Wow! Such a good movie.

Absolutely the worst movie.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Extreme horror films hadn't hit it big until a couple years later in 2005 when Eli Roth's "Hostel" came out and I think if this film had been released around that time it might have been a bigger success. Instead, this film took some years to find it's cult following. The story, such as it is, follows a group of young people, two of which are played by Chris Hardwick and Rainn Wilson, ironically visiting the roadside attraction "The Museum of Monsters & Madmen" run by the wonderfully creep Sid Haig as the clown-faced Captain Spaulding. From there, the film becomes something of a greatest hits of 70s grindhouse horror films. Writer/director Rob Zombie has made a grizzly love letter to films ranging from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" to "Last House on the Left" to "The Hills Have Eyes" to "Spider Baby" to really too many to mention. Zombie has some nice visual stylistics (grainy black & white documentary- like footage, an incredibly long crane shot, or delightfully creepy over-the-top production design) mixed among others that don't quiet work (mainly the ugly photo negative effects). Also in the film's positive column is a to-die-for cast of character actors, including Karen Black, Bill Moseley, Irwin Keyes, Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Dennis Fimple, and Michael J. Pollard. The overall effect of all this is a disconnected mishmash of partially developed ideas that felt as if Zombie was trying to cram in every single horror movie idea he'd ever had into one film. If there is a unifying story, it's the teens trying to survive their captivity by the maniacal Firefly family, which then follows the classic "last girl" horror trope. However there are tons of dangling story threads involving the legend of Doctor Satan, Tom Towels and Walton Goggins investigating the missing teens, or just odd one off musical numbers and other throwaways scenes. Still, despite the film being kind of a mess, it's also kind of a glorious mess for fans of the type of film Zombie is celebrating.

This is my all time favorite horror movie.This is the movie I compare all other horror movies to. Horror is my favorite movie genre, so I watch a lot of them! This is also my favorite Rob Zombie film. I really enjoy the soundtrack to this movie, too. I enjoy the sequels to this film also, but "House of 1,000 Corpses" is my favorite! I would DEFINITELY recommend this movie to any avid horror fan!! Will not disappoint!

There are a lot of haters for this movie. There are, also, plenty of people who worship at its' throne and I am proud to say that I fall into the latter category. Let's just get out of the way that I am NOT a Rob Zombie fanatic. I don't like his music. I was always a little annoyed by his music videos. I pretty much hate his HALLOWEEN films. I do absolutely love the films about the Firefly Family though.This movie is depraved, sick, psychotic and nightmarish and I don't use any of those words with negativity. If you want bland horror, there are plenty of CONJURING ripoffs out there for you. This movie can unnverve you. Many hate and complain of the cutaways, the film clips that are intercut, the odd little side paths that interweave. I think all of it adds to the quality of this movie. Much like Captain Spaulding's Murder Ride, the whole movie is a walk through a psychotic haunted house. Yes, a lot of it feels like a video DJ playing at a Halloween party. If you hate that, I get it. I can understand that it's not everyone's bag, especially if you are of an older generation, but I love it and won't apologize for it.We open at Captain Spaulding's, a gas station/ roadside attraction. We meet our main characters, but also one of the best horror icons of the last 20 years, in Spaulding. He's foulmouthed, funny and scary as well. He takes our kids on the Murder Ride, which really sets the tone, as well as the plot. Zombie has a lot of influences, most he is readily willing to admit. He rips off THE OLD DARK HOUSE? Sure, he shows clips of it right in the movie. His aesthetic is pulled from Tobe Hooper? Absolutely, this ride is every bit a love letter to THE FUNHOUSE.Our introduction to the Firefly family is just as memorable. It's Halloween night and its seem they intend to have a talent show. We know that something isn't right, but it's not yet entirely obvious to our main characters, until Baby's Betty Boop act sets off a jealous girlfriend and all hell begins to break loose.From here, the movie goes all over the place. I understand that this is another major complaint, but it's one of the things I love. It's a pastiche of scenes and each character and villain is allowed to shine and play out their own act. Again, I bring in the murder ride metaphor. It's like a walk through the most twist haunted house you've ever seen. Not every scene is connected, but each is terrifying and the end result is one of absolute terror. Otis, Tiny, Dr Satan, The Professor. These are all amazing characters that will bring fear and absolutely memorable enough to become iconic. The fact that they are continually made into action figures, t-shirts, posters and masks is proof of the lasting legacy of this movie. Yes, there are plenty of haters, but walk into any horror convention and see how many HOTC shirts and cosplayers you see. Plenty of horror comes and goes, to be forgotten forever. This movie is new classic. Accept it.

If there's one thing modern cinema is criticised for, it's that it's made by executives and corporations rather than by fans of the genre itself. However, that cannot be said for the delightfully-titled 'House of 1000 Corpses.' It's made by the (equally delightfully-named) Rob Zombie, who, despite being better known at the time as a musician, is definitely a fan of the horror genre.But, without even going into who made it, perhaps it's the title that should give you all the information you need to know as to whether or not you'll like this film. If you're expecting anything deep and meaningful then you're going to turn it off within minutes. What you have is a pretty standard 'slasher' flick (okay, so it probably bears more in common with 'Texas Chainsaw' types films than 'Scream,' but there are definitely 'slasher' elements thrown in there), but presented with a sense of art. Or, if you're feeling a little harsher, you could replace the word 'art' with 'bits-thrown-in-that-look-like- they're-taken-right-out-of-an-MTV-music-video.' Rob Zombie tries to do something different with the way the film is shot. It's got a lot of cutaway films and stylishly-filmed segments which break up the narrative. Some may find those interesting and different, others may find that they distract from the narrative – it's really a question of taste, but you can see his music video influence shining through.But, you probably don't watch a film called 'House of 1000 Corpses' for its artistic integrity – you want the gore. And it doesn't disappoint on that one. It's packed full of disgusting characters and imagery – from grotesque mutants to gorgeous babes (who are equally grotesque when it comes to their tendency to murder people at the drop of a hat – Sheri Moon Zombie, I'm looking at you!).Overall, 'House of 1000 Corpses' isn't an original story, but it's done differently enough and with the required levels of gore that will satisfy anyone who wants to watch a film entitled so. It does feel a little 'raw' here and there. Sometimes I felt that was almost intentional, other times I wondered whether Rob Zombie was letting his visions get a little too convoluted. However, he definitely proves that he can do more than sing (assuming you agree with that in the first place!) and, seeing as he's a fan of the genre, hopefully this will be a good stepping stone to launch what might be a promising horror career.