Related lists from IMDb editors
Related lists from IMDb users
Title: The Devil's Rejects (2005)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Sid Haig | ... | Captain Spaulding | |
| Bill Moseley | ... | Otis | |
| Sheri Moon Zombie | ... | Baby | |
| William Forsythe | ... | Sheriff Wydell | |
| Ken Foree | ... | Charlie Altamont | |
| Matthew McGrory | ... | Tiny | |
| Leslie Easterbrook | ... | Mother Firefly | |
| Geoffrey Lewis | ... | Roy Sullivan | |
| Priscilla Barnes | ... | Gloria Sullivan | |
| Dave Sheridan | ... | Officer Ray Dobson | |
| Kate Norby | ... | Wendy Banjo | |
| Lew Temple | ... | Adam Banjo | |
| Danny Trejo | ... | Rondo | |
| Dallas Page | ... | Billy Ray Snapper (as Diamond Dallas Page) | |
| Brian Posehn | ... | Jimmy | |
In Ruggsville, Texas, the police under the command of Sheriff John Quincy Wydell attack the house of the sadistic serial killers Firefly family (a.k.a. The Devil's Reject) and they arrest mother Firefly, but Otis B. Driftwood and Baby Firefly escape from the siege. Tiny is wandering nearby the house and also escapes. Otis and Baby call their patriarch, the mad clown Captain Spaulding and they schedule to reunite at an isolated motel in the desert. When Otis and Baby arrive, they kidnap two families of singers, using sadism and violence against the harmless persons. Meanwhile, Sheriff Wydell promises to capture and kill the runaways, seeking revenge for the death of his brother, the Deputy George Wydell. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I just saw this film at a sneak preview screening in San Francisco. I had really loved Zombie's first film, HOUSE OF 1,000 CORPSES, and was looking forward to seeing how he was going to "re-create" the characters from that first film into this new one.
Stylistically, this film is exceptional. Zombie knows how to build tension and has a real gift for being able to pay homage to the horror flicks of the 70's without insulting or copying them. His choices in casting is genius and the performances in this film are quite good.
However, gone is the camp-value he infused into CORPSES. This film takes itself much more seriously and this does not help. In fact, the fact that Zombie focuses more on horror and torture without the same level of dark humor makes the film come off as somewhat cruel. Are we to actually enjoy seeing the victims tortured? Somehow, the fun of his first film is absent.
However, for those of us who have an appreciation for the films of the original 70's renegade film makers such as Tobe Hooper -- you can't help but enjoy Zombie's style of filming. This film also enjoys have some of the best southern rock ever created to serve as its soundtrack.
The three lead actors stand out and give great performances, but one wishes Zombie would have allowed them to go a bit more over the top. Karen Black did not return to play Moma Firefly which is too bad, but the actress who takes over the role does a great job.
In the end -- I think this is an interesting and valid second film from Rob Zombie, but I hope that he allows his cast and his audience to have a bit more fun. The world has enough torture and violence -- if we are to see it in a film it needs to give us a bit of a scare and a bit of a laugh. If only he had utilized that dark/twisted since of humor a bit more.
Still, it is worth a look -- but not for those of you who get upset by violence. And, please, this is not a movie for children. There was a child at last night's screening. That poor baby is going to be scarred for life!