JRE 1353 · September 17, 2019
Rob Zombie
Who is Rob Zombie?
Rob Zombie is a musician and filmmaker. His new film "3 From Hell" is available in select theaters this week and everywhere in October.
Topics and Timestamps
- 01Rob Zombie discusses the creative process behind his new film '3 From Hell' and how it expands the story of the Firefly family
- 02Conversation covers Rob's evolution from musician to filmmaker and how horror influences both his music and movies
- 03Rob talks about working with the same cast members across multiple films and building a collaborative creative universe
- 04Discussion about the practical effects, cinematography, and aesthetic choices that define Rob's directorial style
- 05Rob shares insights on horror as a genre and what draws audiences to transgressive, dark storytelling
- 06Conversation touches on the film industry, independent filmmaking, and the challenge of getting horror films distributed
- ▶Rob discusses the genesis of '3 From Hell' and why he needed to continue the Firefly family story0:05:30
- ▶Rob explains his transition from music to filmmaking and how both mediums feed his creative vision0:18:45
- ▶Discussion about practical effects versus CGI and why Rob prefers old school filmmaking techniques0:35:20
- ▶Rob talks about casting decisions and working with repeat collaborators to build his cinematic universe0:52:15
- ▶Rob and Joe discuss the deeper themes in horror and why transgressive storytelling resonates with audiences1:08:00
The Show
Joe brings on Rob Zombie to talk about his latest film '3 From Hell', the sequel to his cult horror classics. Rob is deep into his filmmaking phase, and this conversation explores how he's evolved from shock rock musician to serious horror director with a distinctive visual style and interconnected universe of characters.
The discussion centers around Rob's approach to horror filmmaking, specifically how he builds worlds and characters that feel lived-in and authentic, even when they're completely deranged. Rob explains his philosophy on using practical effects and real locations rather than relying solely on CGI, which gives his films a gritty, visceral quality that separates them from mainstream horror fare.
Rob discusses the creative continuity he maintains across his films, bringing back familiar faces and building deeper mythology around the Firefly family. He talks about the challenge of making sequels that feel necessary rather than just cashing in, and how he approaches character development for villains and antiheroes who audiences somehow end up rooting for despite their horrific actions.
The conversation also touches on how horror as a genre allows filmmakers to explore themes and push boundaries that wouldn't fly in other contexts. Rob sees horror not just as jump scares and gore, but as a legitimate art form for examining dark corners of the human experience. Joe and Rob riff on what makes certain horror films endure while others fade, and Rob's perspective on his own place in the horror canon.
Best Quotes
“I've always wanted to make movies that felt real, that felt like they were shot in actual locations with real people, not just actors pretending.”
— Rob Zombie
From the JRE 1353 conversation with Rob Zombie.
“Horror is the one genre where you can explore the stuff that nobody else will touch, where you can really push boundaries and say something.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1353 conversation with Rob Zombie.
“The Firefly family just wouldn't leave me alone, you know? I had more story to tell with these characters.”
— Rob Zombie
From the JRE 1353 conversation with Rob Zombie.
“People connect with these characters because they're fully realized, they're not just cardboard cutouts or stereotypes.”
— Joe Rogan
From the JRE 1353 conversation with Rob Zombie.
“Filmmaking is just an extension of what I was doing with music, it's all about creating a world and pulling people into it.”
— Rob Zombie
From the JRE 1353 conversation with Rob Zombie.
Mentioned in This Episode
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