If you know me at all you know that I am a horror fan. I've
written about enough horror films and talked about how much I enjoy the good
ones but take to task the bad ones for being just that, bad movies. Of course
the horror genre has also had its share of so bad its good films too, but for
the most part bad is just bad. This week's release THE LORDS OF SALEM doesn't
fall into that category but for me it didn't reach the status of classic
either.
The story revolves around Heidi Hawthorne (Sheri Moon
Zombie), a local DJ who with partners Herman "Whitey" Salvadore (Jeff
Daniel Phillips) and Herman Jackson (Ken Foree) have the hottest show going in
Salem, Massachusetts. A combination shock jock, funny folk and music playing
trio they're on late night and garner great ratings. One night as they're
leaving the station Heidi is told she has a package, an oddly made box that
contains an album in it by someone calling themselves The Lords.
Heading home with Whitey the friends have dinner and get
stoned then put the album on. Immediately Heidi begins to go into a trance and
have strange visions while Whitey experiences nothing. From that day forward
Heidi continues to experience odd things, especially while dreaming. Most of
the dreams center on the room at the end of the hall in the house her apartment
is in. The landlady, Lacy Doyle (Judy Geeson) tells her no one rents that room
but the dreams make her believe otherwise.
The next night they have a guest on the show, an author
named Francis Matthias (Bruce Davison) who has written a book on the witches.
As his piece on the show ends, they play the album on the radio station and it
begins to affect women all over Salem. Could this somehow tie in to the witches
seen during the films opening sequence where they were attempting to bring for
Satan?
Matthias, hearing Herman call the group the Lords of Salem
begins to worry. He's read that name somewhere in his research. Digging deeper
he continues to seek answers to his questions, eventually going to Heidi's
apartment only to find her gone but Mrs. Doyle and her two sisters Megan
(Patricia Quinn) and Sonny (Dee Wallace) there. How they tie in becomes
apparent early on but just what happens before the end of the film is a bit
disturbing.
On the good side I will say that this is a brilliant looking
film. It seems as if no budget was spared in making it and several shots in the
film are magnificent to behold. They're like nothing seen in a horror film
lately, at times reminding me of THE SHINING. I'll give director Rob Zombie
credit on this issue mainly because I was afraid after his last several films
that he'd turn into a one note director with a penchant for showing slummy
looking houses and people in every film. Here he clearly steers away from that
and comes up with a visually appealing film with images that may stick with
you. Another great thing is the acting with all involved turning in solid
performances. Horror stalwarts like Ken Foree (a great guy if you ever get the
chance to meet him), Michael Berryman and Andrew Prine all get screen time that
they deserve more of.
It's those images that are the most disturbing. Don't go in
expecting a slice and dice killer flick or a monster of the week here. The
movie deals with the issues of satanic rituals and witches that are involved in
dark arts. Most sequences involving the witches have them completely nude and
covered in something vile. While I was at first angered by the amount of
negativity in the movie that seemed desperate to cling to the edgy rock and
roll attitude of Satan spewing head bangers I slowly realized that the movie
went no deeper into that area of story than ROSEMARY'S BABY did 45 years ago.
If that movie bothered you than this one will take you over the top.
Zombie uses slow pacing to his advantage here, allowing the
story to unfold rather than be rushed. It gives him time to play out the images
that he's chosen, disturbing though they might be to most people. Each and
every actor here turns in a believable performance in this unusual setting.
I can't honestly say that I loved or hated this movie. It
will take a second viewing to decide. Horror fans will flock to this film for
the name recognition of Zombie alone. Some will watch it out of curiosity. For
those willing to take a look keep in mind what you're getting into and know up
front that the more tame viewers will be shaken up.
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