The 220th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe, Stitcher Radio, PodcastDirectory.com and streaming LIVE right here. I'm also a proud member of The Podcast Collective! Find all of our great shows at http://www.PodcastCollective.com! This week, topics include the 'House of 1000 Corpses' 15th anniversary, my love of film and replacing the old with the new. Dig in and enjoy! Songs played this week: 1) Chasing A Feeling by The Narrative 2) Seasons (Waiting On You) by Future Islands 3) Got to My Head by Waters 4) I Can Make a Mess by The Narrative 5) A Song for Our Grandfathers by Future Islands 6) Hiccups by Waters
The 190th episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe, Stitcher Radio, PodcastDirectory.com and streaming LIVE right here. I'm also a proud member of The Podcast Collective! Find all of our great shows at http://www.PodcastCollective.com!
This week, we're making new friends and talking about the old ones. There's also some chatter about Rob Zombie's '31' and fun with prepackaged food ingredients! It's a good one, kids. Enjoy!
Songs played this week:
1) Newport Living by Cute Is What We Aim For
2) Four Years by The Story So Far
3) Your Way Or The Highway by Blake Babies
4) Anywhere But Here by Hawthorne Heights
5) New Friends by Pinegrove
6) Well, Everybody's F$#king In A U.F.O by Rob Zombie
The 171st episode of 'The Sunshine Happy Kpants Hour' is uploaded and now available through iTunes, Talkshoe, Stitcher Radio, PodcastDirectory.com and streaming LIVE right here.
This week, I give Rob Zombie the spotlight, along with cooking and people that made me who i am today. It's not what I planned, but I hope you stil.... Enjoy!
Songs played this week:
1) Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown by Rob Zombie
2) More Human Than Human by White Zombie
3) House Of 1000 Corpses by Rob Zombie
4) The Greatest American Nightmare (Feat. Howard Stern) by Rob Zombie
It's no secret, to those of you who know me, that I love Rob Zombie. I'm only a moderate fan of his music, but I absolutely love his film making. I own everything he's done and multiple versions and formats of each one. I own toys associated with his films as well as the soundtracks and anything else I can get my hands on. Something about his style and vision speak to me. The rest of the world doesn't always agree with my opinion about Mr. Zombie and as a matter of fact, his films are received one of two ways: you love them or hate them. There really seems to be no middle ground. I don't know whether people hold him to a higher standard because of his monster movie pedigree? I personally feel that this has a lot to do with it. Everything he does is put under an ultra fine microscope and he's expected to put out a 'Citizen Kane' caliber film, each and every outing. The reality is? That's not possible for even the most amazing film maker or the worst on the planet. Just because he has seen and/or owns every single monster movie ever made, that doesn't mean that he will create the perfect combination of them all in one pure film. Instead, he borrows some of his favorite elements from them and infuses his dark and unique voice to create something new and fresh. Especially with all of the PG-13 carbon copy garbage that's being churned out right now, it's nice to see someone still have their own personal vision and not be afraid to express it. To dig their hands deep into the guts and the grit and give us horror, not teenage date night material. The other thing I appreciate about his film making is that whenever you see a film made by Rob Zombie, you're never quite sure where he's going to take you. It's like a vacation without a plan or a map. It's completely frightening and unnerving, but at the end.... you're glad you made the trip. This is how I see his films. If that view point will affect your reading of this review, stop now.
