The Devil's Rejects (R, 2005)

common sense media says

A family of sadistic killers—a big no for kids.


parents & educators say
  • 38% say violence is an issue
  • 38% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie includes harrowing scenes of brutal violence, horrendous language, grisly nudity, and frightening family tension scenes. The film includes drinking, smoking, drug use, torture, sex performed under threat of death, murders by penetration by large weapons, car accidents that leave splatty bodies, dead animals, prostitution and pimping, religious sacrileges.

Positive messages: A family of murderers on the run, chased by a vengeful cop.
Violence: Horrific murders.
Sex: Nudity and sexual abuse.
Language: Hundreds of uses of the f-word.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters drink, smoke, and do drugs incessantly.

More on The Devil's Rejects

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about reasons for its resurrection of previous films: why is the family focus of '70s horror reappearing at this moment? What are the threats to today's families that the movie makes both metaphorical and literal?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Like his first feature, House of 1000 Corpses, rocker/director Rob Zombie's THE DEVIL'S REJECTS. is relentlessly ugly, violent, and visceral. All the characters -- killers, victims, and lawmen -- are unsavory. It's not so much a sequel as it is a rearrangement of the characters, as Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig) and his blood-lusting children, Otis (Bill Mosely) and Baby (Sheri Moon Zombie) seek victims and elude state cops.The gore begins when Sheriff Wydell (William Forsythe) and his team raid the home of Mother Firefly (Leslie Easterbrook). Though she is captured, the kids escape, track down their clown-faced father, and run off in search of temporary shelter with dad's old pimp buddy Charlie (Ken Foree). En route to Charlie's, Captain Spaulding and kids stop at a seedy motel, where they take four hostages, including Roy (Geoffrey Lewis) and his wife Gloria (Priscilla Barnes). She endures two sexual tortures, first by Spaulding and then the less focused Baby, both terrible to watch. As Wydell's brother (Tom Towles) was killed in the first film, he has a special desire for revenge here. He hires a couple of bounty hunters to "take care of" his prey, or at least set them up so he can finish them, without worrying too much about legal restraints.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Steeped in allusions to other movies, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS mounts a bit of a challenge to mainstream movie conventions that invite viewers to celebrate violence. Still, with its classic/southern rock soundtrack ("Midnight Rider," "Free Bird," "Reelin' in the Years"), it does grant some pleasure in consuming brutality. And so you have to consider your own reaction to what you see, as a means to gauge its effectiveness.

That Wydell's efforts to get even are so horrific and hypocritical raises questions about vengeance as a pop-cultural (even national or political) theme, in that the pay-off is so meaningless. And concerning Gloria's sexual torture: There's something to be said for making viewers uncomfortable in the face of such abuses, but this movie says it confoundingly.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Lionsgate
Director: Rob Zombie
Cast: Sheri Moon-Zombie, Sid Haig, William Forsythe
Genre: Horror
Run time: 101 minutes
Theatrical release: July 22, 2005
DVD release: November 8, 2005
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: sadistic violence, strong sexual content, language and drug use

This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

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What parents & educators say

17
Based on 16 parent & educator reviews:
  • 38% say violence is an issue
  • 38% say sexual content is an issue
  • 38% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

 
Vile and Mean-spirited
I hate to lend credence to this film by giving it more publicity, but I think it really points to something significantly abhorrent deep in the recesses of the minds of the filmmakers.

 
Movie!
This movie is great for kids!

 
Must see for horror fans.
This is the sequal to his House of 1000 Corpses, however, unlike 1000 Corpses, it's evident Mr. Zombie gave the script some thought. From the beginning Rob Zombie grabs you by the back of your neck and pulls you in to a world of absolute madness, where it holds you not only hostage, but will also force you to question your own sense of right and wrong when you realize you're sympathetic for the Rejects. The movie is extremely violent and the use of profanity would make Al Pachino's Tony Montana blush. Great horror movie, but absolutely not for children or the squemish.

tvgirl
adult
 
Another Rob Zombie movie that is pretty messed up and disturbing. Again, Rob's movie-making skills are not at question. He can carry an interesting story and knows how to direct a film, but unfortunatly he brings it down with disturbing content. In one mentionably disturbing moment a woman is sexually abused at gunpoint to give oral sex to her attacker in front of her husband. There are several instances of graphic nudity. Because of disturbances such as this, it is not appropriate for anyone under 18.

jsharpe
parent of 13 year old
 
ADULTS ONLY
NO KIDS BECAUSE IN THE MOVIE PLENTY OF F-BOBMS,WTF BOBMS,D(D--K) BOMBS AND S-BOMBS. ALSO SEX IS SHOWN IN THE OPENING IN ONE SESNEA WOMAN IS IN THE SHOWER WE CAN SEE BOOBS AND VAGINA ALSO 1 LADY IS IN BRAS AND PANTIES. PLUS THE VIOLENCE IS VERY,VERY,VERY GRUESOME IT'S EARED IT'S R- RATING.

