Bringing Out The Dead

How you must have howled last year when the chances of actually getting to see the directorial debut from metal master, Rob Zombie, became very slim indeed. The fairly unambiguous title, House of 1000 Corpses, didn't really give the impression there were going to be fluffy bunnies twitching their little noses and eating carrots in an endearing manner, but that didn't stop Universal from running screaming from the room when Zombie finally unveiled his murderous masterpiece. However, after Zombie was forced to buy back the rights from the studio and MGM was scared away from the negotiation table, Lion's Gate films has stepped up to the plate and bravely taken on distribution duties. Two couples, a storm, engine trouble and a creepy abandoned house: such is the time-honoured premise behind House of 1000 Corpses. Throw in a little homicide, witchcraft and some cannibalism, as well as more gore effects than any sane person should contemplate and you have a film that could well reduce the BBFC to a sobbing, emotional wreck. Nevertheless, Lion's Gate has picked up the gauntlet and the film will hit US theatres early next year in a (slightly) sanitised R-rated format, with both the edit and an uncut, un-rated version scheduled for international release. Lock up your children.