Zombie, Feature Length Audio Commentary With Actors Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon Zombie, Deleted Scenes

Languages: English DTS Digital 6.1 HD-ES High Resolution Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound

Subtitles: English and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Blue BD Case

Chapter Stops: 14

Sound: DTS Digital 6.1 HD- ES High Resolution Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2005/Blu-ray Disc Release: 2006

Theatrical Distributor: Lionsgate Films

Home Video Distributor: Lionsgate Home Entertainment

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera

Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects is the rare example of a sequel that is actually better than the original film that inspired it, House Of 1000 Corpses. The story takes place several months after the events of the first film with the Firefly family home surrounded by police forces led by Sheriff Wydell (William Forsythe), the brother of the law enforcement officer that was murdered by the Firefly family in the first film. During the ambush, Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) and Otis (Bill Moseley) escape through a secret passageway in the basement and begin mercilessly taking lives as they hook up with Baby’s father, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig) and seek sanctuary with Spaulding’s half brother played by Ken Foree. However Wydell is not far behind to bring retribution for all the suffering they’ve caused even if it means becoming just like the people he is hunting down.

I found Rob Zombie’s House Of 1000 Corpses too upsetting when I first reviewed the film back in 2003, however in many ways seeing The Devil’s Rejects made me like the first film better because in some ways this sequel really is the story of how the chickens finally come home to roost for the Firefly family. In fact certain sequences in the film’s second half are an inversion of the events of the first film and ultimately the film builds to a conclusion that is satisfying on multiple levels depending upon how you view the film. If you see the Firefly family as anti-heroes then the culmination of the events in the film should at least bring comfort that they go out in a blaze of glory like legendary outlaws, but if you see them as monsters then you can take comfort in knowing that no one gets away with anything by the end of the story. As far as I know there will be no sequels or prequels either so while one does not have to see House Of 1000 Corpses to appreciate The Devil’s Rejects, I think the two films together form a solid tale of horror and retribution. There are also some great guest roles throughout the film that includes Priscilla Barnes (Three’s Company), Geoffrey Lewis (The Lawnmower Man), Ken Foree (Dawn Of The Dead), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes), P.J. Soles (Halloween), Professional Wrestler Diamond Dallas Page, Danny Trejo (From Dusk Till Dawn), Kane Hodder (Friday The Thirteenth) and on again/off again Adult Film Star Ginger Lynn Allen.

Stylistically The Devil’s Rejects is completely different from House Of 1000 Corpses because in many ways they are very different films. House Of 1000 Corpses was dark, somewhat claustrophobic, and surreal. The Devil’s Rejects is gritty with stylish editing and much of the film’s action, including some violent sequences, takes place in broad daylight out in the open. Sid Haig as Captain Spaulding is arguably the most likeable character in the Firefly clan in part because he has some of the best dialogue in the film and in part because Haig brings some charisma to his character. Captain Spaulding is capable of murder just like the rest of the Firefly family, but in The Devil’s Rejects we never actually see him personally kill anyone. So as a result he takes on a patriarchal type position for the characters and in some ways Haig in character actually seems to redeem Sheri Moon Zombie’s and Bill Moseley’s characters a bit. Like the previous film, The Devil’s Rejects contains scenes of brutality and sadism. I am not sure who is more frightening, Otis or Baby? As “Baby” Sheri Moon Zombie is so evil and sadistic that it’s almost hard to believe she’s just acting. Otis as portrayed by Bill Moseley is also a sadist and capable of heinous actions too. He can seem calm and even capable of being somewhat sympathetic at one moment and then a second later he becomes this cyclone of malevolence that will ground the object of his anger into the dust with zest. When he is not tormenting his victims it is Moseley’s voice and demeanor that to some extent makes following his character’s journey worth watching.

I am also so happy that Rob Zombie actually creates a few new bad ass characters that can actually stand up to the Firefly family, in particular the bounty hunters played by Danny Trejo and Diamond Dallas Page. Sometimes there are some bizarre character exchanges that do little to nothing to forward the story, but as an immerging feature filmmaker, I think it is a part of Rob Zombie’s developing style as both a screenwriter and a director. I am not at all into country music, but the soundtrack for The Devil’s Rejects is nothing short of awesome with perhaps the most memorable use of “Free Bird” ever captured on film. Even if you hated House Of 1000 Corpses I strongly urge potential viewers to give The Devil’s Rejects a chance because on it’s own merit it is a terrific genre film not to be dismissed.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment’s Blu-ray Disc edition of The Devil’s Rejects presents the film in a 1080p 16 by 9 widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio that captures the gritty mix of 35mm and 16mm film stock beautifully. The English DTS Digital 6.1 HD-ES High Resolution Theatrical Surround Soundtrack has a great bass and captures even the smallest intricacies in the dialogue that I never even caught from watching the DVD version. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Soundtrack is also quite sharp and well mixed and English and Spanish Language Subtitles have been encoded onto the disc as options too. The seamless interactive menus were designed by Van Ling and feature some creepy background noise. They effortlessly work while the film is in motion too and use what Lionsgate Home Entertainment describes as being powered by Metamenu™ technology.

Writer and Director Rob Zombie provides an articulate and insightful feature length audio commentary about the making of the film that addresses much of the behind the scenes elements as well as dropped plotlines that includes what happened to the character of Doctor Satan from the first film. Rosario Dawson appears in a deleted scene on the disc that features the character. Zombie also points out the continuity mistakes and really shares an engaging discussion about the production of The Devil’s Rejects. Rob Zombie also shares some tidbits regarding how the editing and music for the film actually improved it as a whole since some sequences as they appear in the final cut were actually shot with full dialogue and were meant to be more action oriented instead of ethereal. Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon Zombie share a more relaxed feature length audio commentary track that at times repeats some of the information Rob Zombie mentions in his commentary, but collectively the two commentaries enhance each other and makes watching The Devil’s Rejects an engrossing experience.

I should note that while there is a bit more blood splattering and gore in this version, there are also more dialogue scenes between the characters that adds greatly to the entertainment value of the film. The extra materials include a reel of eleven 16 by 9 widescreen deleted scenes (13:24) that includes the above-mentioned scene featuring Doctor Satan that was dropped from the film. The scenes have a subtle green tint to them at times, but otherwise they look good and I’m glad they were not just ported over from the DVD release letterboxed. Having them in the native widescreen format shows that some care was taken into the making of this Blu-ray Disc edition.

Unfortunately there are no other extra value features that were included on the DVD so if you upgrade to the Blu-ray Disc, you might want to hold on to the DVD set anyway. A Lionsgate Blu-ray Disc spot (2:17) as well as an instructive demonstration that sounds as though Bill Moseley as Otis is explaining to viewers how to navigate through the Blu-Ray Disc and also warns users about the Captain (1:02).

The Devil’s Rejects: Unrated Blu-ray Disc is available now at retailers on and offline on courtesy of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Buy it or rent it for this Halloween or any day, but definitely don’t miss it.

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