“Hello, America. Did you
miss me?” 3 From Hell is the belated third, and likely final, entry in
Rob Zombie's grisly 'Firefly family' saga. Following on from the psychedelic slasher
circus of 2001's House of 1,000 Corpses and the down 'n' dirty killers
on-the-run road movie of 2005's The Devil's Rejects, 3 From Hell
might seem inexplicable considering the spectacular guns-a-blazin' finale of
the previous film (arguably Zombie's finest cinematic moment), but the
story's continuation, maybe somewhat incredibly, actually works.
“Free The Three!”
Having been riddled with lead, the audience discovers that Otis (Bill
Moseley, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie,
The Lords of Salem), and Captain Spaulding (the late, great Sid
Haig) clung to life and were promptly sentenced for their heinous crimes.
Now, ten years later, they are perceived as cult anti-heroes as a TV
documentary within the film lays out with star struck groupies watching on from
the sidelines, championing The Devils Rejects' status as the ultimate in
anti-authoritarianism – they are the ultimate expression of freedom in a fucked
up world. Reflecting the bizarro cult status that world's most notorious serial
killers have gained – such as the likes of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and John
Wayne Gacy among many others – this extended opening sequence proves to be one
of the film's most fascinating and enjoyable moments, thrusting the
fringe-dwelling Firefly clan into the limelight...
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“I'm just a clown dancing
to the sins of mankind.” Inevitably, you can't keep these deranged
lunatics in a cage forever, with Otis and new character Foxy (Richard Brake,
31) busting Baby out of prison so they can once again seek to turn us
into the product in their 'murder factory'. It should be noted that,
sadly due to failing health, Sid Haig was only able to return for a brief scene
(which was shot in secret while the nervous insurance nerds weren't looking),
and while his absence is notable and keenly felt, it's admirable that Zombie
was still able to close out Spaulding's story, even if not as originally
intended. Stepping in to support Otis and Baby, Richard Brake's twisted Foxy
successfully merges into the established group as their half-brother, sharing
Otis' warped sense of humour and Spaulding's amusement at Baby's own particular
brand of shenanigans.
“There's no justice in this
world. I am justice!” However, the film's main focus naturally falls on
that of Otis and Baby, and more so on the latter, who has come somewhat askew
since we last saw her, the result of a decade of incarceration, isolation, and
survivalism. She is beginning to question how long they can keep going – and
even if they should. Indeed, one of the most striking aspects of Zombie's three
sojourns with the Firefly clan is that the writer/director has consistently
drawn his audience uncomfortably close by humanising the 'bad guys' and
tainting the 'good guys', which is further explored through Pancho Moler's
put-upon artist/bellhop Sebastian. It's an effective tool, making the viewer
believe that they could possibly talk their way out of a sticky situation with
these wolves, only to realise that such thinking would be futile. Otis,
meanwhile, seems to have grasped his status as an icon for the diseased world
of 1988 – a fitting role for a grandiose pontificator with as much flair with a
sound bite as a hunting knife. Suffice it to say, the family vibe continues to
be strong in front of and behind Zombie's camera, something else which horror
fans should enjoy.
“Now we can have a real Day
of the Dead.” When it comes to style, 3 From Hell is much closer
to The Devil's Rejects than that second film was to House of 1,000
Corpses. Accompanying the gritty, grainy visuals we see a return of the
scene transitions and freeze frames that worked so well before – it even
appears as if some of the aerial footage from the previous film has been dug
out of the vaults, to go along with familiar sounds on the music track: Slim
Whitman and Terry Reid among them. Likewise, the violence is presented in full
bloody flush – explosive, sadistic, and not for the faint of heart or easily
offended – even now in an age when movie gore is so accepted by wide audiences.
“They're trying to blame
us, but we didn't do it.” While the film is strong, it's not without
some faults, chief among them being the lack of a strong central antagonist to
trouble the remaining Firefly family members. The Devil's Rejects
benefited from the inclusion of the vengeful Sheriff Wydell (William
Forsythe), but for most of its running time 3 From Hell pitches
Otis, Baby, and Foxy as both hero and villain simultaneously. Circumstance as
well as Baby's lack of self control, (and even a little bit of ennui),
it seems, is mostly the threat that faces them until an early act of Otis' own
revenge catches up with the trio in the final act. As a result, the film can at
times lack the propulsive pace that its predecessor brandished with such
vitality, an issue that 3 From Hell directly expresses when Otis
confides with Foxy that he doesn't know what to do next and that he didn't
think they'd make it as far as they have. To be fair, though, it is no mean
feat to follow up such a perfectly made film as The Devil's Rejects,
certainly not after this many years, and so it's only inevitable that 3 From
Hell cannot live up to such expectations. Indeed, it's a tall order for any
sequel attempting to break into a horror fan's heart, which tends to be so
tightly bound to previous outings in a series. However, 3 From Hell does
benefit from a consistent creative through-line of tone and intent with Rob
Zombie as the saga's guiding light, something which few horror franchises can boast.
It'll be intriguing to see, in a few years time, if 3 From Hell can
settle in comfortably beside its forebears.
“Kill 'em! Kill 'em! Kill
'em all!” Those who have taken against Rob Zombie as a filmmaker will
most likely not be won over by his latest cinematic outing (and let's be
honest, the hatred oozing from some is almost pathological), while his
hardcore followers will, conversely, lap this flick up – but more partial
observers should find plenty to commend 3 From Hell, which is also a
welcome return to form after the impressively grotesque but half-cooked murder
party that was 31. Thrusting Otis and Baby into new territory also adds
some new wrinkles to a well worn cloth, even if their celebrity status is only
partially explored, and the supporting cast of genre favourite faces both new
and familiar (Danny Trejo, Dee Wallace, Clint Howard, and many more)
further boosts proceedings. On the one hand the film can occasionally feel
slightly too-long, but sudden bursts of thunderous action and blood-letting are
never far away; expect dusty border towns and domestic homes alike to be
painted red. Even some of the more delirious fervour and splashes of colour
found in House of 1,000 Corpses return, boldly combining gruesome grit
and fabulous flair with a dark sense of humour. 3 From Hell may be a
little off-peak, but it is a strong and worthy follow-up to Zombie's best film.
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