Morgan BellREVIEW: Rob Zombie's Halloween (for Bryn)
September 16th 2008 13:25
I rarely watch horror movies, so not surprisingly this remake really took my fancy . . .
Director: Rob Zombie (House Of 1000 Corpses, The Devils Rejects)
Written: Rob Zombie - adapted from the original 1978 screenplay by John Carpenter (Dark Star, The Fog, Escape From New York)
Starring:
Dr. Samuel Loomis (child psychologist) - Malcolm McDowell
Ismael Cruz (Michaels caretaker at the sanitarium) - Danny Trejo
Michael Myers (adult) - Tyler Mane
Michael Myers (age 10) - Daeg Faerch
Deborah Myers (Michaels mum) - Sheri Moon Zombie
Judith Myers (Michaels older sister) - Hanna Hall
Ronnie White (Michaels defacto step-dad) - William Forsythe
Sheriff Lee Brackett - Brad Dourif
Laurie Strode - Scout Taylor-Compton
I dedicate this post to our resident horror movie reviewer, Bryn, as he is a true horror fan who I know adores the original 1978 Carpenter "Halloween" and didnt particularly enjoy this remake - if you want to see an experts opinion on how Rob Zombie's version compares to the original CLICKHERE for "Halloween (2007)" by Bryn on Horrorphile
However, I must confess, I myself am not a fan of the horror genre and I have never seen the original so I can only review Rob Zombie's Halloween as a stand-alone piece. I experienced this film without any specific hopes or expectations, but afterwards I was sure to check out what Bryn had to say:
Bryn - Horrorphile
This quote pretty much sums up exactly why I did like this film. Rob Zombie presents us with a massive amount of back-story and gives us the chronological progression of the key moments that warped the mind of a young boy into a that of a detached monster. Zombie literally lifts the mask on the cult character of Michael Myers. It wasnt "jump out of your seat" scary but it was very sobering in its realism.
Rob Zombie's Halloween is to the Halloween franchise as Hannibal Rising was to the Silence Of The Lambs franchise, or as Batman Begins was to the Batman franchise . . . it is a heavily detailed prequel which sheds a new light on the motives of a pop-culture icon . . . it uses a different perspective to humanise a one-dimensional boogeyman . . . exactly what Bryn said right? It depends whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing!
Psychologically this script is fascinating! Traumatic events shape Michael's childhood to the point where he completely withdraws and cant relate to people anymore. We see Michael as a socially awkward boy struggling to cope with bullying, a broken home, an abusive step-parent, the overt sexuality of his mother and sister, the neglect of being left unsupervised, the ridicule of his peers and family, even his descent into mutilating animals . . . and the result is a de-sensitised man who uses masks to escape into a different (stronger and colder) persona.
There is a healthy dose of female nudity in this film but I thought it was done tastefully and emphasised the confidence of the female characters. The nudity was also a plot device serving to suggest that displays of sexuality were a trigger for Michaels murderous rages (he was routinely taunted about his mother working as a stripper and was exposed to her promotional posters). Perhaps the most interesting thing about this film is the ambiguity of why Michael is pursuing Laurie Strode - is it to kill her or to seek a human connection with her?
I think Rob Zombie has made an intelligent and complex film about the consequences of mistreating children, it is horrific but is it good horror? Probably not . . .
