Viewing Journal: 9/27/2016

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(2016 dir. Rob Zombie) Date Seen: September 27 2016

I've generally loved all of Rob Zombie's cinematic output up until this, which i'm on the fence about. While there are colorfully surreal villains & funny one-liners, it mostly plays like a carnival spookhouse riffing on RUNNING MAN (1987). There's a distracting artificiality to the proceedings that makes it difficult to feel the victim's dread. Plus the first few kills are pretty standard slasher film fodder. Doesn't establish a very inspiring threat. Perhaps they thought the atmosphere of the set design would up the creepy factor enough, but that can only get you so far in my opinion. Also, is it just me or did Sheri Moon turn playfully crazy way too quickly? Seems like she was barely scared of the situation for a few minutes.

Zombie did this 'caught in a spider's web' scenario much more effectively with HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES (2003)..