HALLOWEEN (2007)
Groans were probably heard across the globe in 2006 when rocker-turned-director said he was doing, not a sequel, but a remake to John Carpenter’s classic slasher, Halloween.
I remember being quite shocked, but at the same time relieved, when I heard he was not doing a sequel to the disastrous Halloween: Resurrection. I mean, honestly, what direction could Zombie have gone in after that? If anyone was going to remake Halloween, Zombie was the best choice. Not only is he a fan of horror, but a fan of the one of the most beloved horror classics of all time. He even told Carpenter himself that he was doing it. Carpenter’s response: “Okay. Just make it your own.”
And make it his own is exactly what Zombie did, giving us a more violent and brutal Halloween film yet.
Daeg Faerch plays young Michael. He plays the character with a vulnerability and sweetness, which it sets up the pace of the rest of the film. His performance was met with positive reaction. And it’s clear, that while not having a lot to work with, that his acting and expressions are through his body language and eyes. He even performed his own stunts. Sheri Moon Zombie plays Deborah Myers. I was blown away by Sheri’s performance. She is a loving, caring and nurturing mother (to Michael, anyway) and tries to make ends meet by performing as a stripper at The Rabbit in Red strip club. While her performance may not be worthy of an Oscar, its clear here that she can act if given the right part and the right material (The Devil’s Rejects anyone?). William Forsythe plays Deborah’s abusive, asshole of a boyfriend, Ronnie White. Its clear Ronnie hates Michael (in fact, I think he hates the whole family), even threatening to break his arm again, once it heals, on Michael face. He compliments Judith’s body in front of Deborah, which makes him an even bigger pile of shit. Forsythe is perfect here, giving a great performance and chews up the scenes he’s in, but never over shadows his fellow cast mates. Hannah Hall plays Judith, a rebellious, over sexed teenager who could probably give two shits about Michael, and makes it perfectly clear when she refuses to take him trick or treating. Instead she has sex with her boyfriend, Steve.
After a day of abuse, bullying (for which Michael ‘gets rid of’ his bully) and neglect, Michael seems to snap and goes on a violent rampage, murdering his sister and her boyfriend, and Ronnie, all the while sparing the life of his baby sister known as “Boo.”
After Michael is incarcerated to Smith’s Grove, we finally get to see his life behind those walls and, as the result; he delves deeper into a disconnected reality. Closing himself off from everybody around him, including his mother and Dr. Loomis, the evil emerges in full bloom when he violently stabs a nurse with a fork after she makes a snarky comment. Being too much to handle and not wanting to be labeled “Satan’s mother,” Deborah commits suicide, with baby Boo crying in the background.
Legendary actor Malcolm McDowell portrays Dr. Sam Loomis. Previously played by the late, great Donald Pleasence, McDowell’s character has a little bit more of a connection in trying to understand Michael. After years of growing impatient and fearing that Michael can’t be reached, Loomis gives up and moves on. Most fans didn’t like this different approach to Loomis, as he is seen trying to capitalize on the murders of Michael’s family by pushing his book. While Pleasence played the part (in 4 sequels) with intensity and charisma, Malcolm makes Loomis all his own. His performance was praised and he was perfectly cast. I like Malcolm and think he is a very good actor. Malcolm, who is probably most famous for A Clockwork Orange, can be seen in such other titles as Voyage of the Damned, Tank Girl, Asylum, The First 9 1/2 Weeks and Excision (co-starring 90210‘s Anna Lynn McCord). McDowell is also the host of Fangoria’s Deadtime Stories, a monthly series of radio dramas.
The film appears to be broken into three acts with one being Michael’s home life and the second being in Smith’s Grove. Act three is the full-throttle remake portion of the film: fast, brutal and unrelenting.