Director: Rob Zombie (House Of 1000 Corpses, The Devils Rejects)
Written: Rob Zombie - adapted from the original 1978 screenplay by John Carpenter (Dark Star, The Fog, Escape From New York)
Starring:
Dr. Samuel Loomis (child psychologist) - Malcolm McDowell
Ismael Cruz (Michaels caretaker at the sanitarium) - Danny Trejo
Michael Myers (adult) - Tyler Mane
Michael Myers (age 10) - Daeg Faerch
Deborah Myers (Michaels mum) - Sheri Moon Zombie
Judith Myers (Michaels older sister) - Hanna Hall
Ronnie White (Michaels defacto step-dad) - William Forsythe
Sheriff Lee Brackett - Brad Dourif
Laurie Strode - Scout Taylor-Compton
I dedicate this post to our resident horror movie reviewer, Bryn, as he is a true horror fan who I know adores the original 1978 Carpenter "Halloween" and didnt particularly enjoy this remake - if you want to see an experts opinion on how Rob Zombie's version compares to the original CLICKHERE for "Halloween (2007)" by Bryn on Horrorphile
However, I must confess, I myself am not a fan of the horror genre and I have never seen the original so I can only review Rob Zombie's Halloween as a stand-alone piece. I experienced this film without any specific hopes or expectations, but afterwards I was sure to check out what Bryn had to say:
Zombie’s screenplay has a whole back history explaining why Michael Myers becomes the psychopathic killer we all know and love him for. But by explaining everything, Michael becomes less and less the boogeyman, and more and more just your average fucked up mass murderer.
Bryn - Horrorphile
This quote pretty much sums up exactly why I did like this film. Rob Zombie presents us with a massive amount of back-story and gives us the chronological progression of the key moments that warped the mind of a young boy into a that of a detached monster. Zombie literally lifts the mask on the cult character of Michael Myers. It wasnt "jump out of your seat" scary but it was very sobering in its realism.
Rob Zombie's Halloween is to the Halloween franchise as Hannibal Rising was to the Silence Of The Lambs franchise, or as Batman Begins was to the Batman franchise . . . it is a heavily detailed prequel which sheds a new light on the motives of a pop-culture icon . . . it uses a different perspective to humanise a one-dimensional boogeyman . . . exactly what Bryn said right? It depends whether you think this is a good thing or a bad thing!
Psychologically this script is fascinating! Traumatic events shape Michael's childhood to the point where he completely withdraws and cant relate to people anymore. We see Michael as a socially awkward boy struggling to cope with bullying, a broken home, an abusive step-parent, the overt sexuality of his mother and sister, the neglect of being left unsupervised, the ridicule of his peers and family, even his descent into mutilating animals . . . and the result is a de-sensitised man who uses masks to escape into a different (stronger and colder) persona.
There is a healthy dose of female nudity in this film but I thought it was done tastefully and emphasised the confidence of the female characters. The nudity was also a plot device serving to suggest that displays of sexuality were a trigger for Michaels murderous rages (he was routinely taunted about his mother working as a stripper and was exposed to her promotional posters). Perhaps the most interesting thing about this film is the ambiguity of why Michael is pursuing Laurie Strode - is it to kill her or to seek a human connection with her?
I think Rob Zombie has made an intelligent and complex film about the consequences of mistreating children, it is horrific but is it good horror? Probably not . . .
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I'm a massive fan of the original so I viewed the film from that perspective. I am a Zombie fan too, but found that by giving the character a cliched back story Michael Myers became just another serial killer instead of the unstoppable force of evil that he originally was...took all the horror out of the film.
I think it would have been much more interesting if there was no specific trigger for the young Michael. If he came foma normal home with no obvious trauma then it the character would have been much more terrifying. As it is the plot seemed to just be a rehash of any number of other like minded films.
Good review though.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Your review was well written (you're a great writer, but we all knew that), but it didn't do anything to change my own mind about how I feel toward Zombie's take.
There is an extraordinary mysticism about the first movie that is still challenging. Zombie was trying to re-envision the concept, and I can appreciate the angle, but only as an angle. As a product, the movie didn't scare me at all. I didn't believe any of the acting, especially Malcolm McDowell. The whole abused childhood was tedious and predictable.
What makes the original so chilling is the apparent senselessness and floating menace. You can argue, as you have, that this simly makes Michael Myers a one-dimensional character, but I beg to differ. In fact his presence, and this is the operative word, is what makes the movie so powerful as a nightmare movie.
