"We've been waiting, Heidi... We've always been waiting."
The Lords of Salem (2012)
Directed by Rob Zombie
I'm well aware of this film's imperfections, but I still think it represents a huge leap forward for director Rob Zombie, who has become (Halloween remakes not withstanding) one of the most unique voices in American horror cinema. In The Lords of Salem, Zombie finally abandons his preoccupation with white-trash caricatures and extreme violence, and attempts a more abstract horror story dependent on character, psychology and some trippy Satan-infused surrealism for good measure. It's his most artfully paced movie, his most subtle (which ,believe me, doesn't make it all that subtle) and by far, his most visually self-assured. The cinematography and sound design, in particular, point to filmmaker growing in his art and expressing a unique point of view.
Not that this film is without influences.There's a bit of The Shining and a lot of Rosemary's Baby in this story of a talk radio host (Shari Moon Zombie in her best performance yet) menaced by a secret coven of witches. (Or at least I think that's what it's about. The last act is pretty weird.)
After a strong first two-thirds, the film ends far too abruptly, in a crazy montage that resembles nothing so much as a black metal video trying too hard to hit every Satanist cliché.
Directed by Rob Zombie
I'm well aware of this film's imperfections, but I still think it represents a huge leap forward for director Rob Zombie, who has become (Halloween remakes not withstanding) one of the most unique voices in American horror cinema. In The Lords of Salem, Zombie finally abandons his preoccupation with white-trash caricatures and extreme violence, and attempts a more abstract horror story dependent on character, psychology and some trippy Satan-infused surrealism for good measure. It's his most artfully paced movie, his most subtle (which ,believe me, doesn't make it all that subtle) and by far, his most visually self-assured. The cinematography and sound design, in particular, point to filmmaker growing in his art and expressing a unique point of view.
Not that this film is without influences.There's a bit of The Shining and a lot of Rosemary's Baby in this story of a talk radio host (Shari Moon Zombie in her best performance yet) menaced by a secret coven of witches. (Or at least I think that's what it's about. The last act is pretty weird.)
After a strong first two-thirds, the film ends far too abruptly, in a crazy montage that resembles nothing so much as a black metal video trying too hard to hit every Satanist cliché.
Still, I like the film enough, for what does work, to excuse these flaws.
Not for everyone but, for me, a worthy entry and an excellent choice for Halloween viewing.
Not for everyone but, for me, a worthy entry and an excellent choice for Halloween viewing.
No comments:
Post a Comment