The Devil's Rejects: Unrated Two-Disc Director's Cut DVD Review

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Title: The Devil’s Rejects: Unrated Two-Disc Director’s Cut

Region: One

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 Tejo, 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, Blooper Reel, The Morris Green Show – Ruggsville’s # 1 Talk Show, Mary The Monkey Girl Commercial, Spaulding Christmas Commercial, “Satan’s Got To Get Along Without Me” – Buck Owens Video, Deleted Scenes, Matthew McGrory Tribute, Theatrical Trailer, TV Spots, 30 Days In Hell: The Making Of The Devil’s Rejects Feature Length Documentary

Languages: English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound

Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles

Packaging: Two-Disc Single Size Amaray Keep Case

Chapter Stops: 24

Sound: DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Sound

Year of Theatrical Release: 2005/DVD Release: 2005

Theatrical Distributor: Lions Gate Films

Home Video Distributor: Lions Gate 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 quickly 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 or 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.

Lions Gate Home Entertainment’s DVD edition is one of the better special editions of a feature horror film from the summer of 2005 that I have had the pleasure to review. “The Devil’s Rejects” is presented in an anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) aspect ratio that captures the gritty mix of 35mm and 16mm film stock beautifully. The English DTS Digital 6.1 ES Theatrical Surround Soundtrack is nothing short of a powerhouse. In fact the general volume of the film and the interactive menus seems higher than normal to such a point that I seriously suggest if you live in an apartment or a house with thin walls that you lower the volume on your home theater receiver by at least five decibels because this fidelity is fierce and at times the soundtrack gets pretty demented. The funhouse like music for the full motion scene selection menus on disc one might have your neighbors complaining and Sheri Moon Zombie in character as “Baby” has a piercing voice that can be heard when the main menu appears. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Surround Soundtrack is also quite sharp and well mixed and English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as Spanish Language Subtitles have been encoded onto the first DVD as options too. The interactive menus on both discs feature animated scene transitions to subsequent still frame menus too.

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 DVD 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” again and again an engrossing experience. Outside of “George A. Romero’s Land Of The Dead” I think Rob Zombie’s “The Devil’s Rejects” is one of the best theatrically released horror movies I’ve seen so far this year. Rob Zombie definitely shows continued promise as a filmmaker and I am looking forward to what his next feature will be.

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 on disc one include a reel of bloopers (5:23), the complete Morris Green Show segment taped for the film (13:19) as well as the “Mary The Monkey Girl” commercial (1:10) and what appears to be an unused Spaulding Christmas Commercial (1:09). Hidden camera like video of Otis raping and murdering a cheerleader (: 57) not used in the film is included and just as other Otis scenes in both films, it is difficult to watch even if one knows it’s not real. The video for “Satan’s Got To Get Along Without Me” by Buck Owens featured in the film is also included in its entirety (1:54) on disc one. Then there is a reel of 11 letterboxed deleted scenes (13:17) that includes the above-mentioned scene featuring Doctor Satan that was dropped from the film and there is also a reel of make-up tests for the film too (13:10). Matthew McGrory, who played the character of “Tiny” in both “House Of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects” as well as appearing in the Tim Burton film “Big Fish” and as a guest on “The Howard Stern Show” passed away earlier this year. The film is dedicated to him and there is a short tribute to the man (2:08) on the first disc too.

A still gallery, dual disc soundtrack spot (: 32), and a reel with the theatrical trailer and 3 TV spots (3:04) conclude the extra value materials on disc one. The second DVD has the feature length documentary “30 Days In Hell: The Making Of The Devil’s Rejects” (1:44:51), which is divided into five parts that can be viewed individually or as a whole and in great detail provides a look at the detailed behind-the-scenes production of the film as well as screen tests and even the first script reading with the cast. My only caveat with this documentary is that it is presented in a letterboxed aspect ratio and since the entire second disc is devoted to this documentary, I wish they had somehow enhanced it for 16 by 9 televisions.

“The Devil’s Rejects: Unrated Two-Disc Director’s Cut” will debut on DVD-Video at retailers on and offline on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 courtesy of Lions Gate Home Entertainment. Buy it or rent it, but definitely don’t miss it.

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