The Devil's Rejects (2005) Film Review

Rated R For Sadistic Violence,Strong Sexual Content, Language And Drug Use.

1hr 50min/110min.

222 uses of the F-Word.

What does it mean to be a reject? To be outcast from society. That would be the definition to describe The Firefly Family. They're outcasts. They are horrible, rotten people that kill first, ask no questions later. They love doing it, but why? It exhilarates them. It gives them an adrenaline rush. They find it fun. But the film makes you root for them. You want to see them through thier plight. You want them to make it out of their journey alive. But why should we? That's the big question. Why should we care about of family of sadistic, maniacal, psychopaths, who don't show care for any other human life other than themselves? We shouldn't care for these people, but the film makes you care. Also known as The Anti-Hero.


 Otis(Bill Mosely), Baby(Sheri-Moon Zombie) and Captain Spaulding, also known as The Firefly Family, are on the run after a police shootout that occured on May 18, 1978. I should note that May 18 is my birthday. They hold people hostage, brutallt torture them, and sadisticly murder them. They are under pursuit of Sheriff Wydell(William Forsythe) due to the family killing his brother in the shootout. Just don't say anything bad about Elvis around Wydell. "You say another derogatory thing about Elvis Aaron Persley, I will kick the living shit out of you!"

Let's take a look at Otis. Bill Mosely portrays the character as a cold soul. His performance is so intoxicatingly evil. He's a horrible man. An unspeakable evil. But you love him. How does that work out? He's one of those Anti-Heroes that you want to root for, but feel horrible for doing it. You sit there rooting for a man that's traveling down a dark path, and doesn't plan on coming back.

His sister is Baby. Baby is played by the sexy and effervescent Sheri-Moon Zombie. Baby is a trash-talking, sultry girl. She leads you on with her looks and then quickly turns on you. This character represents A Greek myth called The Siren, a woman who would lead poeple off of their path with her good looks and unbelievable singing voices. That describes Baby, minus the singing.

Last but not least, we have Captain Spaulding, the sleaziest of them all. Do you like clowns? I don't, esspecially after seeing this film. He's given the funniest lines of the film. There's a scene in the film where he steals a vehicle from a woman and her child. He tells the child, after finding out that he doesn't like clowns, "What's the matter kid, don't you like clowns? Don't we make you laugh? aren't we fucking funny?

The violence is exceeded to such gaudy levels in the film that it makes you wonder, as your wathing it, "How did this film ever get by with an R Rating?" Low and behold, it did. The film includes, shots to the head, hits to the head with blunt objects, and a revolting amount of blood. Now of course, this film is not for everyone. If you have a weak stomach, then the rating description should push you away from the film. Rated R For Sadistic Violence,Strong Sexual Content, Language And Drug Use. For the Unrated Cut of the film the film was rated NC-17 For Sadistic Violence And Scenes Of Humiliation. I really wish I could recommend this film for everyone, but I Can't.

The film has quite the use of colorful vocabulary. I haven't seen too many films where vulgar language is used to get the point across as frequently as The Devil's Rejects. The film has been directed by Rob Zombie, who directed the films predessecor, 2003's House Of 1000 Corpses. That film was a masterpiece of gaudy and excrutiating violence. However, the only relation that these films have with each other is The Firefly Family.

Now, in my opinion, I think that one of these main actors should have been nominated for an Academy Award for their performnaces. Esspecially Bill Mosely. Now that's just my opinion. Now Rob Zombie has been hit or miss with me. I loved this and House Of 1000 Corpses. I liked his remake of Halloween, didn't care for Halloween II and had a mixed reaction to The Haunted World Of El-Superbeasto. I would, however, like to see The Lord's Of Salem.
 

The choice of music is intresting. (Spoiler) at the end of the film, the family is shot to death by the police. This whole sequence is set to the song Free Bird. I bring this up because the song symbolizes ther freedom, they don't have to run anymore. They don't have to escape from the police anymore. Sheriff Wydell has reached his goal. Everything has been fulfilled.
 

The Devil's Rejects is my favorite Horror film of all time. It has a nitty-gritty feel to it, the violence is off the wall, the performnaces are some of the best I have ever seen, and the writing is magnificent. One of the funniest scenes in the film is when the family stops for some Ice Cream. As Baby and Captain Spaulding ask for the ice cream Otis replies, "There is no fucking ice cream in your fucking future!" Cut to them enjoying some ice cream.