After 'Halloween 2' was released, I had the chance to see it for my birthday weekend. What I saw was something completely different from what I was expecting. When the film started, I thought that was the direction the whole thing was going to take. What transpired over the course of the rest of the film, laid a ground work for where Mr. Zombie was headed in the future. For better or for worse, it was his vision and direction. I saw a take on 'Halloween' that I never expected and one that (in theory) shouldn't work.... but he pulled it off. After that film was over, I wondered where he was headed next? I have to admit, that when I heard the plot outline for 'The Lords Of Salem', I was apprehensive and skeptical. I have never been a fan of werewolves or witches. Slowly bits and pieces of the story and shots from the set started to leak. Nothing about it really spoke to me.... but I had faith that he would create something great anyway. Once everything was done and I finally saw the trailer, I was convinced that he had done his magic again. I as confused and unsure of what in the hell was going on exactly, but I couldn't wait to figure it all out. Sadly, once it his the theaters, it didn't make it to my hometown. I had no way to see it. So the long wait for home release began. Then.... on September the 3rd, my birthday, it was released. I couldn't wait to get it home and see what all of the buzz was about. Let me just say that I was not disappointed. It didn't quite hit me in the face like the 'Halloween' films did, but I could see that it was going to have a long term appeal. The next night, I sat down with pen and paper and popped it back in the player and watched it again.... this time with the commentary track on. Once again I was taken into his overcast world of evil and loved every minute. I understood more this time and could really get a hold of all of his nuances. Then, the wait. I wanted to let it all settle in and think it all out before writing a review and here we are.
Rob Zombie is a man steeped in horror knowledge and has created an entire persona around all things dark and sinister. He wears it proudly, like a badge and makes no bones about any of it. 'House Of 1000 Corpses' was a tribute to films like 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. 'The Devil's Rejects' was a long song to the road movie, with guns. 'Halloween' 1 and 2 were simply his vision of the Michael Myers legacy, with a stronger focus on Michael rather than Laurie. 'The Lords Of Salem' is his take on a 70's horror film. There is a definite influence of Dario Argento, with its bright colors and vivid imagery. There is the static and slow camera work of Kubrick. Rob Zombie himself lists 'The Shining', 'Rosemary’s Baby' and 'The Devils' as his influence. If you've ever seen any of the films or film makers mentioned, then you can clearly see this showing through in 'The Lords Of Salem'. I am a big fan of that era of horror film making. There seemed to be a stronger sense of story and the director's and studios took the time to make a horror film that was good. They didn't slap dash something together, just to get it into the theaters to give teenagers a cheap scare. The 80's gave us that mentality. The films tended to be a bit slower and built the tension masterfully. There didn't seem to be any subjects that were taboo. It was a much more interesting time to be a film goer. There was no limit to what could be created. The only thing that slowed a film maker down or kept them from making a certain project, was special effects. Back then, everything was a practical effect.... they had no other choice. Because of this, some things came off as cheesy or silly but more often than not, those were saved for the B-movies at the drive in. Rob seems to feel the same way I do about the 70's horror legacy. He took great pains to create that same vibe and story line that has made those older films "Classics". I think that this is a big part of the reason so many people didn't get 'The Lords Of Salem'. They have no concept of what he was drawing from. The majority of film goers these days, weren't even alive in the 70's.... or even born yet. For them, a scary movie is 'Scream' or the 'Saw' franchise. This film is like night and day, compared to the films of the new generation. That doesn't make the newer films terrible or complete garbage. They're just a different kind of horror. Nothing wrong with that at all.
The basic plot of the film is that Heidi is a DJ who has finally gotten her life back together. She's on a highly rated radio show and seems to have everything in order. One night she gets a mysterious package from a group called 'The Lords'. Inside the wooded box is a record that contains some of the most disturbing and bizarre music I've ever heard. When she finally plays the record, it puts her almost in a trance. She comes out of it feeling nauseous and sick. Her friend and fellow DJ decides that they should play it over the air. Once they do, all of the women in the community become entranced as well. As Heidi's mind starts to unravel, so does the mystery behind 'The Lords Of Salem', a coven of long dead witches. With the help of the record, Heidi and the women of the area.... the witches begin to create their final solution. Help bring the devil himself back to earth, via a surrogate woman, Heidi.
Okay, maybe you're still not impressed. Maybe you're still not seeing what I see and that's okay. Not every film is for everyone. For example, my wife would have hated this film. The only reason she's seen his two 'Halloween' films, is because she went with me to see them on my birthday. This is why I love film.... there's something for everyone.
