House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

linktr.ee/CatchingUpOnCinema This October marks the return of Catching Up Cinema's annual, “Kyle's Killer October” month! All month long, Kyle will be taking creative control of the program, with this year's theme being an exploration of the filmography of Rob Zombie! This week, we kick things off with a review of Rob Zombie's feature directorial debut, House of 1000 Corpses (2003)! The first of a trilogy of films concerning the Firefly family of hellbillies, House of 1000 Corpses is strong debut from Zombie, proudly wearing its numerous influences on its sleeves, and showcasing the director's eye for production design and visual flair. Employing a plethora of cinematographic, editing and makeup effects techniques and technologies, House of 1000 Corpses bears the fingerprints of a first time filmmaker, giddy with excitement at the prospect of using every tool in the box, regardless of it's practicality for the task at hand. In spite of being packed to the gills with bizarre interstitial and non-sequitur cut away sequences, House of 1000 Corpses doesn't quite achieve a 90 minute run time, resulting in halting and episodic an experience that strongly favors imagery and energy over narrative and characterization. Rejuvenating the careers of future Rob Zombie regulars, Sid Haig and Bill Moseley, as well as introducing audiences to his wife Sheri Moon, House of 1000 Corpses is a fine debut horror film from a unique filmmaker with a signature style and penchant for examining levels of brutality and meanness seldom featured in mainstream horror cinema. Follow us on Instagram @catchinguponcinema Follow us on Twitter @CatchingCinema Like, share, subscribe, and we'll catch you next time!