Farva
adult
 
Rob Zombie is a Master of Film
This is a great film for anyone over 17. You have to remember, it is JUST A MOVIE, these things DIDNT really happen. This is a throwback to the great exploitation films of the mid-late 70's/early 80's that were always fun drive-in flicks. If you liked any of these, you will love The Devil's Rejects: The Hills Have Eyes, The Last House on The Left, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (original), these are all great masterpieces of American Film History & The Devil's Rejects proudly takes its place along side them and many others from that era in independent film making. Do yourself a favor, see this movie & remember, IT IS JUST A MOVIE.

 
NOT for minors
Good movie, NOT for kids, Iv'e seen it 20+ times, f-word over 500 times, gory. There are people like this out there

roaringmini
parent of 9 year old
 
Is wrong.. Or..
Story plot fails.. Huge.. SO much wrong.. But at the the time..Each team must work together

movieaddict725
teen, 17 years old
 
No kid should see this. It will scar them.
This movie is disgusting. There's rape, merciless murder, and non stop language. There is nothing redeeming about this movie. Absolutely nothing. Don't watch it.

rebelalliance
parent of 15 year old
 
More of an adult movie, mature teens that don't freak out from a movie like this should be fine
Now I know I just gave it an off for 17+ but I'll be honest my son and I watched this even though I feel like he can handle this but it is a terrible movie filled with violence, language, and nudity

mynameisnick
teen, 15 years old
 
Good movie to watch when kids aren't around
Now honestly as twisted and messed up as this movie is, it never gets old, this a big NO KIDS movie though

ashowiscool
teen, 14 years old
 
I've got to say, this is one of the most gruesome and disturbing movies I've seen. And I absolutely love it. You might wonder why a teen finds such enjoyment in movie gore and sadism, well trust me it has nothing to do with their intentions and we hate it when you turn off our R movie or accuse us of being disturbed beacuse of it. The truth is, its a movie. It's fake. It's fun. Escaping reality is what movies are all about. But anyway, yeah, this is one hell ride of a movie. Lots of gore, relentless language and a rape scene. But the movie is imensly entertaining and if your kid is mature enough, give him back his Rob Zombie DVD's.

abrahm
parent of 13 year old
 
devils rejects
One of the most horrible movies out there

Reidboy95
teen, 16 years old
 
Two thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I just finished watching this movie and..........I loved it! Although this movie has messed up content it's great!!! I enjoyed trying 2 pick who's side I was on and the story was well thought out!!!

Napkap
teen, 15 years old
 
One of the Best Horror Films of All Time
A movie that is beautifully framed and shot, as well as amazingly written and acted, this is a perfect horror film. I do not have a single complaint. We love and hate the three killers at the same time. The movie draws you in and never lets you go until the credits start rolling. It's entertainment at its best.

 
Definately not just one star
This movie was actually VERY good. yes it was insanely violent, had TONS of language- 300+ f words, and sadistic rape and sex scenes. But thats no reason to give it one star. I was on the edge of my seat almost the whole time and the entire movie i could not decide whether to want the Rejects to win or if i wanted the Sheriff to win. ALtogether great, suspenseful, and very inapropriate for most kids under 17, but i saw it when i was 14 and im not messed up :)

 
alot of intence violence and gore, it may disturb you, the language is very strong, and sex, it does have nudity. but it is good, it has plenty of humor, drama, suspence,and horror

 
Look past the blood/gore
Sure every 2 minutes theres a bit of gore here, alot of blood there, but really the movie isn't THAT Bad. Personally I love it. My friends and I saw it in the theatres 5+ times. It's definately not for a younger audience, but the soundtracks great, the characters /actors were well thought out.. the whole movie was put together perfectly. It appeals to a darker side in all of us i think

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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