Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem

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Not long ago, Rob Zombie said that he’d soon be announcing his next directorial project.

And now the info is out. It isn’t the remake of The Blob, nor Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Stoke up the fire and put the cauldron on to boil, kids: Rob Zombie’s back and this time he’s tackling witches. Thanks to some cash backing from Paranormal Activity’s Jason Blum, Steven Schneider and Oren Peli via their Haunted Films company, he’s turning a long-gestating script called The Lords of Salem into his next film.

The horror thriller will take place in modern-day Salem, Massachusetts, famous – or should that be infamous – for the witch trials that took place in the 17th century. That history comes back into play when a 300-year old coven of witches starts causing trouble for the inhabitants. The film will be a thriller, “set in contemporary Salem, where the inhabitants receive a demonic visit from a 300-year old coven of witches.”

Zombie has apparently been noodling with the concept for a few years, but put it aside to work on other things. Now, though, he’s shoved it front and centre and will write a shooting draft while he’s out on tour this year, to kick off shooting in 2011. He seems especially glad at the deal Haunted Films offered him, which could best be described as carte blanche. “What excited me most was Jason saying, 'you can have total control over the script, casting and final cut,'” Zombie tells Deadline. “I said I’m in.”

Zombie says his best filmmaking experience to date has been with LionsGate on The Devil’s Rejects, and that Rejects is his best film. He says the battles on the two Halloween movies were draining. (”By the time I got [my way], I didn’t care anymore.”)

Speaking to Deadline, Zombie also name-drops The Shining as an example of a slow-burn film that might not get made by a studio now, which suggests that he might go for a longer, more deliberately paced film while making The Lords of Salem.

But what of The Blob, which he announced he’d be remaking a year ago? For those of you that don’t know, the director announced last year that he had plans to remake the 1958 Steve McQueen classic with a budget akin to Cloverfield and District 9. Not much was known about what his take on the film was going to be like, but he did say that he had plans to change the design of the blob itself.

We have good news for those who disliked his Halloween movies and bad news for fans... Zombie’s happy to stay with something original, and is ditching all his specially bought jelly moulds. “I wanted to break away from anything related to pre-existing material,” he says. “The remake train is getting pretty tired now and when I made Halloween, everybody complained, either that it was too much like the original or too different. I like that people either love or hate what I do because it’s better than being in the middle, which means forgettable. But when you do an original premise, they take it on face value and after three years of not being able to win on Halloween, I just couldn't go through that again.”

[neverending]

Well, that's good news- I'd like to see him doing more original material.

[Elvis_Christ]

Can't wait. I was hoping he'd get back to something original.

[fiend_skull]

I'm glad to see him doing what he wants to with full control. I personally loved both "House of a 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects" and I have been hoping that he'd return to doing original material.

[wufongtan.]

The good news is. His wife won't require any make up. When she gets the role of head witch. lolz.

[fortunato]

Yeah, I'll be looking forward to this.

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Rob Zombie announced today via his official Facebook that Meg Foster has joined the cast of The Lords of Salem, which begins lensing this fall from the producing team behind Insidious and Paranormal Activity.

Foster will play "Margaret Morgan", the leader of a secret coven of witches in Salem.

She has appeared in such films as John Boorman's The Emerald Forest, Sam Peckinpah's The Osterman Weekend, John Carpenter's They Live and Robert Kaylor's Carny.

"The story is about a local DJ who mistakenly unleashes a hellish curse on the town. 300 years earlier on the very streets of Salem that the townspeople walk on today, innocent folks were rounded up from their homes, convicted of being witches and sentenced to death. The Lords of Salem ran the town with an iron fist, but four witches who were tortured and killed in secrecy vowed that one day they would be back for revenge."

[Zero]

confession time: i hate rob zombie & all his films


whew that feels good

[Ritualistic]

I havent posted on here in forever but I hope to be posting more or when I have time to do so. I actually cant wait for this film, Im also glad he is getting back to some original stuff. We will see if its gunna be worth it. I think it will be.

[Elvis_Christ]

Holy shit Ritualistic! How's things? Been awhile :D

[Ritualistic]

Holy shit Ritualistic! How's things? Been awhile :D

I know!! Been a long time since Ive been on here. Things are great btw, thanks for asking. How is everything your way?

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A little update on Rob Zombie's Facebook revealed who will playing who in his movie within a movie Frankenstein vs The Witchfinder.

Playing at the Salem theater in The Lords of Salem, Suspiria's Udo Kier plays the hero "Matthew Hopkins" aka "Klaus the Reap", Clint Howard (Ice Scream Man) is the dwarf "Carlo Caravaggio", Dan Roebuck (Final Destination, Halloween 2, John Dies at the End) is revived as "The Frankenstein Monster", and Camille Keaton (I Spit on Your Grave) was cast as the wench "Doris Von Fux".

