We all saw this coming. The onslaught of horror remakes over the last five years meant it was only a matter of time before theyd get around to Michael Myers. I mean, theyve already done Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Dawn of the Dead, with success, so why not Halloween?
Well, there are many good reasons why they shouldnt of John Carpenters original is a perfect specimen that will never lose its ranking as one of horrors best but why did Rob Zombie have to touch it? Hes spent this decade eschewing his boring musical endeavours to find his true calling as an edgy, envelope pushing writer/director. With Halloween, everything he achieved creatively with his first two features is diminished because this was a mistake.
The funny thing is its not his directing that hurts the film as much as the script, which he penned based on how he felt the story should unfold. Zombies an established auteur who shoots his films to make the skin crawl and the mouth drop without insulting the viewers intelligence by using predictable twists. However, Zombie has stripped Myers of his impenetrability with too much back-story, which feels complicated and messy here. We see Michael as a ten-year-old, committing the heinous crimes Zombie really goes to town with the brutal scenes and being committed to a prison where he receives therapy from Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell). From there it begins to take the originals shape but it takes a while and frankly, we learn too much about Myerss psyche. Plus, do we really want to hear him talk? Wheres the suspense in that?
Carpenter introduced the killer with an air of mystique from the opening scene as a child to the legend built by Dr. Loomiss storytelling, he was a monster known originally as "the Shape because he was so chilling and enigmatic. Using the same idea, Zombie keeps Myers on the hunt for his long lost sister Laurie Strode but uses the film to explore Michaels mentality too much. He said this was going to be a different film and for the first 45 minutes it is but thats where this film goes awry. It feels like any passionate fan could write an essay about the missteps Zombie has made, and so far he hasnt justified his decision enough to make me believe this was worth making.
It feels like a vanity project that will not only fail in its purpose (much like Gus Van Sants Psycho) but worst of all, will no doubt open the floodgates for the resurrection of the rest of horrors elite. Bring on Freddy and Jason, I guess. On second thought, please dont.
(Alliance Atlantis)Well, there are many good reasons why they shouldnt of John Carpenters original is a perfect specimen that will never lose its ranking as one of horrors best but why did Rob Zombie have to touch it? Hes spent this decade eschewing his boring musical endeavours to find his true calling as an edgy, envelope pushing writer/director. With Halloween, everything he achieved creatively with his first two features is diminished because this was a mistake.
The funny thing is its not his directing that hurts the film as much as the script, which he penned based on how he felt the story should unfold. Zombies an established auteur who shoots his films to make the skin crawl and the mouth drop without insulting the viewers intelligence by using predictable twists. However, Zombie has stripped Myers of his impenetrability with too much back-story, which feels complicated and messy here. We see Michael as a ten-year-old, committing the heinous crimes Zombie really goes to town with the brutal scenes and being committed to a prison where he receives therapy from Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell). From there it begins to take the originals shape but it takes a while and frankly, we learn too much about Myerss psyche. Plus, do we really want to hear him talk? Wheres the suspense in that?
Carpenter introduced the killer with an air of mystique from the opening scene as a child to the legend built by Dr. Loomiss storytelling, he was a monster known originally as "the Shape because he was so chilling and enigmatic. Using the same idea, Zombie keeps Myers on the hunt for his long lost sister Laurie Strode but uses the film to explore Michaels mentality too much. He said this was going to be a different film and for the first 45 minutes it is but thats where this film goes awry. It feels like any passionate fan could write an essay about the missteps Zombie has made, and so far he hasnt justified his decision enough to make me believe this was worth making.
It feels like a vanity project that will not only fail in its purpose (much like Gus Van Sants Psycho) but worst of all, will no doubt open the floodgates for the resurrection of the rest of horrors elite. Bring on Freddy and Jason, I guess. On second thought, please dont.
