3 From Hell
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2003 singer Rob Zombie stepped off the stage and behind the camera to deliver his first feature film House of 1000 Corpses. The film did well enough for him to return to offer up more from the Firefly family with his 2005 follow up Devil’s Rejects. This was a radically different film that further showed his skill as a filmmaker while making what appeared to be a great finale to the story. After moving on from this story into a variety of other horror films over the years including his remake of Halloween and more recently 31 in 2016, Zombie is bringing the Firefly family back once again in 3 From Hell. Could this film live up to the last outing or should they have stayed dead?
First there was House of 1000 Corpses. Then there was The Devil's Rejects. Now, from writer/director Rob Zombie comes the next blood-soaked chapter in the most violent crime saga in history… 3 From Hell. This latest chapter brings back the original cast of Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, and Sid Haig alongside a great supporting cast including Richard Brake, Danny Trejo, Daniel Roebuck, Clint Howard, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Emilio Rivera, David Ury, Dee Wallace, Pancho Moler, Austin Stoker, Tom Papa, Dot-Marie Jones, Richard Edson, Richard Riehle, Kevin Jackson, Billy Blair, Steven Michael Quezada, Bill Oberst Jr., Sylvia Jefferies, and Sean Whalen.
I love the first two films of this series on every level, but they are completely different tonally with The Devil’s Rejects standing out as the better of the two films. Like most I assumed we were done with the Firefly family and I was insanely excited to hear that we were going to get to see them on screen again when the film went into production. Once again it is a bit different in tone, but sticks pretty close to Rejects as it continues their story. As expected it offers up plenty more insanity and blood soaked fury like only these characters can deliver.
Everyone is great here and although I totally understand why, I was a bummed to not get much from the late Sid Haig this time around, but his time here is great as always. I honestly thought it was going to make the film lose something, but the addition of Richard Brake to the family works to perfection. Seeing him round out the trilogy of terror alongside Otis and Baby is insanely fun to watch. While the last film seemed like a pretty definitive ending this new chapter makes sense and works to take them to an all new level allowing them to not only move forward to wreak new havoc, but also deal with some of their past dealings.
This is yet another blood soaked gritty chapter of the Firefly family like only Rob Zombie could deliver. If you are not a fan of either of the previous films then you will no doubt dislike this one, but I loved it. It was everything I didn’t know I wanted and more for this franchise and I hope there is more to come, but if not it serves as yet another good ending for the famed rejects.
In addition to the rated feature this release offers an unrated version of the film as well as bonus content including commentary and a 4 part documentary on making the film available only on the Blu-ray. Join in on the blood soaked fun and grab your copy of 3 From Hell available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.
Check out my interview with Otis himself, Bill Moseley, as we talk about returning to the character in 3 From Hell here.