So I saw it today...

Two things.

1) I watch a LOT of horror and John Carpenter's "Halloween" is easily my single favorite example of how to work in the genre. It's fucking perfection.

2) I really liked both "House of 1000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects" and Rob Zombie is one of the few directors I would trust to take on the mostly thankless task of remaking a classic.

The result?

I don't know HOW to feel. I kind of predicted this dilemma going into it.

The backstory was really effective.

SPOILERS BEGIN HERE.


Young Michael vs the bully was fan-fucking-tastic. It was raw, brutal, and angry. The first use of the classic Carpenter theme gave me chills. I was seeing a fresh interpretation that was charged with a manic energy.

I've heard complaints from people that Zombie waffles back and forth regarding the issue of Michael's motivations. On the one hand, his home life sucked but, on the other hand, we see him torturing rats and cats almost as soon as he's on screen. Is he a product of society or just plain evil? Loomis, and Zombie, seem to indicate that his situation is a sort of "perfect storm" that created someone devoid of morality. His penchant for violent behavior was further exacerbated by the shit he had to endure. The PROBLEM with the "he's all evil" viewpoint is that he obviously has a soft spot for Laurie, as evidenced by his behavior after murdering the rest of his family AND his dropping of his knife when he takes her "hostage" toward the end of the film. I'm okay with them saying a lot contributed to Michael Myers becoming who he is.

Michael's mask being a throwback to his childhood filled it with symbolism. The fact that it wasn't a mask of his own design is telling, to me. It's almost like it's not "really" him doing what he's doing. Somewhere down in there is a little kid who can be good.

Malcolm McDowell has taken some shit for "sleepwalking" through his role here. I didn't mind him. He didn't really sell the level of dread that the audience was supposed to feel, but at least he wasn't simply phoning it in.

The recreation of the original movie (aka, the "second half") was well-shot, though it was a bit distracting when Zombie started basically re-shooting scenes from the original verbatim. It was jarring to have this transition from old to new. It WAS cool, to me, though that Zombie dwelled longer on Michael's side of the door when Laurie dropped off the key at the old house. It was the perfect example of how this film could offer a tantalizing glimpse at the original from a slightly different angle.

Danielle Harris has grown up to be fucking hot. Her role was pretty damn gratuitous, though. She basically just had to roll around topless in blood for the whole runtime.

Um.. why was Udo Kier in this? I mean, granted, he's in EVERY horror movie, but it was strange to have him just tossed in there for three minutes.



END SPOILERS




Zombie's film was well-constructed, then, but I mean.. the beauty of Carpenter's original was that it didn't need any sort of baggage to be effective. The movie was fear as its most primal level. There was no pretense about why it was happening. It just was. Behind this was an arduously constructed series of framed shots and dramatic lighting that set the mood better than any dialogue or gore ever could. And, while I was admiring what Zombie was showing us, I also realized sadly that the fact that I COULD sit there admiring it meant that something was missing... the tension. To me, knowing what was behind that mask deflated the fear balloon, if you will. I'm not even sure WHAT I picture Michael Myers looking like. I'm not sure it even matters. If he really is just "The Shape" or "The Evil" then giving him human features only dilutes that idea.

Um.. of he past 48 hours of my life only TWO have been used for sleep... so this is all probably muddled and nonsensical, but I wanted to chime in. I appreciate the Rob Zombie version of "Halloween". I think any franchise fan should go see it. Most of the things that bugged me are due, I believe, to my constantly wanting to compare it to the original, a film I hold really close to my heart. It certainly doesn't embarrass Michael Myers the way making him, say, fight Busta Fucking Rhyme did. In the end, though, I don't necessarily see how important this movie is. Given the choice between the two, I can't really say there'd ever be a time I'd pick the 2007 version. That being said, if it just happened to be on, I'd have no problem watching it.

Tebor wrote:

As I confessed to someone earlier today, my favorite Halloween is actually "Halloween III: Season of the Witch".

3 more days 'till Halloween, Halloween, Halloween...
3 more days 'till Halloween...
Silver Shamrock!

I actually like part 3 a lot. The film wouldn't have gotten half the crap it did if they'd just dropped the "Halloween" name and called it simply "Season of the Witch".

Tebor wrote:

But even that title doesn't make a whole lot of sense either.

See, he's an Irish witch! And the masks are his cauldrons and the kids' heads are the potions that he's creating during this Halloween season... the Season of the Witch.

I need drugs.