6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
Two young couples take a misguided tour onto the back roads of America in search of a local legend known as Dr. Satan. Lost and stranded, they are set upon by a bizarre family of psychotics. Murder, cannibalism and satanic rituals are just a few of the 1000+ horrors that await.
Starring: Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, Karen Black (I), Chris HardwickHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 51% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD HR 7.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX (640 kbps)
English, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Better you leave here with your head still full of kitty cats and puppy dogs.
House of 1,000 Corpses marks the directorial debut of heavy metal rocker-turned-director
Rob Zombie. Though his film The Devil’s Rejects has garnered a fair amount of praise both
with the critics and film lovers, his 2007 remake of the John Carpenter classic Halloween
failed to capture the attention of either critics or audiences. House of 1000 Corpses falls
somewhere in between. Because of their unrelenting scares and gore along with healthy doses of
humor, Zombie’s films have entered the realm of cult status with a devoted fan base.
What terrors await inside the House of 1000 Corpses?
House of 1000 Corpses is presented for the first time in 1080p high definition courtesy of Lionsgate Entertainment in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Lionsgate has released several Blu-ray discs with stellar transfers (Crank, The Descent) and this is among the best I've seen from the studio. Rich, vibrant colors pop off the screen throughout. Black levels are excellent (and there are plenty of dark, gloomy scenes to put the disc through its paces). Detail is extremely high despite the many dark locales and we get a nearly 3-dimensional image. There are a few speckles here and there, but they are fleeting and only pop up every so often. It's hardly enough to mention, but it is there. House of 1000 Corpses looks great on Blu-ray.
The audio design on this disc is just as solid as the video presentation. Lionsgate has chosen to include not only a standard Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack but also a DTS HD 7.1 track that runs at 1.5 MBps. This movie features some wonderful sound design with a great soundtrack that is integral to the film. There is quite a bit of very good directional effects and at times, great use of surrounds that helps create the horrifying atmosphere of the second half of the film. The soundtrack also features excellent, well-defined bass and dialogue that never gets lost in the rest of the track. The 7.1 track produces some terrific sound fields that completely immerse the viewer in the action. Even though the film is a throwback to 1970s-style horror, we certainly get 21st century sound design here.
An average number of supplements compliment this movie. First is a commentary track with director Rob Zombie. This is a rather dull track that offers up standard background on how some scenes were shot, information on the cast, and artistic choices in the movie. A good part of it is simply a rehash of what is happening on screen. Zombie never allows dead air to permeate the track, but there are no revelations here either. Also included is a game entitled Zombietron. This is a very simplistic game where users must navigate the sheriff from the movie around the screen, avoiding zombies and rescuing captives. It's a nice option but nothing you're likely to play more than once. A making-of featurette (480p, 4m 15s) and a brief behind-the scenes featurette (480p, 2m 35s) that shows the cast and crew mingling and talking between shots at a barely audible level are available for your perusal. A short 3 minute clip (480p) of several cast members telling crude knock-knock jokes is included. Casting takes, rehearsals featuring several cast members, and interviews with Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Sheri Moon, and Wayne Toth (all 480p) round out the movie-specific supplements. We also get trailers for other Lionsgate films available on Blu-ray, all presented in 1080p with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound including The Punisher, The Condemned, The Descent, and Saw III.
House of 1000 Corpses features a terrific build-up leading up to a dull, lifeless, unimaginative finale. The build-up alone is worth the price of admission, but Zombie just couldn't deliver to the end. Nevertheless, this is a solid first effort from Rob Zombie. The casting and writing is excellent, even for the more predictable parts of the movie. Lionsgate has gone all out in terms of presenting House of 1000 Corpses with a standout transfer and great audio. There is a long list of supplements but it's all fluff and filler, even the majority of Zombie's audio commentary. Fans of the movie will be eager to get their hands on this disc, and it's worth a look for horror fans who have yet to see it.
20th Anniversary Edition
2003
20th Anniversary Edition
2003
2003
Unrated
2005
Unrated Director's Cut
2006
2019
Director's Cut
2005
Director's Cut
2007
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
40th Anniversary Edition
1974
1972
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
2012
2016
2012
2012
2006
2016
Collector's Edition
1978
Uncut
2013
2014
Limited Edition
2009
Collector's Edition
2013