I gravitate more toward films that capture the elusive, but highly atmospheric, qaulity of dreams. The original Halloween is much more of a nightmare than Zombie's movie. His feels more like late night television for the Y-generation. I'm being harsh, but I'm calling a spade a spade. Zombie jettisoned almost everything which made Carpenter's Halloween so effective. Why else would the original still command such respect from horrorphile's thirty years after it was made?!
I'm curious to know what your thoughts after watching the original, as I don't know anyone in that position: watching the original after Zombie's version. I hope you endeavour to do so ... For me?
Have you read my review for the original Carpenter version?
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
I wouldn't mind seeing this being a big fan of Carpenter's original too but Rob Zombie puts me off - The Devil's Rejects and House of 1000 Corpses would have to be two of the worst films ever made, I needed to take a shower after watching both.
Thanks for the review anyway but I can't imagine anything that guy does being tastefully done somehow!
Comment by Ruth Moratz
Treasure Hunt Adventure
Cinema Herald
Lilac Blue's Pad
You definitely have to see the original. The music alone will send shivers down your spine. I don't really like the slasher type movies, which is one of the things that makes Halloween so great. It's scary and creepy and will have you jumping at any small noise, but without all the buckets of blood.
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Ruth, along with Alien, the original Halloween is my fave horror of all time. I agree that nothing from the original needs improving.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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i like your description of the original Michael as an "unstoppable force of evil" and I completely agree that this was not the Michael that was presented in Rob Zombie's vision
Zombie's Michael had an element of safety to him where he seemed misunderstood and i felt if they could pry the mask from his face it was stop his psychotic break
hi Bryn,
as soon as i saw that movie i thought "i wonder what Bryn thought of that?" haha
i saw one of the sequels, H20, and wasnt very impressed so i never made a point of watching the original . . . perhaps that is where the horror genre fell down with my generation a bit, we saw the substandard sequels and then dismissed the whole thing? (just a theory)
i essentially agree with you that without the senselessness there is no nightmare, no horror, it wasnt very scary . . .
actually it was more frustrating seeing Michael as a victim that could no longer be helped . . .
i think i enjoyed it because i feel more comfortable having everything explained, every dark corner having a light shone into it - it could be a trend in youth culture or just my personality type?
i will make a point of reading your review of the original and tracking down a copy on DVD, ive noticed you always put it in your "Top" lists, i feel like im missing out on something!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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something tells me that fans of the original probably wont like this version - too much lifting of the veil! haha
i really like Rob Zombie as a musician and i think he has a very uniquely stylised vision of women in general which i have never found offensive
when i saw this film i was reminded of one of the White Zombie album covers called Supersexy Swinging sounds, it has a very retro feel to it like the movie does
Comment by Morgan Bell
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in my eyes this is probably one of the best endorsements you could have given for a horror movie:
if i wasnt tempted to seek out the original before, i am now!
thanks for the comment!
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
That must be Rob's wife whatsherface on the cover of the White Zombie album, right? Can't think of her silly-sounding name, but she's in all his movies, including Halloween, playing the stripper mother ... I suddenly am reminded of Nazereth's Love Hurts playing which was the taking of the proverbial cake.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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yes Rob's wife plays Michaels stripper mum in the film and has the strange name of Sheri Moon Zombie but she isnt credited with being the model on that particular cover
i cant find the name of who the young lady actually is on the cover
Supersexy Swingin Sounds was the 1996 remix album and the photography was credited to Peter Gowland who did alot of the 1960s Playboy photography
apparently Mr & Mrs Zombie dated for 13 years before she married him in 2002 (so she knew him at the time of the album release), and she has appeared on numerous covers and film clips for White Zombie and Rob's solo work
ill give you two examples and let you decide if its her or not - your guess is as good as mine:
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
Comment by Morgan Bell
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*snigger* Moon Unit . . . *snigger*
that Frank Zappa was out of his mind . . .
Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile