Reviewed By: John BeutlerAdmittedly, as most folks out there probably did, this reviewer went braced, readied, but still somewhat unsuspecting into this recent and eagerly awaited effort, by musician and filmmaker Rob Zombie...already having a great appreciation for his past rendered music and film productions, and yet, naively figuring that I was anticipated prepared and seasoned for whatever he might come up with next. Ah, yes...what was that old saying, about '...the best laid plans of mice and men"?? Ninety-plus minutes after having engaged the premiere of "The Lords of Salem", I caught myself sitting in the theater...five minutes after the screen went black, end credits having rolled...theater lights having come up...frozen in my seat...eyed widened...mouth agape...wondering, '...what the @#$% did I just see??
Speculating the need to afford myself an opportunity for a second viewing of the film, before committing my thoughts here, provided me the respite of clearing the head beforehand, as the film unswerving stayed with me for several days, thereafter...digesting...at some point, early on, I might have even said, 'infesting'. Having now viewed the film a second time, I have to say, without a doubt...Engagingly Pitch-Black Dark and Grim, albeit Irresistible and Unsettling. Grotesquely Beautiful. Nightmarishly Surreal. Disturbingly Twisted. All that one might naturally expect from Rob Zombie, but "The Lords of Salem" takes such expectations, carries them into a much higher level of chillingly disturbing dementia, and hits the unsuspecting viewer...even those well seasoned...with a flooring wallop, the intensity of a mind-numbing, ass-kicking shot-glass of Absinthe's Green Fairy...
