Famed musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie is releasing his newest film come September 2022: The Munsters. The trailer features bright and colorful sets and costumes, as well as his signature off-beat horror styling. His older films already established a distinct brand of horror unique to Zombie, including his 2003 horror/comedy House of 1,000 Corpses.
House of 1,000 Corpses showcases the macabre flair that Zombie is recognized for. Zombie carved out his own campy and gory style with dramatic makeup and a blend of creepy motifs like dolls, clowns, and satanism. His work is unique for a plethora of reasons, and he caters to fans of all things bloody and weird. So, what are some elements of Zombie's style that he introduced with his debut film House of 1,000 Corpses?
House of 1,000 Corpses takes visual inspiration from two main sources: '70s horror films and the heavy metal scene. The plot of the 2003 film resembles Tobe Hooper's slasher classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974). Both films feature a group of teenagers traveling into rural America, only to meet their doom by a bloodthirsty and isolated family of killers. They both also use actors wearing makeup to highlight the deviancy of these backwater killers. Just like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), several characters in House of 1,000 Corpses wear makeup to reinforce their intentions toward outsiders. Otis Driftwood (Bill Moseley) paints his face white and draws a cross on his forehead to prove his demonic motives, and Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig) wears clown makeup to reflect his nihilistic tendencies.
In House of 1,000 Corpses, Rob Zombie leans into modern styling taken from his interest in heavy metal music and carnivals. Along with the satanic-themed makeup and long hair of Otis Driftwood's character, there are lots of clown and doll costumes. Elements of Captain Spaulding's character and museum and the Driftwoods' house are overly theatrical, including literal rides. The theatricality of heavy metal music, with its focus on looks and the occasional event designed for shock value, combined with the bloody violence of House of 1,000 Corpses, turns the film into an exaggeration of what some people think alternative subcultures are like. Zombie leans into this dramatization and creates a visual style that is unique to his intersection of heavy metal musician and horror filmmaker.
In addition to the movie's visual look and inspirations, Rob Zombie utilizes themes of violence throughout the film. No one is safe from the dangers that lurk on the Driftwoods' property, not even the police. Violence is used for different meanings, including "art," torture, intimidation, and experimentation. It's also used to depict the Driftwood family as bloodthirsty antagonists in House of 1,000 Corpses. However, Zombie's sequel to House of 1,000 Corpses, The Devil's Rejects (2005), flips this around and turns the Driftwood family into the protagonists. In Rob Zombie's world, extreme acts of violence are simply part of life, no matter who's "good" and who's "bad."
House of 1,000 Corpses also showcases Zombie's musical style. He co-wrote the film's score with Scott Humphrey. Together, they created a sonic landscape filled with heavy metal sounds and elements of country music. The music in House of 1,000 Corpses blends genres to create Zombie's version of a horror score, based on his own history as a musician and the setting and look of House of 1,000 Corpses. The music in Zombie's upcoming film The Munsters will likely sound different, as the film is based on a show with an existing theme. There's always a possibility for a Zombie-esque remix to the original The Munsters theme, complete with heavy metal guitar riffs.
While The Munsters will be released with a much more family-friendly rating than House of 1,000 Corpses, Rob Zombie is sure to leave his mark on his new film. Already the trailer reveals a very stylized and campy take on the 50-year-old show. With lots of colors, fun costumes, and intricate set pieces, The Munsters is sure to be a wild ride, especially coming from the legendary mind of Rob Zombie.