One of the most singular and original voices in genre cinema today is Rob Zombie. The former White Zombie co-founder has clearly had a love of classic horror movies for a long time. However, unlike many of his peers, he has a deep grasp and understanding of film history. His first two films, House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, made a big splash. He’s back with the third in the series, 3 From Hell.
After miraculously surviving their injuries, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) and Otis (Bill Moseley) are tried and convicted for their crimes. Whilst the former is executed, the other two are sentenced to death. In prison, Otis is re-united with his half-brother, Winslow Foxworth Coltrane (Richard Brake). It soon becomes apparent that there’s no institution which can hold these maniacs.
3 From Hell builds on the foundations of the previous films whilst taking new and unexplored directions. Zombie draws on influences from ‘70s horror and spaghetti westerns, but this time focuses more on the characters themselves. Whilst the craziness is still cranked up to 11, there’s also a more thoughtful side. That said, there’s still plenty of blood and brutality for fans of gore. 3 From Hell is Zombie’s most mature film, both in terms of the narrative and his skills as a director. It’s also a bloody descent into the abyss.
Special features:
- ‘To Hell and Back: The Making of 3 From Hell’
- Audio commentary with writer-director Rob Zombie
3 From Hell is released on Blu-ray, DVD and Download by Lionsgate UK on 14 October.
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