INT: Rob Zombie

Last Updated on July 27, 2021

I remember first
hearing “Thunder Kiss ’65” by this new band called White
Zombie several years ago. The
video was cheap and messed up with skeleton masks and other ode’s
to horror. So part of me
wasn’t surprised when Rob Zombie took on the horror genre later in
his career. With both HOUSE OF
1,000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, he injected an excitement
back into horror. One of the
things I truly find interesting is the emotion that he inspires
inside a theatre. When I saw
REJECTS, there was a man in the audience who was completely upset
about the movie, screaming at the characters and saying how awful
the film was. He was offended
and sickened but he didn’t leave (which, frankly, if you don’t
like it get the hell out, unless you are reviewing it).
But it made me like the film even more.

And if you
haven’t noticed, he once again has caused a few people to squirm
by remaking one of the most important horror films of any generation
with HALLOWEEN.
I for one was extremely nervous about this prospect, but I
was intrigued by what he would do. And
now that I’ve seen it, I am pleasantly surprised (look for my
review, later this week). He
created a well made horror film that has a life of its own.
It makes for an interesting companion piece to the original.

And recently, when
I got to sit down with Rob at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, California. I shared with him the one
thing that I remember his reasoning behind taking on the project
(which you will see below). I
also found him to be just a damn cool dude who takes his success in
stride. The fact is folks, Rob
loves horror movies and he knows a whole bunch about them.
I would rather have a ton more like him then studio directors
who are just hired on to make a new horror flick because they are
trendy. And whether the new
film will be a treat or trick for you, you can judge for yourself
this coming August 31st when Rob Zombie’s HALLOWEEN opens at a
theatre near you.