RELATED: Malevolent Music: Memorable Horror Movie Scores
Seeing that Rob Zombie focuses on themes of horror and macabre, his filmography will be rated according to how thrilling and unsettling each installment is, with special attention given to the scare factor. The deciding element, however, will be the overall entertainment value of each Rob Zombie masterpiece while considering the audiences’ (dis)approvals too.
The Munsters (2022)
Terrifying: 0/10
Disturbing: 1/10
Gruesome: 0/10
If his name wasn’t in the title (nor his wife cast in the lead role), die-hard Rob Zombie fans would probably never have guessed he is behind The Munsters remake. While he makes great efforts to cultivate the nostalgia around this classic tale (based on the 1964 original series) the goofy, lighthearted, family-friendly technicolored vibe is rather offputting for those familiar with Rob’s work.
Much in the same way that The Addams Family cleaned up their act to draw in a more diverse audience, The Munsters makes horror, well, cutesy, but without enough wow factor to leave a long-lasting impression. Slapstick and low budget are not usually a winning combination, and, unfortunately, this film is no exception. Rob Zombie did not have as much freedom as usual while working with Universal 1440 Entertainment, so he cannot be held completely accountable for the inadequate results.
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)
Terrifying: 1/10
Disturbing: 6/10
Gruesome: 5/10
This animated feature is anything but PG-rated and boasts a perverse and violent lineup filled with disturbing yet imaginatively crude characters. When a luckless luchador transfers his energy away from the wrestling ring and towards the supernatural realm to take Dr. Satan head-on, an epic adventure is almost guaranteed! Based on Rob Zombie’s own comic creation, this one-of-a-kind hilarious horror explores a whole other element of his capabilities.
RELATED: The Addams Family: Best Versions Of Wednesday, Ranked
The fact that The Haunted World of El Superbeasto is animated does not inhibit Rob Zombie’s ability to deliver a healthy dose of sex appeal, which has become another one of his signature styles. These luscious ladies subsequently spend a great deal of time in the nude (or halfway there) with enough foxiness to give even Jessica Rabbit a run for her money.
Halloween II (2009)
Terrifying: 5/10
Disturbing: 9/10
Gruesome: 8/10
Not many people had high hopes for the sequel of a remake, even if Rob Zombie is behind the wheel, and as per usual, fans either love it or hate it. Many viewers have an issue with the fact that Michael Myers seemed to be emulating the spirit of Jason rather than sticking to his own roots and believe that Rob Zombie made too many changes to the original source material to allow this film to sit coherently within the Halloween franchise.
On the other hand, Rob Zombie flexes his epic cinematography skills with those disturbing dream scenarios while the blood, guts, and gore flow like an endless river. Deborah Myers is now portrayed as a lost spirit to ensure that Sheri Moon still has her time to shine, however, several other roles were re-cast (which some viewers found to be quite jarring.)
The Lords of Salem (2012)
Terrifying: 4/10
Disturbing: 6/10
Gruesome: 4/10
Viewers have strong contrasting opinions about The Lords of Salem and were either gravely disappointed or consider it to be Rob Zombie’s greatest creation. This slow burner adopts a different tone to his typical work, peppered with sinister satanic vibes depicted in a more serious light than before. The role of Heidi Hawthorne is arguably Sheri Moon’s best work to date, as her portrayal of a recovering addict/Radio DJ/occultist is captivating and eerie (and for once, does not heavily rely upon sex appeal.)
The overall ambiance of the film is enough to send chills down the spine but does not offer up many jump scares or bloodbaths (which is what fans have come to expect from Rob Zombie’s movies.) Paranormal Activity’s director Oren Peli adds his own creepy element to the storytelling, but many fans recommend watching this music-orientated nightmare more than once to truly get a good feel for the film.
Halloween (2007)
Terrifying: 7/10
Disturbing: 9/10
Gruesome: 9/10
This Michael Myers reboot is an ode to the classic teen slasher-thriller franchise, amped up by Rob Zombie’s flamboyant use of foul language and signature bloodsoaked yet creative carnage. This particular edition of the franchise delves into the masked murderer’s backstory, giving fans the unique opportunity to sympathize with the source of their nightmares.
RELATED: Halloween: All The Movies, Ranked By Michael Myers’ Death Scenes
Many dedicated Michael Myers fans were unimpressed by Rob Zombie’s assessment of the character, which shows someone who is essentially a product of child abuse and trauma rather than simply being inherently evil. Nevertheless, Halloween is a great introduction to this legendary character for those unfamiliar with John Carpenter’s work.
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
Terrifying: 8/10
Disturbing: 10/10
Gruesome: 10/10
The colorful characters of Captain Spaulding (aka Doctor Satan), Otis, and Baby make their first appearances in this twisted tale which shows what life might be like for a family of deranged serial killers with no chill. While not a direct adaptation, this three-part series holds several similarities to the true-crime novel dedicated to the Manson Family murders, “Helter Skelter”, but with more guts and gore than ever before.
The kill count in House of 1000 Corpses makes a great effort to honor its namesake, with each death evaluated in gruesome detail. Various snippets from legendary horror masterpieces (and strangely enough, The Office) are sprinkled throughout the film, paying homage to the greats that came before.
3 from Hell (2019)
Terrifying: 8/10
Disturbing: 10/10
Gruesome: 10/10
Rob Zombie certainly pulls on the audiences’ heartstrings with 3 From Hell, as viewers can’t help but sympathize with the murderous villains, rooting for them to survive the repercussions of their crazed antics in The Devil’s Rejects. This infamously psychotic Firefly family takes another swing at their murder spree, but this time around, with even fewer inhibitions than before.
It is truly unfortunate that Captain Spaulding didn’t receive a greater role in the franchise’s finale, but sadly Sid Haig was immensely ill during production and passed away mere days before the film was released. The rest of the Firefly Clan complete their terrifying tale in his absence, however, the impact that Doctor Satan had made was sorely missed.
31 (2016)
Terrifying: 9/10
Disturbing: 10/10
Gruesome: 9/10
While 31 may not have the same emotional impact as the Firefly Series does, it is arguably the scariest of all Rob Zombie’s tales, as the creep factor is elevated significantly by delving deeply into the mind of a bunch of psychopathic clowns (the most terrifying things in any horror film!)
RELATED: Most Terrifying Movie Clowns
Richard Brake does a simply phenomenal job in the lead role, with enough potency to make the Joker seem like an absolute sweetheart. Meg Foster and Malcolm McDowell make some surprising and memorable appearances and for once Rob Zombie doesn’t go overboard with his iconic shock factors but keeps things relatively tame, opting to emphasize the strong psychological thriller vibes instead.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Terrifying: 8/10
Disturbing: 10/10
Gruesome: 10/10
The Firefly Clan are at it again and this time around, the local Texan high school (and many other unsuspecting bystanders) is the recipient of their brutality. There is little room for error with Sheriff Wydell hot on their heels, especially since he has enlisted the help of the “Unholy Two” for this western-styled horror film.
The suspense builds as the authorities close in, however, in a strange twist of fate, viewers find themselves hoping these deranged hooligans will escape. Somehow Rob Zombie manages to pull a giggle or three from the blood-soaked audience; in amongst all the torture, tragedy, and savagery. Many fans agree that this is Zombie’s best work yet, and it was one of the few films to receive praise from the general (vanilla) public.
MORE: Iconic Talking Animals In Horror
