I don't know if hillbilly horror is an actual subgenre of horror movies or if it's something I made up....but I love movies like The Hills Have Eyes, Wrong Turn, House of 1,000 Corpses and the whole TCM franchise. In my opinion this has to be the movie that's influenced Rob Zombie most in his film making career. The Sawyer family are very similar to the Firefly family. I believe it's where RZ got his eye for what a horror film should look like. He's a very detailed director when it comes to horror atmosphere.
And it's the details that make this movie so cool. Every scene seems to take place inside an actual nightmare. From the dilapidated radio station to the Sawyer clans underground lair. In the behind-the-scenes featurette, Caroline "Stretch" Williams stated it was easy to act terrified because the sets were actually really scary. Then there's Bill Moseley (another connection with RZ), his portrayal of Choptop is so freaky and bizarre. This was his first real role and he did such a believable job playing a cannibalistic, psycho-lunatic, Vietnam vet. His dialogue comes off so natural that I wondered if a lot of it was ad libbed
TCM2 is not anywhere near as intense or creepy as the original. But it is still a great film with it's own creepy vibe and charm. I'll even go so far as to recommend this to the Prez.
Tobe Hooper is a horror icon. TCM 1 & 2, Poltergeist, Funhouse and Salem's Lot. nuff said.
The Saw Is Family.
this is the kind of movie i dare only recommend to certain people. it takes a certain kind of person to appreciate it. i should also say it is one of my all-time favorites. the narration at the beginning of the movie is the most ominous of all the TCM intros. the acting, the gore, and everything else about tcm 2 is completely ridiculous in every way (in the most amazing way). you're definitely on point with RZ and this film as well. it seems as though this was the blue print for Ho1kC.
ReplyDeletewatch it. love it. chop-top is lord.