12 Incredible Horror Movies With No Jump Scares
11. The Devil's Rejects (2005)
At 53%, The Devil's Rejects holds the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of all Rob Zombie-directed horror films. That might not be saying much, although the 78% audience score is much more noteworthy. Among both fans and critics, this sequel to House Of 1000 Corpses is typically considered better than its predecessor in nearly every way.
The Devil's Rejects replaces the cheesy shock scares of its predecessor with extended scenes of grindhouse sadism. While this bullet-filled road trip doesn't always feel like a horror movie, its roots in 1970s exploitation films will become especially obvious once the titular Rejects begin toying with a group of innocents at a motel. The culmination of this, in which a woman is forced to wear her late husband's face over her own, is among the most disturbing scenes Rob Zombie has ever directed.
More disturbing than anything, however, will be the tonal shift in the third act. Baby, Otis and Captain Spaulding were the villains of the first film, but in this film they're clearly intended as the protagonists. When they're hunted by an equally twisted and deranged sheriff, it puts the audience in the uncomfortable position of rooting for their escape. After a time, it will dawn on viewers with some sense of decency that they're rooting for a group who has committed not only brutal murders but also at least one highly disturbing sexual assault.
The Devil's Rejects is a true grindhouse film, but it's one that causes analytical viewers to question their motives for watching horror movies in the first place. There's something inherently sick about enjoying the tortures, murders and other crimes committed in this type of film. The Devil's Rejects understands that, and won't let you forget it for a moment.