HorrorSpeak---Terror Awaits You in Every Forum!!!!: Halloween (2007)

A remake of the Carpenter classic "Halloween". Michael is sent to an insane asylum after killing his family. He escapes and kills people. That's about it.

In 1978 John Carpenter released a film that went on to become a cult classic. Not only is it regarded as one of the best slashers films of all time, but one of the best horror films of all time. Anyone who thought that Rob Zombie was going to up the original is off their nut, but Zombie does manage to make this remake one of the better installments in the Halloween series. Although that is not saying much about this film, but more about the others. Halloween doesn't come close to being as good as the original, but it is one of the better horror remakes that we've seen done to death.

Zombie is a member of the "splat pack". A term used to describe a group of directors who use graphic violence and gore in their films. Halloween has all that is expected from Zombie. Foul language, disturbing violent and bloody scenes and a general horrific atmosphere. These ingredients usually make for a spectacular horror flick, but in this case it simply makes one that is slightly better then the competition. From the start you know it's Zombie's film, we know his style and we know his cast. Familiar faces pop up everywhere in small cameo roles. Zombie's usual crew: his wife Sheri Moon Zombie, William Forsythe, Udo Kier, Bill Moseley, Danny Trejo, Sid Haig and Ken Foree are here and old horror favourite Brad Dourif and everyman Clint Howard round out the supporting characters. McDowell plays Dr. Loomis, made famous by Pleasence. He does a fine job, but does nothing to really add to the character. Here was his chance to do something and actually make a bit of that character his own, but instead plays right through it. Jamie Lee Curtis was also made famous by her character Lauri Strode, she became known as the Scream Queen. The actress does a good job, again, but doesn't fill the shoes of Curtis at all. She would have been fine if this were some other character in some other slasher film, but it's Laurie Strode. Finally Tyler Mane as Myers. One of the better representations of the character yet, probably because this film dives so deep down into him. Mane portrays an evil walking entity perfectly and does strike fear into the viewer. His size alone will make you clinch your seat. It's odd for someone to not say one word in the film and give the best performance.

I don't know what it is with these remakes that seem to have to give some kind of reason or human background to these monsters, but it doesn't always work. Black Christmas, TCM: The Beginning and now Halloween try to humanize a character that doesn't need it. Out of all the sadistic slashers out there, Jason and Freddy included, Myers is the only one who is pure evil. Jason is out for revenge, Freddy is a child molester out for revenge, Chucky is a killer trapped in a doll out for revenge, Leatherface is mentally challenged...but Myers is simply and purely evil. Loomis tells us this, there is nothing behind his eyes, just emptiness, blackness. So why the need to show us a human side to him? Although I did like what they 'tried' to do with it. Showing Myers as a kid in the asylum was interesting, if a bit too long.

There lies another problem, the film feels like two totally different films. First we are following Myers and his sick and twisted life he lives, then we switch gears to Laurie. Not enough time to get connected with anyone in this flick.

It's easy to see how far Zombie has come with his directing skills. House of 1,000 corpses felt like a 2 hour music video for one of zombies horror songs. Rejects shows maturity and an appreciation for a genre. Halloween shows that he is able to step outside of his comfort zone and tackle something that is held with such high respect. If he were to mess it up, it would be it and he would fall into the realms of every other horror director out there, but he doesn't falter. He doesn't score one out of the park either, instead of remakes a horror classic and adds his own unique spin on it. The camera angles, the dialogue, the violence all scream Zombie.

There are a few scares in the film, mostly jump scares, one of which did get me. I attribute the scares to the sound instead of the imagery. Speaking of imagery, yes the iconic scene is added as a homage to the original here. The infamous 'tit' shot as it is known in "Scream" although it is handled sloppy and rushed. In fact, the whole film feels rushed, like it can't wait to get to the next scene for it's scary moment. The deaths are fine, more gory and violent then original, which is expected, but the people who die...who are they? We are introduced to them minutes before their death. No time to connect with anyone...ANYONE.

A shaky start, good middle and abrupt ending make for Zombie's Halloween a hair short of being a really good horror film. It is leaps and bounds over other remakes of recent years. Don't get me started on "When A Stranger Calls". Compared to the original, it sucks, compared to what we have today, it's great. Zombie was the best man for the job and any horror fan will be pleased they caught this one.

7/10

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Between heaven & hell...
between redemption & revenge...
lies a world where desire and death become one.

It isn't far....as the crow flies.