Empire's Halloween Movie Review

Halloween
Rob Zombie attacks a horror classic

Plot
Haddonfield, Illinois. Ten-year-old Michael Myers (Daeg Faerch) murders several people, including his sister, and is institutionalised. As an adult, the mask-wearing Michael (Tyler Mane)escapes and returns home, pursued by his psychiatrist Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell), and goes after his other sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton).

Review

One thing you can’t accuse Rob Zombie of is not loving his subject matter. Most remakes of horror classics from the 1970s and ‘80s get directed by careerists with a few pop videos on their resume who need a commercial success as a stepping stone to a career in mainstream schlock. Their role models aren’t Wes Craven or George Romero but Renny Harlin or Stephen Hopkins. For Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects), remaking Halloween is as daunting and humbling a gig as King Kong was for Peter Jackson.

Zombie’s script tells exactly the same story as Carpenter and his co-writer Debra Hill did – but changes emphases, fills in missing scenes, harps on that heroine-is-the-long-lost-sister-of-the-killer bit introduced in Halloween II (we assume that isn’t up for a remake next) and gives more background on the demented Michael Myers. The prologue, which Carpenter managed in a well-remembered single take, is spun out into the first third of the film. Chubbily angelic Michael is driven mad by white trash family circumstances, and shows the first signs (animal mutilations) of wanting to be a serial killer when he grows up. Michael McDowell, doing a decent job subbing for the late Donald Pleasence as the dogged psychiatrist, gets into the story early, and we see more of Michael’s evolution into a murderous automaton.

In a way, Zombie’s take on Halloween is fan fiction. If you’ve ever wanted ‘origin scenes’ for significant props like Michael’s overalls or Dr Loomis’s handgun, you’ll find them here -- along with cameos from Ken Foree and Mickey Dolenz (!) as the persons responsible for passing them on. The cast is as heavy with grindhouse veterans (Udo Kier, Sid Haig, Richard Lynch, Dee Wallace Stone, etc) as anything from Tarantino or Rodriguez, down to inside gags like casting Danielle Harris (who was a creepy little girl in a couple of forgotten Halloween sequels) as one of the victims. Despite decent work from the younger cast when they finally get a look-in, Zombie has no interest in the imperilled kids, which means the film falls flat when it comes to suspense, shock and shudders. This take on Halloween is grim and nasty, but never remotely scary.

Verdict

Reviewed by Kim Newman

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Your Reviews

Average user rating for Halloween

Sadistically underrated.
'Halloween' proves that Zombie is still great at making guilty-pleasure carnage films. Finally, all of the gratuitous character development has been put aside, and now we can just enjoy some of the gloriously acted killing spree scenes. Un-distracted by pointless character development, we can finally see Michael doing what he does best - causing one fucking hell of a bloody riot. The first act with the white-trash family was really great to watch; Again, another guilty pleasure. William Forsyth... More


Posted by YouWillBeUnprepared at 00:54, 30 November 2012 \| Report This Post



wtf
again, another shithead review...wouldnt mind but your ashole mag gives 5 stars to sdome of the kost mundane shit out there...if movies suck so much, step away from your keyboard and go out and make a masterpiece....the original halloween didnt create any pathos with the teen cast apart from Curtis...you are blowing out of your own ass my friend... ... More


Posted by davidkie at 11:20, 24 September 2012 \| Report This Post



wtf
again, another shithead review...wouldnt mind but your ashole mag gives 5 stars to sdome of the kost mundane shit out there...if movies suck so much, step away from your keyboard and go out and make a masterpiece....the original halloween didnt create any pathos with the teen cast apart from Curtis...you are blowing out of your own ass my friend... ... More


Posted by davidkie at 11:20, 24 September 2012 \| Report This Post



lets be fair...
honestly, it hasnt even come close to beating the original, but, if it was a superior film alone and wasnt a remake, this film would be more enjoyable.... stop comparing ! ... More


Posted by jackcarlin18 at 15:44, 22 January 2012 \| Report This Post




I personally think that Rob Zombie has made a great remake to the 1978 classic. ... More


Posted by Luke B at 14:37, 01 June 2010 \| Report This Post



Halloween: Great And Gory!
Not at all necessary to remake the original but what a job! Although major differences occur, if you watch this as a horror film and not a remake then you will thoroughly enjoy it. After watching the film I couldn't wait to see the sequel. Brilliant film although some very strong nudity and swearing which weren't necessary but not impulsive. Great little shocker for horror fans everywhere, although if you loved the original don't expect too much. ... More


