DVD Zombie
08-08-2003, 09:48 AM
There was an enormous amount of expectations placed on this flick when it hit theaters. The story of the film's long journey has been well publicized, and doesn't need to be recounted here. Of course, over that length of time, hype is bound to get out of hand, and many were ultimately disappointed when it finally unspooled last April. I wasn't one of 'em. I loved it.
The story is nothing new. Stranded motorists meet their untimely deaths at the hands of a family of freaks. What sets the film apart is the manner in which it's presented. Rob Zombie uses a ton of different film stocks and digital video, numerous filters, and a fast cutting style throughout. This gives it a feel that is not unlike most of his music videos. His signature style is on every frame. If this isn't your cup of tea, then most likely, you won't enjoy the movie. Now, technique alone does not a movie make. Thankfully, we also get a group of the most freakishly wonderful villains that I've seen in a long, long time. My only complaint is that none of them really get as much screen time as they deserve, but it is an effective ensemble.
A sore spot with many of us genre fans is the fact that the DVD contains the same cut released to theaters. Personally, I thought there was a good amount of gore, even in this MPAA sanctioned version. Not every film has to be Dead Alive. Rob Zombie has mentioned that there is more to see, but also that he's been too busy to recut the flick. Hopefully we'll see another cut in the future, but it doesn't exist yet, so I can't fault them for not including it. Some folks may opt to wait for a future release, but they'll be missing out on a great disc here.
The anamorphic widescreen transfer is amazing. Colors stand out, blacks are black, and the bitrate hovers as almost high as any of the 'Superbit' titles that I have seen. A nice 5.1 surround mix uses all of the speakers, with the music standing out really well. There's also a music only track (in 2.0 stereo), but I've always found those pretty useless. If you like 'em, though, it's here and sounds good. Also included is an entertaining commentary track with Rob Zombie. It's one of the better commentaries that I've heard recently, with all kinds of fun info on the movie. There are the obligatory trailers and a WAY above average still gallery. Not just your average screen grabs, but some real behind the scenes shots, and each one has a caption. The rest of the features can be described as a feast of scraps. Clocking in at only a few minutes each are a featurette, auditions, rehearsals, a few interviews, and some cast tomfoolery called 'Tiny Fucked A Stump'. If you liked the movie, then these will all warrant a glance, although I can't see myself revisiting them all that often. That's pretty much the case with any supplements, though. Also of note are the stellar menu screens. Zombie brought in Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon to get back into character and film a large amount of footage for these. When you first put in the disc, you have to 'ring the bell' on Captain Spaulding's counter. He comes out and talks until you select an option. Bill Moseley's Otis is on the scene selection page, and Sheri Moon is present on the special features page. Eventually they loop, but there is a surprising amount of material, more than any motion menus I've seen to date.
Overall, it's a stunning presentation of a great flick. Even if you want to wait for an uncut release, you should give it a rent and check it out.
~Zombie (no relation :D )
The story is nothing new. Stranded motorists meet their untimely deaths at the hands of a family of freaks. What sets the film apart is the manner in which it's presented. Rob Zombie uses a ton of different film stocks and digital video, numerous filters, and a fast cutting style throughout. This gives it a feel that is not unlike most of his music videos. His signature style is on every frame. If this isn't your cup of tea, then most likely, you won't enjoy the movie. Now, technique alone does not a movie make. Thankfully, we also get a group of the most freakishly wonderful villains that I've seen in a long, long time. My only complaint is that none of them really get as much screen time as they deserve, but it is an effective ensemble.
A sore spot with many of us genre fans is the fact that the DVD contains the same cut released to theaters. Personally, I thought there was a good amount of gore, even in this MPAA sanctioned version. Not every film has to be Dead Alive. Rob Zombie has mentioned that there is more to see, but also that he's been too busy to recut the flick. Hopefully we'll see another cut in the future, but it doesn't exist yet, so I can't fault them for not including it. Some folks may opt to wait for a future release, but they'll be missing out on a great disc here.
The anamorphic widescreen transfer is amazing. Colors stand out, blacks are black, and the bitrate hovers as almost high as any of the 'Superbit' titles that I have seen. A nice 5.1 surround mix uses all of the speakers, with the music standing out really well. There's also a music only track (in 2.0 stereo), but I've always found those pretty useless. If you like 'em, though, it's here and sounds good. Also included is an entertaining commentary track with Rob Zombie. It's one of the better commentaries that I've heard recently, with all kinds of fun info on the movie. There are the obligatory trailers and a WAY above average still gallery. Not just your average screen grabs, but some real behind the scenes shots, and each one has a caption. The rest of the features can be described as a feast of scraps. Clocking in at only a few minutes each are a featurette, auditions, rehearsals, a few interviews, and some cast tomfoolery called 'Tiny Fucked A Stump'. If you liked the movie, then these will all warrant a glance, although I can't see myself revisiting them all that often. That's pretty much the case with any supplements, though. Also of note are the stellar menu screens. Zombie brought in Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon to get back into character and film a large amount of footage for these. When you first put in the disc, you have to 'ring the bell' on Captain Spaulding's counter. He comes out and talks until you select an option. Bill Moseley's Otis is on the scene selection page, and Sheri Moon is present on the special features page. Eventually they loop, but there is a surprising amount of material, more than any motion menus I've seen to date.
Overall, it's a stunning presentation of a great flick. Even if you want to wait for an uncut release, you should give it a rent and check it out.
~Zombie (no relation :D )