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g12/ravenavi/los-fvsw110911.jpg

"The story is about a local DJ who mistakenly unleashes a hellish curse on the town. 300 years earlier on the very streets of Salem that the townspeople walk on today, innocent folks were rounded up from their homes, convicted of being witches and sentenced to death. The Lords of Salem ran the town with an iron fist, but four witches who were tortured and killed in secrecy vowed that one day they would be back for revenge."

[fortunato]

Haha, that poster is great.

[RZR666]

Despite not really liking a single Rob Zombie movie and after the god-awful H2, I'm still kind of excited for this because he knows how to push boundaries. I'm sure he'll make a horror movie that I can actually enjoy soon enough.

[fortunato]

Despite not really liking a single Rob Zombie movie and after the god-awful H2, I'm still kind of excited for this because he knows how to push boundaries. I'm sure he'll make a horror movie that I can actually enjoy soon enough.

I thought his Halloween movies were rubbish, but I enjoyed his original films, especially The Devil's Rejects. I'm really keen to see what he does with this one, especially with a plot that recalls the heavy metal horror movies of the 80s.

[Fearonsarms]

This is intriguing-look forward to seeing it.

[TimMiller2011]

It's called Lords of Salem, coming out sometime this year.

http://www.slashfilm.com/rob-zombie-talks-the-lords-salem/

[newb]

Sounds interesting. It will be nice to see Meg Foster in a movie again......great eyes

I'm actually looking forward to see him do his "biker grindhouse" movie and the western.

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Mod Note :- Thread exists. Merging threads.

[Elvis_Christ]

I'm impatiently waiting for this one. All his movies have ruled fuck the haters.

[fortunato]

I'm impatiently waiting for this one. All his movies have ruled fuck the haters.

I am, too. Whether or not perople think the Halloween movies were good, the two original films he did were awesome. Very excited to see this one.

[pterostigma]

I liked House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects; I also have a weakness for the witchy stuff, so I'll probably see this in the theater. Sid Haig will be worth it.

[ImmortalSlasher]

The short Zombie did on Grindhouse was his best work to me. I still haven't seen his Halloween 2. I didn't like his remake of Halloween at all. I watched his first movie and thought it was just a crazy mix of stuff.

[CannibalHolocaust]

Sid Haig will be worth it.

no doubt. i love rob zombies movies except those remakes... but yea

[FreddyMyers]

Almost seems like it could be a slow burner. Although i dont think thats even in RZ's vocabulary.

[fyfjoe]

The Trailer dropped today, this movie looks amazing. I don't remember Rob Zombie having done such beautiful visuals previously.

Anyway, here's the trailer

xbcSupkCyOk

[Sentinel65]

Being in MA, I've always found the Salem Witch Trials interesting. This could be really good.

[neverending]

He posted on FB that they didn't finish the film in time to get bookings in theatres soon enough, so the general release is going to be delayed somewhat.

[Angra]

Almost seems like it could be a slow burner. Although i dont think thats even in RZ's vocabulary.

Seems so.

Might be dull as fuck, but it looks like something i would watch. Looks freakin weird.

[fortunato]

Lots of Argento going on in that trailer. Definitely excited to see this.

[roshiq]

Wow! Who knows...this may create some Oscar-buzz for Zombie!;)

[ManicOne]

Gotta say, am now kinda excited.. Just hope its not too heavy on the cliche...

[Posher778]

confession time: i hate rob zombie & all his films


whew that feels good

$ 50 says all the 300 year old witches drop the F bomb EVERY TWO SECONDS throughout the movie.

[Ice Pik]

Ehh...I'm up in the air about this. House of a 1,000 corps was great but I thought devils reject was boring and crappy. Halloween remakes were ehh. 1st one was good but there was too many nude scenes kinda disappointing. I thought I was watching a HBO late night movie and the second one was just kinda off. So his movie career to me is either a hit or a miss. Kinda like his music. 2 good songs and 12 crappy songs on each CD.

[knife_fight]

I liked House of 1,000 Corpses and thought Devil's Rejects was entertaining. Never saw the Halloween remakes.

There is some heavy Argento influences, as someone else said, but it looks like there are some Haxan-esque scenes also. And maybe a black metal music video thrown in for good measure.

I'll definitely see it, just maybe not in the theater.

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I'll definitely see it, just maybe not in the theater.

A real blast from the past. Welcome back, knife_fight.

[knife_fight]

A real blast from the past. Welcome back, knife_fight.

Thanks! I've been lurking occasionally, but this thread was the first I heard of the new Rob Zombie flick, so I figured I'd chime in a bit.

[Ghoulie Joe]

$ 50 says all the 300 year old witches drop the F bomb EVERY TWO SECONDS throughout the movie.

Ha ha and if it's anything like his other movies the ladies will bust out a stripper pole.

I'm a little excited because I heard Patricia Quinn will be in it.

