The Devil's Rejects (2005) is a sequel to House of 1000 Corpses (2003). This sequel features the same characters, but with a very different kind of plot. In this film, the sadistic serial killer family is running the show, the victims aren't the stars here, the killers are. The family is on the run throughout the entire film, with the police and a sheriff with his own agenda after them. There are several different reasons as to why I'm not giving this film nearly as high of a rating as it's predecessor. One, is that it's not nearly as creepy. I feel like all the scariness was sucked out but they piled on the sadism and crudeness. In my opinion, that is a big mistake. I liked the first so much because it wasn't just pointless nasty violence, it was actually creepy and had a unique plot. Here, not so much. Two, there wasn't enough interesting details here to keep me engaged. This film felt very run of the mill and lacked the creativity of 1000 Corpses. The writing was also pretty messy, I feel like they just cursed for the sake of cursing. I am no prude and I have no issue with cursing, but when it's literally every two seconds, it comes across as lazy. Overall, this is not a good horror film and it's predecessor is much better. 4/10.

Zombie just don't care, and it'd that which seems to give him the gall to just go all out, devil may care. I liked it because it almost feels real. If there were indeed a cast of monsters, including one monstrously smoking hot blond, they may likely look and act just like this. There truly is a sense of realism.

Damn, this far exceeded my expectations for a Rob Zombie film. It's an exciting road trip movie with plenty of violence and psychotic yet sympathetic characters. A stand out horror movie. Zombie's films are largely forgettable but not this one. Not even a little bit. It's moody atmosphere is the key. Not played for laughs like some of his work or overly indulgent like most of his films.

A prelude informs, "On May 18th, 1978, Sheriff John Quincey Wydell along with local authorities in Ruggsville County led a 'search and destroy' mission on a decaying farmhouse. Inside the house, police discovered a collection of diaries and scrapbook detailing the accounts of more than seventy-five murders. The family responsible for these brutal crimes was forever to be known as 'The Devil's Rejects'," The lurid opening scenes invite questions about the Devil's decision to reject this group of cutthroats, who continue their sadistic violence from "House of 1000 Corpses" (2003). Probably, we are meant to think they are so bad, even the Devil wouldn't have them. So, it's here they stay...Mainly, we follow black-toothed Sid Haig (as Captain Spaulding), sexy blonde Sheri Moon Zombie (as "Baby" Firefly) and demented Bill Moseley (as Otis P. Driftwood). Yes, the names are swiped from Marx Brothers movies, with Groucho's image appearing a couple of times. It's an interesting and potentially plot intriguing homage that adds up to practically nothing... There is very little plot. This film also misses its connection with a bigger picture. "A Clockwork Orange" and "Natural Born Killers" artfully succeeded by shoving society in your eyes and down your throat. "The Devil's Rejects" does a lot of shaky camera shoving, but doesn't strike the chords. The script has some clever lines, but consists mostly of a four-letter word that rhymes with luck...From "Midnight Rider" (the Allman Brothers) to "Free Bird" (Lynyrd Skynyrd), the music, helps put you in a party mood. This was not done by Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino with "Singin' in the Rain" (via "A Clockwork Orange"), "Blue Velvet" and "Stuck in the Middle with You" (via "Reservoir Dogs"). They struck the notes that crept you out...The clown role played by Mr. Haig is the closest writer-director Rob Zombie comes to touching the nerves. More should have been made of his TV program. Have mobs of kids adore him. Show us his fan mail. Drive the "Love-Hate" relationship between violence and American society home. Haig's intro is the film's highlight. While not especially horrific, it is gross and unpredictable. Love the edit from urination to pouring coffee. Points for the dirty pot, too. The dirty texture in sets and locations is a plus. Other characterizations are one-note, through a few hit it adequately. Former "Three's Company" star Priscilla Barnes gets a special shout-out for versatility, endurance and always giving her all.***** The Devil's Rejects (7/22/2005) Rob Zombie ~ Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon Zombie, William Forsythe