House of 1000 Corpses

Two young couples take a wrong turn on a dark and stormy night and end up in the clutches of a family of maniacs. Now really, folks, does anybody need to read a movie review to know what a movie called House of 1000 Corpses is like? If you must know, it’s a vanity production by Rob Zombie (formerly of the shock-rock group White Zombie), whose writing and directing skills make Ed Wood (Plan 9 from Outer Space) look like Orson Welles. The film is sadism masquerading as a postmodern joke; if we betray revulsion and disgust, Zombie can cackle and say, “C’mon, man, don’t you get it?” Zombie wins by trying so hard to lose: His film is beneath contempt; therefore it’s beyond criticism. Popping up in supporting roles are 1970s figures Karen Black and Michael J. Pollard.