31 Days of Horror: House of 1000 Corpses is a top tier horror movie
With Halloween around the corner, you need to make sure that you’re watching only the best of the best horror movies – so put House of 1000 Corpses at the top of your list! With a title you won’t forget and a story you can’t forget, this movie is the must-watch for every Halloween.
I’ve seen House of 1000 Corpses many times, but it never fails to entertain and get a reaction out of me. From an immediately stellar opening to an ending that makes you feel like you’re watching a nightmare, this movie has got it all… especially violence (squeamish folks beware).
“It’s all true. The Boogeyman is real and you found him.”
Set in the seventies, the film follows two couples on a trip researching oddities one might see along the rural roads of Texas. After they make a stop at Captain Spaulding’s Museum of Monsters and Madmen, their night slowly takes a devastating turn. The four of them end up in the hands of a strange family of characters who decide to… I don’t want to spoil it for you.
House of 1000 Corpses incorporates a campy tone with sadistic torture in some incredibly interesting ways. A lot of this is due to the unique characters being played by actors that seem to have been made for the part: the stand-out fan favorite being the charismatic clown Captain Spaulding, played by the late Sid Haig.
Although Captain Spaulding is more of a complex character, the entire Firefly family is clearly made up of sick freaks. They all enjoy torturing people, but Otis in particular also enjoys mutilating bodies to create circus-like art.
What else can I say about House of 1000 Corpses? The pacing is consistent, the tension is constantly rising, it’s uncomfortably funny, and Rob Zombie’s soundtrack totally rocks.
Everything is grounded in a brutal yet campy reality until the very end. Speaking of the ending, it is wildly unpredictable and a blast to experience. You have to see it! It’s good to watch year-round, but now is the perfect time.
House of 1000 Corpses is currently available to stream for free on Tubi and Pluto TV.
Are you a fan of House of 1000 Corpses or did it leave you feeling nauseous? Let us know in the comments!