There’s a good chance you didn’t even know Rob Zombie had a new horror film on the horizon. That film, 31, has been quietly working hard to become a reality over that last several months, and the main reason why it has been so low-key is because Zombie took the crowdfunding route with this one. While it certainly raised a few eyebrows to see someone like Zombie—who no doubt has the money to make a low budget movie—reach out to fans to get his Halloween-set slasher off the ground, it turned out to be a worthwhile endeavor because it has officially wrapped production and will be unleashed into the public sooner than later.
I’ve avoided writing about 31 all this time simply because these crowdfunded projects have the tendency to disappear forever, but now that filming has officially wrapped, it’s time to get excited about a new Rob Zombie film. His new film is set during the best time of year, Halloween, and it focuses on maniac clowns who kidnap 5 carnival workers and put them through 12 hours of hell. It’s a nasty concept that will be at its nastiest with a guy like Zombie at the helm, that’s for sure.
I know it can be hard to get behind a new Zombie film—he does deliver a very special brand of what-the-fuck horror—but the early fanboy response towards 31 has been unfairly negative. My take on Zombie’s films is that, while far from perfect, he’s always very close to something great. The Lords of Salem is a good example of how far he has come as a filmmaker, and although that particular movie has some major flaws, it’s a straight up nightmarishly shot and gorgeous looking slice of horror. Simply put, he’s the kind of mind you want making horror movies, for better or worse, because one of these days he’s going to nail it, and it’s going to glorious. Could that film be 31? We’ll see.
The official synopsis goes like this:
31 follows five carnival workers who are kidnapped the night before Halloween and held hostage in a large secret compound known as Murder World. Once there, they have 12 hours to survive a terrifying game called 31 in which “The Heads” – murderous maniacs dressed as clowns – are released to hunt them down and kill them.
The players and their roles:
Tracey Walter as Lucky Leo; Meg Foster as Venus Virgo; Judy Geeson as Sister Dragon; Jeff Daniel Phillips as Roscoe; Jane Carr as Sister Serpent; Richard Brake as Doom-Head; Ginger Lynn as Cherry Bomb, Doom-Head’s very special friend; Malcolm McDowell as Father Murder, the owner of Murder World; David Ury as Schizo-Head; Daniel Roebuck as Pastor Victor; Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs as Panda Thomas, the manager of a traveling roadshow known as “The Venus Lux Happy Time Fun Show”; Pancho Moler as Sick-Head; Tracy Walter as Lucky Leo; E.G. Daily as Sex-Head; and Torsten Voges as Death-Head as well as Sheri Moon Zombie, Lew Temple, Bari Suzuki, and Devin Sidell.
Below (and above) is an early look at the film as well as some really cool art.
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I’m with you. I’m not sure what all the hating on Zombie is about. I was not as turned of by his first Halloween re-imagining as many were, and I continue to think Devil’s Rejects is one of the more disturbingly brilliant films I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait to see 31, which I hadn’t heard of prior to your post.
Right? The hate towards Zombie is completely unnecessary, especially considering his take on Halloween was one of the better films in the franchise (imo). Rejects is an utterly insane and totally awesome flick and I hope he finds the same success with 31, which could certainly put him there.
Glad I could get you up to speed on this one, man!
The only film of Rob Zombie that I haven’t truly liked was The Lords of Salem. Other than that I can’t wait to see what he has in store for us with 31. The cast alone is worth it for me. Oh and did you know that Murderworld is the name of the deadly and dangerous lair of the X-Men villain Arcade?
Oh and by the way-Halloween and Devil’s Rejects-loved them both. The hate toward Zombie is not only unnecessary but also unfair.
I had no idea about the X-Men thing, that’s really cool! You’re right, it’s completely unfair and really doesn’t make any sense. Horror fans are an irrational bunch, that’s for sure.
All one has to do is look at how a lot of people treated the Evil Dead remake to realize that.
No kidding, man. Any negativity towards that film 100% baffles me. Like, what else could a horror fan ask for?!
I don’t hate Zombie–he’s made some good films and I much prefer his movies to his music–but I’m finding it hard to get excited about this one. It just sounds like Zombie doing typical Zombie stuff.
No doubt I’ll watch it though.
I’d have to agree, this does sound like the most Rob Zombie movie ever, but hopefully he blends the look of Salem with the style of Rejects because that could be great.
Hi Ryan, I loved all Zombie’s movies except Salem, I saw it twice. He’s very good at making horror movies. Don’t get the haters. I will definitely watch this one. I love how he uses a lot of the same actors in his film. Glad to see Meg Foster acting again, always loved her eyes. Looking forward to the trailer.
Glad to hear that, Penny, and I’m right there with you! His stuff, love it or hate it, is a special brand of horror that not a lot of genre filmmakers do, so for that I’ve always appreciated what he brought to his films.
I agree. If he ever does get one right, it could be spectacular. I didn’t like House of 1,000 Corpses and wasn’t crazy about Devil’s Rejects, but I thought the Halloween remake was decent; but then he made the horrific WTF sequel that was all kinds of crappy; then I actually hated the Salem movie he made. So, I am close to giving up on him, but like you said one of these days he could actually nail it, and if he does so, could be an all-time classic. I will give this one a chance if I hear positive things. That’s what I’ve got you, Isaacs and Tyson for to filter out the crap so I don’t have to watch. lol.
My thoughts exactly, although I was a fan of Rejects. The first Halloween was a solid take on the franchise and actually made Myers scary again. Hated Salem as well, all style no substance.
Hahah, yeah I typically avoid the crap as well, which is why most of my reviews are positive. Those two are great for movies NOT to watch!
Yessssss! Again, I reiterate, I am looking forward to this. I firmly believe that Zombie is the whole entertainment package. Really. He does everything, and he does it all his way and it works.
Huge fan of Zombie as well. I think the dude has a very particular style that not a lot of people appreciate enough. Hoping he nails this one.