#5 – The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2009)
This is the film that everyone seems to forget. That is probably partly to blame on it being his second feature in 2009 and coming on the heels of Halloween II, which was not well-received. It was also his first effort that garnered neither a wide theatrical birth, nor a large marketing push. Toss in the fact that it’s an animated feature aimed solely at adults and you have yourself a recipe for a super cultish film destined to fall through the cracks.
That’s truly a shame, as there’s a lot to love here. Based on his comics, The Haunted World of El Superbeasto showcases a side of Rob Zombie not often seen in his work as a director, outside of maybe his faux Werewolf Women of the S.S. trailer. It retains his trademark vulgarity and crudeness, with a sense of humor on display that truly resides in the gutter, but there’s a childlike sense of joy about it all. The film is a rollercoaster of four-color fun that revels in irreverence, even when it comes to Zombie’s other creations. Yep, you will find a load of cameos here, ranging from Michael Myers to the Firefly clan to even Nazi werewolf shocktroops, all of which are played for laughs.
All of the kitschy, trashy entertainment of his music is also on display, at least in terms of subject matter. The music itself is not Rob’s, but instead a constant fun barrage of goofy tunes courtesy of Hard ‘n’ Phirm. The film is also probably Zombie’s most collaborative to date, with the humor of comedian Tom Papa (who voices the titular role) just as present as Zombie’s. Further setting it apart from his other works is an appropriately childish animated palette that recalls the likes of Scooby-Doo and SpongeBob Squarepants more than it does Ralph Bakshi. Hell, even SpongeBob animator Mr. Lawrence (as well as a few voice artists) pitched in on the project. The result is an uproarious, irreverent adventure packed to the brim with off color humor, horror cameos, and obscure movie references.
