Before I continue, I am a HUGE fan of Rob Zombie.......
"The Lords Of Salem" was released in limited release on April 19th of this year. The closest theater to me that was playing this film was 35 minutes away. On April 22nd, I got up early and made the 35 minute trek. Slapped down my 5 bucks at the box office, walked into an almost empty theater, and entered Mr. Zombie's world of horror.
The film's plot is very simple. Sheri Moon Zombie, plays a radio station DJ named Heidi. Heidi lives in Salem, Massachusetts, which is home to the Salem Witch Trials. One day, Heidi receives a mysterious record. When she decides to play the record, she goes into a trance. After the record is played on the radio show she co-hosts, weird things start to happen. Discoveries are made. Essentially, this inanimate object fucks her world all up.
While the story is well written, the visuals accompanying the story are just as entertaining. It's reminded a lot of a 70's euro horror film, just by the way it was shot. I love seeing a movie in a theater that would remind me of something I would've seen if I were alive 30 some years ago. I am such a fan of old films that for me, the real treat is seeing a film that's modern but yet somehow disguises itself as a film from another time. In this day and age of CGI, remakes, and product placements, you don't get a film like this too often. This was definitely a breath of fresh air away from the garbage that passes as a film today.
His casting choices are always interesting. Definitely takes the Quentin Tarantino approach when casting a film. Takes a slew of people you don't see in a movie that often. In this one, you have Meg Foster, Bruce Davison, and Patricia Quinn, along with Zombie alumni's Ken Foree, Dee Wallace Stone, Udo Kier, Michael Berryman, Sid Haig, and Jeff Daniel Phillips. Leading out the cast was Sheri Moon Zombie. With whom I felt did an amazing job for being the lead. I guess it was safe to say it was a demanding role, considering she played the victim. The victim that didn't really have any kind of closure at the end. No matter the circumstance, she definitely gets two thumbs up from me for playing a Rush fan. A very attractive Rush fan at that.
I think the hatred for Zombie's films stem from the "Halloween" remakes. In one aspect, it shouldn't have been remade. But in another aspect, the sequels weren't doing the original much justice either. A fresh take is just what the legend of Michael Myers needed. When it's all said and done, better to have someone like Zombie remake "Halloween"; someone whose a huge fan of the original films, who has been influenced a great deal by the film to remake it than some fresh out of film school director who knows nothing about Michael Myers. A fresh take is just what the legend of Michael Myers needed. But I guess judging from the criticisms from the remakes, people enjoy the horrible subsequent sequels stemming from the original.
This film will mark the end of Zombie's venture into horror film genre for a while. His next film project is about the infamous Broad Street Bullies. He's gone on record by saying the film will be a mixture of "Rocky" and "Boogie Nights". I cannot wait to see how this turns out.
As you can tell by reading, I really enjoyed this movie. Zombie, along with Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, and Kevin Smith are some of my favorite filmmakers whose films, I will rush out and see opening weekend. With that said, I always get my money's worth with those guys. They make movies for them, they put things on the screen they identify with. They could give a fuck less if anyone gets it. However, the real victory of that kind of flimmaking is the loyal following of fans that do get it.
Special thanks to internet trolls on message boards, half minded entertainment critics, and cheap gas station coffee.....
*Denotes the fact I haven't seen Edgar Wright's "The World's End" yet. That film, possibly could replace "The Lords Of Salem" as my favorite film of 2013. Stay tuned......
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