On the Big Board |
Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
120/166 |
David Mumpower |
I actually recommend this for people who like their films dark and ultra-violent. It was way, way, way too much for my genteel sensibilities, though. It makes Sin City look like Mary Poppins. |
Well, well, well; what a difference an actual release makes. Rob Zombie’s gore-fest languished on the shelf at original distributor Universal for quite a long time, reportedly due to the studio’s concern over the extremely graphic and realistic violence depicted in the film. Then riding to the rescue came Lions Gate, which purchased distribution rights and finally provided the highly-anticipated flick a limited release in April of 2003. And the horror-movie fans who had heard rumors and seen teaser stills on the Internet flocked to the theatres, giving House of 1000 Corpses an opening weekend gross of $3.46 million on 595 screens, which works out to an impressive per-screen average of just over $5,800. The film went on to make a shade over $12.5 million domestically without ever getting into four digits for its screen count. Based on reported budget, House of 1000 Corpses was in the black before closing its US run, and with overseas and ancillary market grosses still to come, Lions Gate risk-taking was rewarded with a tidy little sum.
So naturally, a sequel has been commissioned. And on an accelerated schedule, relative to the first film; Lions Gate plans to have the second film in what it hopes will become a franchise in theatres within a year of the first film’s release. The studio also plans a wider release for the second film, hoping to see the same impressive per-screen average on a greater number of screens. All of which might make Universal a little regretful over the decision to let the film go.
For those who didn’t see the first film, House of 1000 Corpses tells the heartwarming story of the Firefly family, practitioners of murder, witchcraft, and cannibalism, just to name a few of the atrocities visited upon unsuspecting folk who cross their path. Their backyard hides a wealth of secrets, which two couples - along with the audience - discover after being told the legend of Dr. Satan by Captain Spaulding. For the sequel, the Firefly family will take a road trip, encountering another clan of bloodthirsty psychopaths, leading to an epic battle between the two blood-drenched families. All of which will undoubtedly be shown in as much gory detail as is possible for the mind of Rob Zombie to conjure and the magic of the effects people to render. Are you a movie
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Will House of 1000 Corpses 2 be successful enough to encourage Lions Gate to create a House of 1000 Corpses franchise? Only time will tell. Anticipation will be less than it was for the first film; however, Rob Zombie has shown a knack for amping up the gore factor to 11, and there will certainly be a number of fans from the first film eager to see how he manages to take the carnage to the next plane.
Besides, how can you not like a horror film franchise where the main male loonies are all named after Groucho Marx characters? (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)
Vital statistics for The Devil's Rejects |
Main Cast |
Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, Karen Black |
Supporting Cast |
Sheri Moon, Irwin Keyes, Diamond Dallas Page, Ken Foree, Mike Berryman, Tyler Mane, Steve Railsback, PJ Soles, Danny Trejo, Natasha Lyonne, Rosario Dawson, MC Gainey, Ginger Lynn Allen, Mary Waronov |
Director |
Rob Zombie |
Screenwriter |
Rob Zombie |
Distributor |
Lions Gate |
Trailer |
Click Here for Trailer
|
Official Site |
http://www.thedevilsrejects.com/ |
Rating |
R |
Running Time |
101 minutes |
Screen Count |
1,757 |
|
Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture |
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Comparison films for The Devil's Rejects |
Title |
Date |
Opening |
Adjusted Opening |
Screens |
PSA |
Adj PSA |
Total BO |
Adjusted Total |
Mult |
From Dusk Til Dawn |
1/19/96 | 10.24 |
13.97 |
2004 |
5110.00 |
6705.4 |
25.07 |
34.20 |
2.45 |
28 Days Later |
6/27/03 | 10.06 |
10.06 |
1260 |
7985.00 |
7985.0 |
45.06 |
45.06 |
4.48 |
Wrong Turn |
5/30/03 | 5.16 |
5.16 |
1615 |
3164.00 |
3164.0 |
15.42 |
15.42 |
2.99 |
House of 1000 Corpses |
4/11/03 | 3.46 |
3.46 |
595 |
5816.00 |
5816.0 |
12.58 |
12.58 |
3.64 |
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