Halloween (2007)

Directed by Rob Zombie

Oh wow! Where oh where to start? First and foremost it's no surprise that I'm not a big fan of remakes, or spin off remakes, if you will. To date there has been only one movie remade that I felt was better then its predecessor. And that film was THE HILLS HAVE EYES. Well it seems I've been taken aback. Having understood his direction and enjoyed House of 1000 Corpses but despising The Devils Rejects I was in between on whether or not to like Zombies directing style. He was one for two in my opinion. But now! Now this; a freakin remake of Halloween, are you serious?…It seems they were. They've gone and taken one of the best films in American cinematic history and freakin remade it. And Rob Zombie of all people!! Well I can be man enough to admit when I'm wrong. Mr Zombie. You should be proud of yourself. You sire have created something I feel will be one of the talked about greats for many years to come. Let me skip to the explanation and just explain it!


The major difference in this version as compared to the original is that instead of having Michael standing out on the sidewalk with the butcher knife then fast forwarding to 15 years later. Rob Zombie does just what I've always wondered why they never did. He's shown "WHY" Michael was so fucked up. As a young boy Michael didn't really have a chance. Coming up in a sub level family with the siblings; mother and a typical asshole step dad. From experience we can all pretty much say it's safe to agree this is a perfect formula for chaos in any household such as this. He gets picked on at school and at home so what did they expect would happen?? On Halloween 1963, in the town of Haddenfield, 6-year-old Michael Myers played miraculously by newcomer Daeg Farch, snaps killing his step dad by tying him to the couch with duct tape while asleep then cuts his throat. After a baseball bat to a victims head and the infamous butcher knife slashing he picks his baby sister, Laurie, up and sits on the stoop waiting for his mother to return home. Estranged and mentally unstable, Michael is imprisoned in Smith's Grove Sanitarium under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) for the murders he's committed.


As Dr. Loomis tries to befriend Michael he seems to get through to him for the better part but that soon diminishes and Michael refuses to talk from this point on. Several years go by and Michael is now a grown adult. From what seems to be the turning point in this story is when Dr. Loomis speaks to Michael telling him he's moving on that there's nothing left for him to do. Since Dr. Loomis departure things at Smith's Grove Sanitarium have gone to shit. They've since accumulated orderlies just seeking that paycheck with no care of patients. One dumb ass even goes so far as to pick on Michael and brings in one of the new women patients and violates her with help of another orderly in Michaels' room.  Killing the orderlies and from this point on we see what we once new as the only Halloween there was…..


I could go on and on about how much of a brilliant movie this was but if you don't want to watch this movie from what you've just read then I don't know how to persuade you into doing so. As previously stated Rob zombie took a brilliant movie in its time and added what I feel a lot of people wish they could have seen, or known. He added a face to what we've seen. He's added a conscience. Michael wasn't just a straight up pussy ass slasher he was a young boy who never had the chance, so he took it! The acting herein was excellent and spot on but props need to go out to young Daeg Farch. His performance was better then the majority of adult actors I've watched. He was creepy and his demeanor from the get go makes you keep one eye open while watching him.  Zombie must be very pleased he had such an excellent actor at his disposal. Now don't get me wrong this baby was laden full with excellent actors from Danielle Harris to Malcom McDowell to the man himself, Tyler Mane or X-men fame as Michael Myers. And for all those die hard Carpenter fans, don't worry, there are plenty of nods to him from Zombie here and once it gets to Michael arriving in Haddonfield it does follow pretty good with the original, just sped up with a little more balls by our killer at hand. By that I mean that instead of him just walking around with a stupid freakin knife in his hand stabbing people, he actually picks them up and slings their asses around like ragdolls. This was a much appreciated addition. In my opinion it gives Michale some backbone and adds a little more fear. Anyone can stab you. But can they pick you up, swing you around and then stab you???? If you only take my word on one film review you read, please let this one be the one. Rob Zombie's Halloween is one hell of a good movie, one that will go on my shelf as my favorite films of all time. Thank you Mr Zombie for giving us something different and keeping with that odd gritty style you do so well….

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