The rock-star-filmmaker recalls the trials and tribulations of getting his directorial debut to the big screen.
The movie was filmed three years prior, in the summer of 2000.
So why did it take so long to hit the screen?
‘House of 1000 Corpses’.Everett Collection
“But it was a f—ed up journey to make it all good.”
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you strike the deal with Universal to makeHouse of 1000 Corpses?
We just had lunch, and [he said], “What do you want to do?”
Sid Haig in ‘House of 1000 Corpses’.Everett Collection
and I said, “Well, I’d really lIke to make movies.”
He set up a meeting, I went over to Universal, met with Kevin.
It just seemed like it kind of kept going.
Rob Zombie on the set of ‘House of 1000 Corpses’.Everett Collection
It was the easiest I ever got a movie made!
What was your guiding spirit with regard to casting the roles?
Some people, maybe three or four, I wrote the roles with them in mind.
‘House of 1000 Corpses’ Blu-ray set.Lionsgate
It was definitely Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, and Chris Hardwick.
They were all people I wanted to be in the movie, the roles were developed around them.
I always wanted Michael J. Pollard because I just always loved him.
‘House of 1000 Corpses’ SteelBook.Lionsgate
It was really like a wish list of who I really liked to put in the movie.
No, it’s not.
It wasn’t like it was between Rainn Wilson and 50 other guys.
As soon as I saw him, I go, “That’s the guy.”
Same with Walton Goggins.
The people that are interesting pop out quick, if that’s what you’re looking for.
I think Universal didn’t like any of my casting back then.
I just like people to look normal.
You’re famously a fan of the Universal monster movies from the ’30s and ’40s.
What was it like to actually be shooting on the Universal lot?
It was really great to be there.
It felt like you’re really making movies.
That part was really exciting.
They would set up the tables in front of thePsychohouse and we’d eat lunch up there.
Or sometimes I’d just sit on the steps of theMunstershouse and eat lunch.
So it was constantly interrupting us while we were shooting.
That was kind of weird.
How did you find out that Universal was not going to release the film?
I thought the screening went well because the audience was engaged and cheering and yelling.
And then they left.
I was like, well, that doesn’t sound particularly good.
And that was it.
At the time, I was sort of like,good.
But then, as time went on,nobodywanted the film.
It sat on a shelf for almost three years.
I was like, this sucks.
How did Lionsgate get involved?
He was a really good dude.
Everybody there was really cool.
Lionsgate was kind of small and very personable.
This was years later.
And that’s when they took it.
When did you realize the film had begun to acquire a hardcore cult following?
It was a modest success and then it did really well on DVD.
Nobody was on social media, or anything, because that was 2003 you just had no vibe.
I was like, is anybody even watching this movie?
I don’t f—ing know.
Does anybody like it?
And he had his entire leg tattooed with all the characters fromHouse of 1000 Corpses.
It just slowly kept going.
Have we seen the last of theHouse of 1000 Corpses/Devil’s Rejects/3From Hellworld?
Probably as far as theatrical films go.
Maybe there’ll be graphic novels or other things.
At this point, the three movies feel like they go well together.
It took a lot of work to get the third one made and no one’s getting any younger.
So, yeah, I think we got in just under the wire to make a trilogy.
Do you know what you’re doing next?
I’m just focused on music.
I tour all summer with Alice Cooper and then I want to start making another record.
As far as films go, no.The Munsterswas exhausting.
That was an exhausting movie to make.
It took almost five years of non-stop pushing.
[Laughs] So the whole experience was very draining.
I won’t and I don’t want to.
The only reason I would ever want to is because I like making sequels.
You have so little time with the first movie to develop these characters.
TheHouse of 1000 Corpses20th-anniversary box set and SteelBookis now available to buy.
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