Halloween Review
“Trick or Treat? Kinda like razor blades in your favorite candy.”
Remakes are today’s version of the sequel. Why come up with original content, when you can re-hash stuff that has already worked or will, for some reason or another, fit this generations sub-culture obsession with culty,pulpy things? When word first struck that Halloween would be re-made, I nearly vomited. First off, isn’t it a bit soon to have done this? The correct timing would be NEVER. I understand the 20 or so useless sequels this movie has pawned off, but they were just that. Sequels. This would be toying with one of the single most frightening experiences of my pre-adolescence, and that my friends is not something I could or would tolerate. A small sliver of hope remained, when I found out that Rob Zombie would be helming the project. It was then deemed a “reimagining” as opposed to a “remake”.
Rob Zombie is a very talented director, who understands his visuals as a medium to exercise artistry in the craft of film. While his films may not always work or frankly be that good, he certainly has an eye for what will look good. I was happy he was in place to helm this…if it had to be done. He has shown me with his two movies prior that he digs horror and can make some cool looking movies (moreso with The Devil’s Rejects). However, cut it, slice it, stab it anyway you like, it seemed like a remake. And what occurs for the next 2 hours or so, is the worst kind of “reimagining” or “remake” you can stand.
The knock on Rob Zombie is that he can make something look cool, but his writing is far from good. It’s totally the case here as the entire narrative is flipped upside down and turned inward and out to expose the monster behind the mask. I think that while Zombies intentions were noble, he missed a really key point to the entire story. Michael Myers was the kid next door in quaint surburbia. He never showed intention to kill, nor was abused or mis-treated. He was Johnny from next door. He was the kid you ate lunch with at the cafeteria. And then one night, Johnny chopped his fucking family up. My point being is that Michael Myers was scary because the story of Halloween could be YOUR neighborhood. Michael Myers could be Johnny from next door. This is the horror the original film instilled in it’s viewers. It wouldn’t go away when you shut your eyes because it was right next door.
Instead, we get this back-story, although legitimate and freaky, that completely waters down any real fear we may have for the monster. It’s interesting, but not really merited. It makes for a blah film and by the time we reach the original plot involving Laurie Strode(mis-played by Scout Taylor Compton), we have the remnants of masterpiece being patchworked together with old horror techniques and nothing you haven’t seen before.
I feel really bad that Zombie didn’t allow himself to do better. He begins to touch on parts of the original story in a different way that really hit the viewer, but quickly jumps into a comfortable horror zone of “cat and mouse” between Michael and his victims. I thought this flick was a less than good idea to begin with, but was hoping Zombie could pull something out and he didn’t. The movies a mess and ends with a really “meh” scene(which happens to be one of those scenes that could have really hit the viewer).
As a stand alone movie, this flick doesn’t even stand. And while my bias toward the original (one of my favorite movies ever) is strong, I would be doing Mr. Zombie a dis-service by not comparing. After all,he has taken crucial elements of the story and incorporated them into his film. You can’t possibly talk about this movie without talking about the original. If he can take the compliments for staying true, he has to take the criticism in turn. Dissapointed and displeased, I hope Rob Zombie comes back with something better next time around. Until then, watch the original again and try to not to think of this when you do. This movie get’s a 4 out of 10 Bones for having some cool horror moments, but ultimately being nothing new and a complete mess, amidst a dissapointment.
RATING: