The Lords Of Salem
Riana Stellburg
About The Goods, and Freelance Photographer and DJ
What is your official title/occupation? Let’s just say I’m the everything girl at a local hip-hop/sneaker shop called About The Goods. I also do freelance photography and DJ on the side.
Where and with whom did you see the movie? I saw it at Ward Theater with my boyfriend, Robin Taclas (DJ Revise).
Overall, what did you think? I wasn’t sure what I watched. I left the theater feeling puzzled and uncomfortable.
Without giving away the ending, what was one of your favorite scenes? I really liked the beginning scenes of the DJ, Heidi’s (Sheri Moon Zombie) apartment. You can really tell a lot about a person by their home space. I felt like it showed off her personality and her style.
On a scale of one to four stars, what would you rate this film? ★ .Going into the movie, I already knew it would be twisted, because that’s (director) Rob Zombie’s style. The whole time I was watching it, I kept looking at my boyfriend in disbelief. Zombie’s interpretation of horror is just not my cup of tea, and I really do enjoy horror/gory films.
What did you think of the cinematography? I think this was the only aspect that I really appreciated. Although I didn’t necessarily like what was being shown in front of me, I did like the way Zombie showed different perspectives. I feel like he really played around with the angles and depth of field. Also, something that I noticed were the colors. Whenever the main character was going through her daily routine, the colors were very dead and boring, in contrast to when she was going through her visions, the colors were vibrant and bright.
Was the message/theme clear? Not really. I was going back and forth with the message, whether it was about the devil’s music and how it made people feel crazy and the whole story of the witches of Salem. It seemed like a lot of ideas were going around and it just didn’t flow really well.
Did it remind you of any other work in film? Honestly, Rob Zombie and his films are one of a kind. There’s no film or director out there like him, and I really think he has his niche with that. One thing I noticed is that he always has his wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, in all his movies. In this movie, she’s the main character, which was different. Usually she plays the role of a killer, not the victim.
Did any of the actors stand out? I thought Sheri Moon Zombie stood out the most. She seemed the most natural when it came to acting. Everyone else just seemed fake or overplayed.
Did you identify with any of the characters? I guess, in certain ways, Heidi. When she was going through her visions, she felt as if she was losing her mind and she began to push all the people who cared about her away. I feel like everyone goes through that in some point of their lives.
Did the soundtrack contribute significantly to the film? Yes. Rob Zombie is a musician known for his band White Zombie, so it’s only fitting that he heavily involves the soundtrack. In this particular movie, a vinyl record that arrives in Heidi’s hands actually starts the chaos in the movie.
Would you buy this movie when it comes out on DVD? No. It was one of those movies you watch one time and never watch again.
What’s your favorite movie snack? Popcorn with mochi crunch and li-hing mui pineapples. Those are the essentials!
On a different note, what’s new with you? I actually have a photo gallery coming up on First Friday, May 3, at In4mation’s The Human Imagination in Chinatown, featuring Hawaii hiphop’s cultivators. It’s my first solo photo exhibit and the first Hawaii hip-hop gallery, so it’s a huge deal for me.
