Musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie releases the 3 from Hell trailer. The horror film is a continuation of the narrative established by House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects. As a whole, the films focus on the crimes of the fictional Firefly family during the late ‘70s.
Born Robert Bartleh Cummings, Zombie is an original member of the heavy metal group White Zombie. In 1998, he released his debut solo album, Hellbilly Deluxe, and released his directorial debut, House of 1000 Corpses, in 2003. Produced for $7 million, the film earned over $16 million at the box office, and is widely regarded as a cult classic. House of 1000 Corpses takes place on Halloween, and stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, and Sheri Moon Zombie as the villains. For the 2003 sequel, The Devil’s Rejects, the main cast returned for a story that picks up seven months after the first film. The Devil’s Rejects was also made for $7 million and earned over $19 million in theaters, which preceded Zombie’s 2007 franchise film Halloween, a remake of the original horror classic of the same name. Filming began for 3 from Hell last March.
On Instagram, Zombie released the teaser clip for 3 from Hell. While the 50-second video doesn’t include much information about the film’s plot, it does feature numerous striking shots of the Firefly family. In the first half, the trailer acknowledges the films that came before, with grainy images complementing the ominous score and blood red graphics. In the final half, Haig’s heavily-bearded Captain Spaulding delivers a menacing laugh, while Moseley’s Otis B. Driftwood and Sheri Moon Zombie’s Baby make equally creepy appearances. There’s a distinct grindhouse aesthetic to the trailer, which won’t surprise fans of the original two films. The 3 from Hell clip ends with a gunshot and throwback voiceover narration that’s reminiscent of retro classics. Watch the 3 from Hell trailer below.
3 from Hell marks Zombie’s first feature since the 2016 horror film 31, which also starred his wife, Sheri, and had a relatively small budget at $1.5 million. However, 31 failed to earn a profit at the box office. For 3 from Hell, Zombie enlisted veteran character actor Danny Trejo, along with horror icon Dee Wallace - a legitimate “scream queen.” Prior to appearing in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Wallace starred in horror classics like The Hills Have Eyes and The Howling. She later collaborated with Zombie for the aforementioned Halloween remake.
For now, 3 from Hell’s storyline remains obscure, but the trailer's release will undoubtedly please Zombie’s loyal fanbase. Though the musician’s films may not appeal to mainstream audiences quite like Bohemian Rhapsody, Zombie has proven himself to be an effective filmmaker, one who’s capable of helming a high-profile film. If 3 from Hell is mildly successful, then Zombie may get another shot at a franchise reboot, if indeed he’s interested in such an opportunity.
Source: Rob Zombie