Arts & Entertainment

'Corpses' deranged horror at its finest

By Jason Gagnon
The Daily Cougar

Last weekend, Lions Gate Films released Rob Zombieis long-awaited film debut, House of 1,000 Corpses. The film has been on the shelf for almost two years and, despite the wait, it doesnit disappoint. In fact, Lions Gate is giving the film a wider release due to its strong performance on a mere 500 screens.

Photo courtesy of Lions Gate Entertainment

Last Saturday night, Numbers held a screening of the film and many guys in fishnets and skirts were in attendance.

House of 1,000 Corpses finds four geeks traveling across the country, gathering information on weird roadside attractions. They happen upon Captain Spauldingis Museum of Monsters and Madmen, where they learn about a local legend called Dr. Satan. After that, they pick up a pretty piece of hitchhiker gash who takes the kids to her home, where her family is preparing for a definitely unique Halloween celebration. Then things start getting really weird and twisted.

Sure, the premise sounds silly, but Corpses is the most deranged and brutal horror film to come out in this country in a long time. Thatis a very good thing. Even though there are many similarities to Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Zombieis first stab at cinema sets itself apart in its own right and is a lot of fun.

This isnit the type of movie where you root for the victims. Zombie does a very nice job of making you cheer on the bad guys as they murder, violate and terrorize the kids. The fact that the road-trippers are so stupid and often irritating makes it more fun to applaud their demise.

The filmis standout performances come from Bill Moseley and Sid Haig. Moseley, known to horror fans as Chop Top from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, doesnit repeat his famous performance but rather creates a new, more terrifying psycho who is ruthless and sadistic. His gaunt figure and pasty skin help make the character of Otis Firefly creepier.

Sid Haigis Captain Spaulding is a small part but the most memorable. Heis a filthy old man in a clown suit who has a murder ride in the back of his gas station. In the opening of the movie, he brutally deals with two morons who are trying to rob him. The dialogue is priceless and Haig steals every scene heis in.

Gorehounds might be a little disappointed at the limited bloodshed and low body count, but the kills are more along the torture line than straight butchering, which makes the film more disturbing.

Zombieis direction is pretty impressive with his use of color and music to help set the mood. Thereis an execution of a cop while country artist Slim Whitman is playing on the soundtrack.

The only real problem with the movie is that Zombie cuts between scenes in a style reminiscent of Natural Born Killers. Itis cool to look at, but it kind of breaks the pacing of the film.

But if you feel the urge to walk out, donit -- or youill be kicking yourself for missing the last 20 minutes of the film, which has some of the most eerie and warped moments ever seen in a horror film.

House of 1,000 Corpses

Rated: R

Starring: Bill Moseley, Karen Black

Lions Gate Films

The verdict: This ainit a date flick, but horror fans are sure to love it.

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