Say what you will about Rob or this film, but at least he didn't go CGI on the effects. Everything here was a practical effect, even the rats. Despite what people seemed to believe.... the rats are real. The hallway of the apartment complex was rather short, but through camera tricks and other methods, it created the feeling of being extremely long and ominous. His vision of Satan (the thing in the giant theater type setting) was done on purpose and on a budget. He wanted to create a devil that no one had seen before. He described it as a deformed baby and an over stuffed turkey, that impregnates Heidi with his intestines. You have to respect him for trying something new and completely different. Did it work? I think it did. It was disturbing to see something you've never seen before doing god knows what to our main character. Not too mention the sound effects and the music added to the creepy factor. Another thing about 'The Lords Of Salem' that you really have to respect is level of commitment that each and every actor had to the film. Meg Foster ran around naked for a large part of the film, in horribly cold weather. He was also able to get a worthy performance out of his wife, Sheri. She's not known for her acting chops, but in this film, she proved that she's more than just a pretty face. Everyone involved, believed in what they were doing.... plain and simple. And if you left the movie wondering what in the hell happened at the end? That was all intentional too. Up to the end of the film, we're a little unsure if what we're seeing is reality or just something in Heidi's mind. The ending shows us that either way, her mind has completely snapped and we witness her final descent into madness. The ending is left ambiguous and up to the viewers interpretation. That, is 70's film making for sure.
Here's my final thoughts on 'The Lords Of Salem': I really enjoyed it. I think it proves that Rob Zombie still has a lot to say in the horror genre. It also shows that he's growing as a film maker and is willing to take risks. No matter whether you liked it or not, it doesn't matter. He created the film he wanted to create and he doesn't make films that are made to please everyone. He's a film maker who revels in the dark side of life. He's lived and breathed horror for his entire career and because of this, he has a concentrated lens to point at his subjects and create something that's visually strong and genuinely scary. He's not even at the height of his powers yet. This is the one thing I learned from 'The Lords Of Salem'. Don't get me wrong though, this is not the perfect film. This still has many flaws. I also don't believe that this is his magnum opus, but I can see glimpses of what may be in the future. I can see that he's still working on mastering his story telling and his pacing. He used this film to step outside of his comfort zone and to try new things. The results were successful and has given him more tools in his arsenal for the next film he makes. (Which is going to be a hockey movie. Yup, a hockey movie and not a horror one either.) At the end of the day, if you're expecting another blood bath of violence and mayhem, this is NOT the film for you. This film as all about creating a mood and a sense of dread. It has almost no blood and very little violence. It's almost more on par with a thriller or drama with witches, than a horror film.... by today's standards. It's slowly pace, abstract and beautiful to look at. Three things that belong more in an art house film than a Rob Zombie joint. That to me just proves once and for all that he's not a musician playing around at making movies. He's an artist who's proving that he has a very large palette to paint with.... music, art, films, etc.
Before I sign off for this review, I have one last thing to say. I read another review that really summed up everything nicely, so I thought I'd repost a direct quote from it here. I don't think I could say this any better. "In the modern horror landscape, The Lords Of Salem is something
very different. It’s not going to be for everyone. I’m not here to spin you bullshit and trick you into seeing a film you’re
going to hate. I’ve really liked every Rob Zombie film to date and I really liked this one too. Some of you who have liked his
previous films aren’t going to be into this one at all – it gets pretty weird." That takes everything I've just said and magnifies it into one brief paragraph. Thank you Rob for creating another chapter in, what I hope, is a long and healthy legacy of flim making.
4 out of 5 stars, but I've only seen it twice. It may change with repeated viewings. Also, there is also a severe lack of features on the home release and after hearing of the hours of footage left on the cutting room floor.... I imagine we'll see a much beefier special edition in the near future.