[Shemonsterdevil]

Merp, I can't say that I have liked a single film that rob zombie has put out... But I am hopeful. The ( were loosing them lets cut to some grind house footage) just wont fly in this. I will give chance. Do not disappoint me mr zombie.

[jaimin26783]

couple of weeks ago i was looking on IMDB for any new movies of rob zombi, but i didn't found any details. Now, I am glad to hear that he is back with new movie. Rob Zombi makes very good horror movies.

[horrorfangirl66]

Anyone else a Rob Zombie fan? If so, what do you think about the upcoming Lords of Salem? Zombie stated that it was the kind of film he always wanted to make. The newest trailer just recently came out. I am excited, but I love his work.

[fortunato]

Very keen to see it myself. I liked his first two films, but hated the Halloweens, so it's good to see him back working on his own material. It definitely looks different than what he's done before, too, stylistically.

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Merged with existing thread on same topic. Please do a Search henceforth.

[horrorfangirl66]

Oh oops, sorry. I am new. I didn't see a discussion from the main board. I will do a search from now on. But hey we have the same interest lol. Only have to wait two more months for the release. Been waiting since it was first announced as well. :)

[Zero]

I have to say it - with the risk of offending folks - I think Rob Zombie is the most overrated horror director working today. All his films (YES - I said ALL) are crap and derivative in pathetic ways. The worst of this bad bunch (House and Halloween II) are completely incoherent. As a filmmaker - Zombie is a great music video maker - he should stick to that medium and leave feature length films to people who can develop narratives and characters.

[Angra]

I have to say it - with the risk of offending folks - I think Rob Zombie is the most overrated horror director working today. All his films (YES - I said ALL) are crap and derivative in pathetic ways. The worst of this bad bunch (House and Halloween II) are completely incoherent. As a filmmaker - Zombie is a great music video maker - he should stick to that medium and leave feature length films to people who can develop narratives and characters.

I agree with monkey boy.

[knife_fight]

I think House is his best, personally. I would love it if he had left out the last 20 minutes or so (the Doctor Satan stuff).

I didn't bother seeing his takes on the Halloween franchise.

I've heard that this movie is going to be like Jodorowsky's "Holy Mountain", which I love. More of a psychedelic, surreal, horror than straight narrative.

I guess it's just a case of "different strokes for different folks", but Lords is his first movie since House that I'm excited to see.

[horrorfangirl66]

I have to say it - with the risk of offending folks - I think Rob Zombie is the most overrated horror director working today. All his films (YES - I said ALL) are crap and derivative in pathetic ways. The worst of this bad bunch (House and Halloween II) are completely incoherent. As a filmmaker - Zombie is a great music video maker - he should stick to that medium and leave feature length films to people who can develop narratives and characters.

No offense here. We all have different tastes. I did not care for Halloween II either, I found it to be messy and unnessesary to his first intention. He should have stopped at Halloween;which I liked personally. I am a fan of all his others. The Devil's Rejects being my favorite. I also liked his animated one, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto,if you haven't seen that you might enjoy it, its funny. :)

[Bob Gray]

I agree with monkey boy.

I disagree with you both.

[Giganticface]

I suppose I am a Zombie fan and have enjoyed all four of his movies, but can't say I've loved any of them. I probably still like House of 1000 Corpses the best due to its weirdness and direct homage to old movies. Devil's Rejects was an improvement in overall storytelling, but it lost some of the charm that the first one had.

I actually kinda liked both Halloween movies, but would have liked them more if he renamed the killer from "Michael Meyers" to "Bob" or something, and didn't have him wear a Michael Meyers mask. He didn't really respect the original Halloween concept, but the movies were still enjoyable in their own right. I didn't like that we saw Meyers' backstory and are led to empathize with him. One of the best things about Carpenter's Halloween is that the killer has no motive and no human elements. Succumbing to the fact that we have a backstory, I actually liked the surreal "mommy" moments in H2, but thought it was overused.

It also annoys me that all his characters need to use the F-word three times in each sentence, and agree that the first Halloween had too much softcore entertainment in it. Also, the way the chick screams the entire movie in H2 is a bit annoying.

That being said, I'm definitely looking forward to Lords of Salem.

[Ice Pik]

The Devil's Rejects to me was a horrible slasher. The only part I like was when they were buying the chickens "Ya'll ain't plan on....." idk..... after watching his films to how he discuss horror films you would think he's two different people.

IDK. I like Rob Zombie but he makes me lose interest in him more and more everytime I see something new from him...... Should of just dropped off after hillbilly delux.

[KrimsonKing]

I've enjoyed his films so far and have been eagerly awaiting Lords Of Salem. I've seen some clips where the female lead is having what appear to be some trippy moments and they've been really effective. As with the dream sequences in Haloween 2, Zombie manages to do nightmarish, surreal sequences really well. I have good feelings about this film.