THE DEVIL'S REJECTS not horror, but a gritty, balls to the wall '70s revenge flick'

Again-this is a ROUGH CUT of the movie, so keep that in mind as I talk about it.

Make absolutely no mistake-The Devil?s Rejects is a HAAAARRRD movie.

There's no way this'll ever be cut down to a PG-13! But you should know going in that it's not a horror film in the strictest sense. Yes, horrible things DO happen to people, but the level of realistic violence brings it a completely different feel. This is nothing like House of A Thousand Corpses.

This is a movie about outlaws-on both sides of the law and how the line between the two is blurry at best. It's like some strange, lost 70's modern western directed by Wes Craven or Sean S. Cunningham. Maybe Tobe Hooper'sTwo-Lane Blacktop.

I give Rob Zombie credit where its due-he has improved as a director. While the original movie suffered from hellacious mood and visual swings, Zombie is much more focused on what he wants to go for as a director. There is some great work in the Firefly assault sequence that gives it such a raw, documentary look. The camera is always so close to the action, making violence so visceral as to think that you've been splattered with grue. I really look forward to seeing what he directs next.

The problem is that I think he still needs work as a screenwriter. Now it can be said that this movie (like the previous) is an ode to grind house or drive-in movies, so there's no need to add in "larger" themes. But there are two there that are mostly wasted: the ageless clash between of angels and devils and the idea of outlaw justice.

Otis in the first and somewhat in this movie, talks about the fact that he's the devil doing the devil's work. Now were introduced to Sheriff John Wydell, who believes himself to be nothing less than "the arm of the Lord." They are the archetypical opposite sides of an eternal conflict. Having these to forces of nature face off, it's physically bloody and nasty, but I expected more about this theme dealt with because of the great set. It's not like you have to dig deep to see it. But we aren't given a payoff. And we're talking about Otis-a character who LOVES to spout off a rant(see the first movie). Here he's lost his philosophical teeth, which added to his character and his insanity, leaving him to curse a lot. A great opportunity to add another layer to the Firefly family mythos lost.

Also, the idea of Outlaw Justice was brought up and dealt with but only in the broadest of ideas. Sheriff Wydell is trying to atone for the death of his brother by bringing in the Firefly clan. But it's not enough. He's going over the line with murder and torture with the noblest of purposes. His righteousness gives him the right to do what he does to the Firefly family, but it also means that he's brought low right beside them. He's become like the Firefly family to do battle with them-just like his ancestors did. And for the Firefly family, they're following of the way of the outlaw gives them a certain sense of nobility for the fact that they don't veer away from the life they've always led. Hell, people rooted for the Otis and the gang at times, even AFTER seeing the torture they'd inflict!

I can?t go any farther without discussing William Forsythe's Sheriff John Wydell. He absolutely steals the movie. He starts off as the stereotypical Texas sheriff full of fire and off-color sayings to his men. But as the movie proceeds, you see the man trying to assuage his all too real demons, to hold the line as enforcer of the Law. But he can't; he needs Justice to quiet his ghosts. And when he goes Outlaw, he goes all the way straight down. Forsythe becomes The Bad Ass the likes of which I haven?t seen since, well, the 70's(like a Lee Marvin/Charles Bronson Bad Ass). And while I've seen Forsythe over the years in dozens of roles, he's truly changed here. Whether it's just a physical(at 50, he's slimmed down and nearly unrecognizable at times) or psychological, I think he gave more than I've ever seen him do-Amazing work. He lives up to the line in the trailer-"We are playing on a level that most will never see."

And while we do get to see that level, it's not what I was expecting which is both good and bad. To talk about this, I'm gonna get into some SPOILERS, so I'll let you know when I'm done. As CRIMSONRATT and I agree, we were looking for Bad Asses vs. Psychos (or in his words-"Bad Vs. Evil"). Even the story tags have made you think it's a bunch of vigilantes going after the Firefly family. And since that can't end well, we believed that there would be the requisite firefight that would see all of them face-off and die in a blaze of gore that would make Peckinpah proud.

That doesn't happen. Quite.

Instead, Sheriff turned outlaw Wydell uses a couple of rough guys to capture Otis, Baby and Spaulding (WAYYY to easy I thought-these people had been prepared for a police raid!). He then brings them back to the Firefly home to torture and make them feel the pain and torment that they had inflicted on others. Physical torture with fists, staple gun, leather strap and nails. Wow. That's a place I did not expect to go to and would have liked to have seen more. While we get to this level, this Biblical "eye for an eye" type vengeance, we never get to explore it. This should have been where Wydell and Otis try to break each other mentally, which is what I REALLY wanted to see.

Instead, the three escape (with the help of completely unsurprising "return" of Tiny) and drive off into the night only to be confronted with what all outlaws must confront: The Law. Roadblocked ahead, Otis, Baby and Spaulding do exactly what they shoud do. They grab guns and go tearing into the police, guns ablazing to Lynryd Skynrd's "Freebird." And they die bloodily which is the only way it could end for Outlaws.

At least I thought so.

End of SPOILERS

So here are some last minute notes to all:

-Most of the cameos are wasted or, more appropriately, ARE cameos for mere seconds.

-The music is EXCELLENT, both the score by Tyler Bates and the use of 70's classics by Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers

-The hotel sequence is savage and brutal but bugs me more because it slows down the time for Spaulding and the gang to get together, which is where the movie really starts.

-Leslie Easterbrook is dynamite as Mother Firefly. After the initial "Huh?" at seeing the new actress, you'll forget about Karen Black. She really puts herself into the role.

-Diamond Dallas Page and Danny Trejo are WASTED in their parts. They have no background, are barely used then disappear after their job's been done. A damn shame.

-Where's Dr. Satan? Guess on the cutting room floor at least in this version.

All in all, it was good but it could have been great. A movie that messed with you both physically and mentally. Could still be if there's time to reshoot a few things. I hope Rob does. Because no matter what-I'm rooting for him!

Now I've been going to these screenings for years now but this was the first time I was "deigned" to do the after-screening forum, where they bring in about ten or fifteen people to talk about the film in depth. So that means the "Suits" get to hear my thundering voice? Exxxccellent!

So CRIMSONRATT and I are there and they record everything. Most people there "got" the movie. But there were some strange things brought up like "it had too much humor? (No, it just had more than the first), "it wasn't a horror movie? (well, sorta but it all depends on what horrific to you now doesn?t it?) and "the kills were boring-they should be more creative?" (Oh, please shut you pie hole!). I said a lot of what I've said above and also got to say the one things that?s bothered me lately-It is SO nice to see an R movie. Not a "maybe if we cut a few frames and don't show nudity we can get a PG-13", this is a Hard R movie and it's not afraid of playing rough with the audience, Or in the words of Joe-Bob Briggs, "It's got Blood, Breasts and Beasts. Joe-Bob says check it out."

And if you ever get to hear the tapes, Rob, I'm the one saying? Thank God it's a Hard R movie!?

So is it good? I guess you'll know for yourselves on August 12, 2005. I plan on seeing it in a proper venue-the last Drive-In in LA County.

But I'll leave the last words of review from my pal CRIMSONRATT, who said upon leaving the theatre-?That movie was a donkey-kick to the soul.? Worth Paying: Evening Prices if you like your movies hard and rough or are a Rob Zombie fan. What About Toys? Coming out this summer from NECA RANDY who hopes NECA starts work on a Sheriff Wydell figure very soon.