Posted by LUCASLITTLEWOOD at 13:13, 26 May 2010 \| Report This Post



Crude
This wouldn't be too bad if it weren't for Rob Zombie's immature passion for full (and I mean full) nudity and swearing. I like a bit of both but this much just smacks of someone who needs to grow up (Rape is not entertainment, Rob). Apart from some strangely amateurish camerawok in places its nicely shot and scored, and Tyler Mane makes a decent Michael Myers. McDowell is in his element. Shame that the female cast are reduced to annoying shrieking sluts who you wish would hurry up and die a... More


Posted by Caster at 23:11, 23 August 2008 \| Report This Post




Gory but not gruesome, shocking but not scary, Rob Zombies ill-concieved remake is a dull, uncomfortable experience. Doesn't even pass muster as a forgettable glossy horror (a la The Texas Chainsaw Massacre redux) but rather is a grimy, revolting torture pic. The most horrific scene is not any of Michael's crimes but rather the bizarre and pointless rape scene that occurs about halfway through. Pointless, bloodthirsty and very boring. ... More


Posted by killervideotape at 08:34, 30 June 2008 \| Report This Post



not bad
The cameos make the film Clint Howard !!!! Udo Kier But the rest is flat and a touch dull at times Malcom McDowell is having fun but the rest of the film feels have cocked most notably the ending. ... More


Posted by filmburner30 at 15:16, 06 May 2008 \| Report This Post



Bad 'moon' rising!
If there is one thing that ruins Rob Zombie's movies. other than shit actors and a dire script, it's Sherri Moon. Christ ALLLLL Mighty she is fuckin awful. Brings tears to my eyes when she is on screen....for all the wrong reasons. Look Rob, you love your wife's ass...WE GET IT!!!! ... More


Posted by tallaght24 at 10:55, 24 April 2008 \| Report This Post



Hollywood - STOP COMMISSIONING REMAKES
Seriously, there was no need for a remake. The film is almost the same scene by scene other than the first 40minutes-or-so of Michael Myers backstory. However, original Halloween aside, this film was so violent that many members of the audience walked out within the first half hour. Yes, the violence tells a story. But what happened to the days when more was left unsaid? Zombie is pushing the envelop with this. But then again - if you're a fan of character mythology, then this one's for ... More


Posted by lolathegreat at 10:09, 13 November 2007 \| Report This Post



Potential Horror master in the making...
Let us all agree on something, it is not the best of horror films but it was entertaining none the less. After House of 1000 corpses & Devils Rejects, in comparison Rob Zombie has made a much more sophisticated horror movie in terms of his previous films that harked back to the old days of all out gore flicks. It will make a good return being released around the halloween time but it won't go down in history as a classic horror film. What it does have is potential, potential in the direct... More


Posted by bennybelton2012 at 12:12, 24 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Needless
For me, Halloween lost it's punch since Rob Zombie gave Michael Myers a voice, face, and back story. He totally has shifted our sympathies from the hapless victims, and never really succeeded in making us sympathise with Myres, which makes the whole film really vacant, not scary, and silly. All the girls that died really deserve to die, as they were soooooooo annoying, SPOILERS and how the FUCK did he know that she was his sister!!!!!! END OF SPOILERS. Producer Malek Akkad wanted to fill his fa... More


Posted by omarx at 02:30, 10 October 2007 \| Report This Post




mmm why was this film not released in about 3 weeks time (at halloween>!) This remake was average at best. It was rare to have a remake which focuses on the whys? of the killer in a semi-interesting way rather than the usual face palming as you watch these cowboy directors ruin the memories of classic horro films(Texas chainsaw massacre remakes, im lookin at you!) but come on, did any of you actually expect a classic from Rob Zombie? ... More


Posted by Kev@CTU at 16:47, 09 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Awesome!
I don't understand you horror fans. The original Halloween film (yes, John Carpenters) bored the crap outta me. Admittably I am no fan of horror, Excorsist is about it for me, and maybe the Child's Play films purley for the character of Chuckie. But to me, if far away shots in the dark (or dare we do it ..... whilst it's raining) depicting moody silences does NOT class as scary. You are pussies if it does and you should look into the real world of pyschos and political terror that is engul... More


Posted by Arkduune at 16:13, 09 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Pants.
This shouldn't have been remade. It shouldn't have had a screeching soundtrack. It shouldn't have needed any massive explanation as to why Michael was like he was. It certainly didn't need an ex-wrestler to portray Michael either, he was more menacing in the original. I was just bored after a while; and I certainly didn't have a shred of sympathy or empathy for any character in the film. That's how much of a waste this was. Oh, and the Laurie Strode character was a pain in the arse. Did I tel... More