If you like this, check out his films: 'House of 1000 Corpses' (2003), 'The Devil's Rejects', 'Halloween' (2007) and 'Halloween 2' (2009)
Rob Zombie's take on the 'Halloween' franchise has been met with various levels of positive and negative reviews. Some have valid points and others are just outright "haters". While I can understand both sides of the argument, I personally lie on the positive side of things. I am a huge fan of Rob Zombie's film work and found this remake/reimaging/revisioning to be a fresh take on an old property. The original John Carpenter vision had long since been lost.... somewhere after part 2. 'Season of the Witch' was charming in its own way, but no a true entry in the franchise. Parts 4 and 5 were decent, but felt like out of place. Everything after that was just a downhill race to extinction. In all honesty, I was never a huge fan of Mr. Myers to begin with and I had long since given up on the series. What Rob Zombie created was a fresh take on the films. He breathed life back into a long dead horror icon. This wasn't the Michael Myers you remember, this was the more realistic, grittier and downright vile version. What John Carpenter had started, was a clean slate of a character, one without no face or identity. A "shark", so to speak. He called him 'The Shape'. Rob took that character, gave him a background and an identity beyond the mask. He made it bloody and messy, like it might be in real life. He made the characters react to what was happening in a more real life way and the trauma that remained after, was almost too much to bear. You saw the characters have an arc in their personalities. They grew with time, rather than just stand still. This wasn't a horror-soap opera.... this was Jerry Springer-ish. I now call myself a 'Halloween' fan, thanks for Mr. Zombie's vision of evil.
With the release of the original film, there came several versions on DVD, to choose from. A theatrical, an unrated and a 3 disc collectors edition. I proudly own all three and the only reason I triple dipped and bought the 3 disc version, was to watch the 4 and a 1/2 hour documentary 'Michael Lives: The Making of 'Halloween''. I was not disappointed. (side note: I also own the theatrical and unrated versions of 'Halloween 2' and the "workprint" edition of the original.) Now, you might be asking, "What in the hell could take up 4 and a 1/2 hours of time for THAT film?" Well, a lot.... quite frankly. I actually watched it in hour long segments, just to make it last longer. There is a huge amount of information in this making of documentary and if you're not a fan to begin with, this won't change your mind. This is strictly for die hard fans only, if you're not one of those, you might as well stop reading now. Unlike the similar making of on 'The Devil's Rejects', this kept my interest for the entire time. Perhaps, with the other, I wasn't in the right frame of mind and perhaps I need to give it another chance? Perhaps. What does this cover, you might ask? It's basically a road map of Rob's film making experience from inception to release. Every stone is turned over and nothing is left to the imagination. Every actor, extra and crew person is seen in this behind the scenes extravaganza. You get the chance to know all the players involved and see exactly what it takes to make a film of this scale. There is actually quite a lot of blood, sweat and tears involved with the making of a horror film. Especially one where you're updating what many consider a masterpiece. Rob was very respectful of John Carpenter and his original material. He was a fan first and only took on the project with Mr. Carpenter's blessing. That should really be enough of a reason for the "haters" to stop hating so much. I mean, if he was okay with it, why aren't you? That doesn't mean you have to like it, but at least respect the effort.
This documentary almost plays itself out like a video diary. There is some narration to go with what's going on, but a lot of it is like a home movie. It's a nice even balance of both, so as to keep you interested. You get to see how each actor was selected, how the script grew and changed, how the sets and costumes came to be and even the editing process. This is any 'Halloween' or Rob Zombie lovers dream. All of the people involved in the making of this, took it very seriously and all of them had the best intentions. They wanted to make the definitive vision of 'Halloween'. (That's probably why all of them signed on for the sequel too.) It gives you a fly on the wall feeling and a chance to see what these people are like in real life. It actually made me appreciate the film even more, AFTER watching this opus.
Now, I can't recommend this to everyone. You really have to love the source material. This is not for the passive viewer. This is also not something that I could find for rental. If you want to see 'Michael Lives', you have to own the 3 disc set. Sadly, Rob didn't do the same thing for 'Halloween 2' or 'House of 1000 Corpses', as I would have loved to have seen those as well. I'm hoping that for his new film 'The Lords of Salem', that he'll compile another one of these. When it comes to his work, I can't get enough of it.... even the tiny little details that no one else cares about. As a film maker, film lover and fan, this is like a Christmas present that keeps on giving. I really don't know what else I can say about this, after all, it is just a making of documentary.... not the film itself. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and will eventually take it on again. It's not something to just pop in on a whim, it will take a little pre-planning. Rob, how do I love thee? Enough to own multiple copies of everything you do.
