"While I did enjoy this version more than the first; I wish that Zombie would have kept with his version of Michael, instead of harkening back to Carpenter's original work."
John Carpenter's original Halloween was a pinnacle in horror filmmaking. While I personally believe it to be merely 'okay', it nonetheless set the standard for many slasher films that followed. From the music and violence, right down to the gratuitous teen sex; horror films seemed to use Halloween as a foundation for their own being. Today, nearly every idea has been used so much, that they've become quite stale in many regards... I mean, there are only so many ways you can see an antagonistic figure walking around, killing people in "creative" ways, all the while repelling all damage done to him. Not even the archetype that is Halloween could even break the cliches (what sequel is it on nowadays? 8? 9? Geez...). Thankfully, Rob Zombie understood this when he began writing this new version of the revered Halloween series, and thus, instead of just remaking the original; he remixes it.
The biggest difference (and most welcome) of the changes to the original story is the fact that we are given an insider's view of young Michael's life. While seeing him in his juvenile state, we are given a better understanding as to why he turned out the way he did, why he was so hateful, and why he had no remorse for those he murdered. Actually, from the way the movie depicts his first slayings, they were done for more humble reasons... Yet sometimes the end doesn't justify the means.
In his anything-but-close family, Michael is a bit of a recluse, and pretty much hates his whole family-- well, everyone except for his mother and baby sister. His step father is a vulgar, crippled man with words as vile as raw sewage. His sister is a bit of a tramp and would rather "play" with her boyfriend than help Michael out. Even from this you can begin to understand what went wrong with little Mikey. During physical and verbal bouts with his parents, Michael finds solace in other activities... Such as killing small animals, as well as his own pet. As problems like this begin to arise in Michael, his doting mother is unwilling to accept his behavior as nothing more than juvenile. At this point we begin to see that unlike the rest of the family, Michael actually has a relationship with his mother; this in turn leads to the whole reason he kills the rest of the family... To, in a way, save his good mother and baby sister from the rest of the family's corruption. Again, his motives had heart, but his actions didn't. This is all the more displayed in the means he kills the "evil" family members (not even the boyfriend is spared).
This is where a good many people were probably expecting Halloween to shine (especially due to Rob Zombie being at the helm). But thankfully, Zombie has a more realistic approach to violence, instead of the torture/gore porn our society is so used to seeing. Zombies approach makes the violent imagery shown on screen all the more powerful, due to the sheer realistic grisliness of it all. Adding to this is the fact that a child is doing it (the entire first portion of the film is devoted to young Michael). So while it isn't graphic or gore-filled, the violence creates a far greater impact... That is for the first half at least.
This is where I was split on the film. When we jump ahead to Michael's older state (and most well-known), the movie seems like it loses a lot of steam to the point where even the violence feels rather tame (actually, what surprised me the most was the graphic vulgarity in some of the character's dialogue). Upon leaving the days of young Mike behind, the movie basically becomes a nearly believable version of the first. Even certain scenes are the same (falling out the window, pinning the guy against the wall with the knife, etc.). And while this is okay, especially since Zombie did enough to "reinvent" a lot of the scenes, I was really hoping he would have done it all like the first half-- Made it his own. But I have to say, I did like that Zombie actually kept him a human being instead of an unstoppable killing machine. Unlike the original, Michael reacts when stabbed and shot, and honestly feels like a true presence of brutish force. One scene in particular has him slamming a character (Ken Foree) against a bathroom stall until it completely breaks. Yet, the way it is shot really makes you feel like it's actually happening... With each successive blow the stall bends just a little more until it snaps apart like rotting wood. The pure brutality of it all makes it feel like it's not some paranormal monster doing it, but a man... A big, mask wearing 7 foot man.
Despite the complaints, I'm glad that Zombie actually made an ending for the film and not a setup for another sequel. I also must add that the choice of music was well done; especialy when showing young Michael thrashing about in the security's arms and then to his grieving, suicidal mother. I was also pleased to hear a little 'Don't Fear the Reaper' here and there too.
In the end, while I did enjoy this version more than the first; I wish that Zombie would have kept with his story of Michael, instead of harkening back to Carpenter's original work.
Comments & Responses
More Theatrical Reviews
"On the grand scale of things, the project does not come close to filling the shoes of its predecessor. But it does give us a bag of tricks and treats to savor at the end of a hot summer." ByDodd Alley
"Although falling into some remake cliches, Rob Zombie does exactly what John Carpenter told him: make it your own." ByMatt Sheehan
"If you're a fan of slasher films, then by all means give Halloween a look. It's big, loud and clumsy but it's a lot of fun too. It'll make you cringe and look away from the screen, and afterall - isn't that what you want out of a horror movie?" ByAdam Frazier
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