Posted by VincentHanna at 18:53, 08 October 2007 \| Report This Post



HALLOWEEN(2007)
This was everything good about the current trend of remaking classic movies! it didn't need to be scary, just filled with violence and menace. Now some might say that's what made the first one great. That it made you jump! You were scared ! COME ON! There are no scary movies anymore!!!! Real life is much more scary. Thats when we need a bit of escapism, and thats all Rob Zombie has done.The back story helped flesh out the human monster rather then a movie monster. If he'd made a carbon copy rem... More


Posted by dead eye at 12:55, 08 October 2007 \| Report This Post



HALLOWEEN(2007)
This was everything good about the current trend of remaking classic movies! it didn't need to be scary, just filled with violence and menace. Now some might say that's what made the first one great. That it made you jump! You were scared ! COME ON! There are no scary movies anymore!!!! Real life is much more scary. Thats when we need a bit of escapism, and thats all Rob Zombie has done.The back story helped flesh out the human monster rather then a movie monster. If he'd made a carbon copy rem... More


Posted by dead eye at 12:55, 08 October 2007 \| Report This Post



RE: Awful
I agree. Rob Zombie' "Halloween" was utter cack. I am all for remakes/reimagining of popular culture icons but I honestly don't think Zombie understood what made Micheal Myers work to begin with. I didn't once feel frightened or felt the threat of Myers in this remake. He was just a hulking weirdo obsessed with masks and came from a redneck family who were portrayed with such vulgarity that it was almost impossible, sod it, impossible to care when they were getting picked off by Myers. I sat th... More

Posted by straight2dvd at 20:51, 07 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Halloween
I really dont understand what people hate about this new remake of Halloween. Its actually a good film unlike the orginal. Sure this is nasty but everything about this is good. The prequal stuff for this was very good and really helped this to be a true joy to watch. ... More


Posted by solid snake at 18:35, 07 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Not that bad I thought
I didn't hate this movie as much as other people did. Yeah, I thought the girl who played Laurie was a little annoying, Zombie's handheld snuff film style worked against it, and it lost some momentum in the second half when it turned into a summarized version of the original movie. But ultimately I thought it was an interesting alternate look at a familiar story. ... More


Posted by Dr. Benway at 20:31, 05 October 2007 \| Report This Post



RE: Its no Master peice but its still enjoyable
L: Diggler Just remember, if you go see this you will be adding to the box office takings for the film. If the film returns well, there's a chance Rob Zombie may get other jobs. hope he does. While his first couple of movies were fun (I'd give them each three stars), Halloween is on another level. My dream would be for him to remake Firday the 13th Part IV with the kid who played Tommy in Halloween playing, er, Tommy. I know it's not going to happen, but I'd love to see it. ... More

Posted by therev at 17:27, 04 October 2007 \| Report This Post



RE: Its no Master peice but its still enjoyable
Just remember, if you go see this you will be adding to the box office takings for the film. If the film returns well, there's a chance Rob Zombie may get other jobs. Please, think before you waste your £5. The film is terrible. Not just because it's remaking a classic either. Think before you see this. ... More

Posted by Diggler at 16:45, 04 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Its no Master peice but its still enjoyable
While watching this impressive remake all i could think was "OK this is alot better that what i expected" another thing that all i could think was MICHAELS BACK. After 6 or 7 lame sequels we needed a gritty, cruel and in your face edition to the series. Its a complete contrast to the original becuase of its loud brutality and lack of fear to throw blood in your face. The acting also is what i enjoyed especially the fact that Dannielle Harris star of Halloween 4 and 5 plays the characte... More


Posted by JimBo! at 13:47, 04 October 2007 \| Report This Post



RE: Awful
i wasted an hour and a half (or thereabouts) of my life watching this rubbish so i am going to keep this short and sweet as i have no intention of wasting anymore of my life on it. Terrible in all ways it could be. I love horror films and I love the original and at the same time i have nothing against remakes of classics as long as they are done well (dawn of the dead for example) but this was just pure trash, not remotely scary and it wasnt as gory as i thought it would be to make up for the l... More

Posted by MartinBlank76 at 13:17, 04 October 2007 \| Report This Post



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HalloweenRob Zombie attacks a horror classic

Halloween
Rob Zombie attacks a horror classic