Similar making of documentaries: '30 Days in Hell: The Making of 'The Devil's Rejects''....nothing else is quite as in depth
(no trailer is available for this documentary, so I just put the trailer for the film itself.)
For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, you'll know that I've been on again, off again with Spanish horror films. Primarily those of Jaume Balagueró. 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' is a shorter than average length film from Jaume and is a part of the '6 Films To Keep You Awaker' series. Just because it isn't a full feature length film, doesn't make it any less worthwhile than any of his other films. I came into this with an open mind and was very pleasantly surprised when it was over. Granted, it's not going to be on anyone's top 10 list of all time great horror films, but it has a whole hell of a lot going for it. The story itself is not 100% original, the direction is good, but not fantastic.... what really sells this film is the cinematography of Pablo Rosso. He films his scenes like he was painting on a canvas. It was a beautiful thing to watch each individual frame. I can honestly say that I've never had any film capture the feeling I get watching a rainstorm, but he did it. The sequences that are filmed outside are amazingly well done. You feel like you could get wet if you got too close to the screen. I could've just watched the scenes involving the rain and been perfectly happy, but when you throw in all of the insanity of the storyline behind the rain.... you've got a film worth watching. It's fairly simple, it ends without question of what happened and you become attached to the characters. All good earmarks.
Our story begins with a young couple who are expecting their first child, but want to find a new place to live before the baby is born. They receive an ad in the paper for an apartment that sounds too good to be true. Despite some hesitations, they drive out in the middle of a rainstorm to check it out. As they get closer and closer to the apartment complex, the cityscape begins to become more and more rough. They are obviously headed into the wrong side of town. Even with all of the factors pointing them away from the apartment, they ignore the signs and enter the building. The landlady seems kind enough and the apartment is not too shabby, but they eventually make up their mind to walk away.... the landlady has other ideas. She beats the man in the head and the woman begins to try and make her escape. It's revealed to us at this time that she's got two other apartments filled with other people that were not allowed to leave. From this point on, it's a fight for their lives to try and escape this potential prison. Can they survive?
After several earlier failed attempts at earlier films, Jaume Balagueró seemed to finally hit his stride. After making this, he went on to make '[REC]' and [REC]2', both of which are amazing horror films. Perhaps 'To Let' was a small enough production that it gave him the freedom he needed to find his voice. For example, he comtinues his use of the 'shaky cam' technique that other people have used since.... like Rob Zombie. What the 'shaky cam' technique involves is the camera to be shaken during scenes of extremely intense situations. For example, if our heroes are trying to break into a room to save someone, you'll find that the camera begins to shake furiously. It sounds jarring, and it is, but it is a spot on way to get a physical reaction out of somthing that may not have otherwise caused any reaction at all. Jaume Balagueró uses it quite well here and really well in both '[REC]' films. Rob Zombie used it primarily in his re-imaging of 'Halloween' during the final stand off between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers.
As I stated at the beginning of this review, this film is not groundbreaking. The story comes off feeling like something we've all seen before at one point or another in our lives. That's my only complaint. I think that's why I ended up only giving it a 3 out of 5 star rating. However, I don't know what else they could have done to make it anymore original. I've heard some people complain that this film was too short.... I tend to disagree. If it would have been too much longer, it would have lost its simplistic charms. Not too mantion that I'm not entirely sure that they could have carried out an entire feature with just this premise. If you're still interested in seeing it after all of that, pop it in your Netfilx OnDemand queue and get back to me when you're done. I'll wait.
Other great Spanish horror: '[REC], '[REC]2' and this.
(This is the trailer for the '6 Films To Keep You Awake' series, of which.... 'To Let aka Para entrar a vivir' is a part of.)
