The first time I caught THE DEVIL’S REJECTS was at a packed theater in Burbank, California. It was a full house, and me and a good pal were ready for whatever Rob Zombie had in store. Yet one man in the audience wasn’t having any of it. Several times he’d sigh loudly or say something along the lines of “for God’s sake… this is wrong.” And finally, during one particularly grueling sequence with Priscilla Barnes – I think most of you know which one I’m talking about – he stood up and screamed at the screen how disgusting the film was. And this, his intense reaction, only sealed the deal for me. His shock and horror reminded me that we need to be challenged occasionally. Not everything is safe and good and frankly, this modern day tale of crime and carnage hooked me. And even with it’s seemingly FINAL shot, I’ve always wondered if Rob would revisit the Firefly clan. Now we have our answer, and it may be the very thing we need.
Last week it was officially announced that there would be a sequel to THE DEVIL’S REJECTS. 3 FROM HELL continues the wild and wicked adventures that all started with the first film, HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES. Sid Haig, Sheri Moon Zombie and Bill Moseley are back, as well as a few familiar faces in the world of genre. So far, the cast that we are aware of includes Dee Wallace, Bill Oberst Jr., Austin Stoker, and Jan Hoag. It’s a safe bet that he will continue to add numerous horror and pop culture icons to his gang, which is one of the things I love about Zombie’s work. It’s always fun to see a genre favorite pop up in this grim and sadistic world of white trash killers and gruesome horrors.
Not only did they announce that the film was being made, it was also revealed the same day that principle photography had already began. Yes, Otis, Baby and Captain Spaulding are ready for some fresh bloody action. However, we know very little about anything other than they are making the film. Considering both HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS were so diverse, it’s a strong possibility that we will see an entirely different type of film. Will we be going back in time? Did they somehow survive the final showdown? How in the hell will Rob tell this story and make it work? I don’t have any answers to that, but I do believe that maybe this the perfect time for this monstrous family to return.
Without getting too political here, I think we can agree that many of us across the globe are in a bit of a mess right now. Social media has folks attacking each other left and right. There are atrocities happening on a daily basis. The year of 2018 is plagued with anger, hatred and fear. That gentleman who was so revolted by THE DEVIL’S REJECTS all those years ago has the right to hate whatever he wants, but for me it was more than a bloodbath of disgust, it was a fascinatingly exaggerated look at our own unrelenting world. By creating a story that wasn’t filled with heroes and villains, Zombie just gave us a taste of what vengeance can do, and a look at the evil that lies in a man’s heart. This movie chilled me for a number of reasons, but the blurred lines of who we should or shouldn’t root for was a brave choice. Perhaps we all have a darkness that hides inside, only to reveal itself when your back is pushed to the wall.
Over the past few years we’ve seen too many real life horrors, notably the school shootings that are becoming ridiculously common. And yes, the old “violent video games and movies are dangerous” argument is back. As a kid raised on horror and never getting into serious fight, I carry a strong disagreement with that. So maybe we do need the Firefly family to remind us that monsters can came from everywhere. After all, I’ve always felt these particular films had a satirical edge to them. And with things how they are, holding up a mirror to our own darkness and revealing what he finds could be an enlightening – and most likely squirm-inducing – cinematic moment.
Maybe it’s the booze talkin’, but we may need Rob Zombie’s 3 FROM HELL more than we realize. The Firefly family to me represents almost a fun house mirror version of our own reality. We as an audience gasp in horror at what they do, yet their fans can’t look away. Imagine what kind of world it could be today. By bringing Otis and family back in this day and age, Rob Zombie has the opportunity to take a look at the underbelly of the divide many people find themselves in. After all, great horror quite often arrives at times of civil unrest, just look at the work of George Romero and early Wes Craven. Personally, I am more than looking forward to what Rob Zombie has in store, and hopefully it will be the injection of humor and horror that we need right now.