Baby Boo is all grown up and is now named Laurie Strode. Played by Scout Taylor-Compton, this version of Laurie is more spunky, edgier and sassy. I have to give Scout credit for taking Laurie and making the role her own, rather than a carbon copy of the character Jamie Lee Curtis played so well. Scout was actually the last to be cast for a lead role, as she went through an extensive audition process. But there was never any doubt that Zombie wasn’t going to cast her. “Scout was my first choice,” Zombie said. “There was something about her, she had a genuine quality.” Scout can be seen in such films as Triple Dog, Love Ranch, The Runaways (alongside Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart) and the remake to the 80’s classic, April Fool’s Day. Her latest film, 247°F, is available now on DVD, co-starring Tyler Mane.
Danielle Harris was cast as Annie Brackett. Danielle became aware of the remake when a fan mentioned it to her at a horror convention. Danielle’s agent went over the casting director and landed her an audition. Zombie originally said he didn’t want anyone from the previous Halloween films in this new version, but her audition blew him away and he simply said, “Fuck it. Let’s do it.” It was a welcome return to the series for which fans know her most dearly. “It’s funny that the same movie that gave me a career gave me another one. I’m forever grateful to Rob for that,” Danielle has said. The part, which required nudity, was also a first for her. In fact, in between takes she remained topless, as she thought it made Annie more vulnerable. “It was something I had to do,” she said. Annie was never supposed to make it through the front door. “I told Tyler to wear pads because I was going to fight him. I’m the Sheriff’s daughter. I’m not going down without a fight or run up the stairs when the front door is right there,” she said. “Tyler just attacked me. And I let him.” Her chase scene is probably the strongest in the film, and it shows, as well as her real bruises, in the final film. After several years of holding on to her Scream Queen title with roles in such films as Hatchet 2-3, Blood Night, Stake Land, Devil’s Night and the soon to be released The Black Waters of Echoes Pond, Danielle has now forged into the world of directing and her first feature film, Among Friends, is available now on DVD.
Linda Van Der Klock was played by Kristina Klebe. Originated by PJ Soles, Klebe took the part and put her own spin on it, ‘totally’ making Linda a different kind of character. A foul-mouthed cheerleader, with enormous attitude. I like Klee and think she is an amazing actress. Her full frontal nudity was a bit of a shocker, and I’m sure gave the new generation of male horror hounds something to drool over. When she asks, “See anything you like?” Of course they do. Klebe can be seen in Chillerama, The Advocate and the upcoming Proxy.
The man lucky enough to fill the shoes of Michael Myers is former pro-wrestler (who retired in 1996), Tyler Mane. Mane, who stands at almost 7′, is the tallest actor to play the iconic character. Tyler admitted, after winning the role, he watched all seven of the eight Halloween films (excluding Halloween 3) to better understand Myers’ character. His intimidating and menacing stature is a perfect combination with Zombie’s vision of Michael Myers. Mane has also appeared in X-Men as “Sabretooth,” The Scorpion King, Troy and The Devil’s Rejects. His latest film, Compound Fracture, will premiere this September at the Hot Springs International Horror Film festival, hosted by Halloween 5′s Tamara Glynn.
Rounding out the cast are Dee Wallace as Cynthia Strode and Pat Skipper as Mason Strode. This is a first in the series: meeting the Strode’s. While Laurie’s dad was only seen briefly in the original, this version actually gives us a look into the home of the parents who adopted Laurie. Their casting was great as Dee and Pat have good chemistry and they portray the Strode’s as a loving couple, trying to give their daughter a better life. While Mason’s death is quick, Cynthia’s is more dragged out, keeping you on the edge of your seat until her final scream.
Brad Dourif plays Sheriff Brackett. I like Brad and he is probably more famous for providing the voice of “Chucky” from the Child’s Play films, but his resume’ is impressive. I think Dourif was a very good choice for the part, and while his part wasn’t big, his presence is felt in every scene after we first meet him. Not only is Dourif an accomplished film actor with such credits as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, he has also done some pretty extensive work on television, appearing in such shows as Miami Vice, Murder She Wrote, Moonlighting, Criminal Minds and Law & Order: SVU, to name a few. This October will see Brad reprising the voice of “Chucky” in Curse of Chucky, co-starring his daughter, Fiona Dourif.
With the cast complete, production officially began in January, 2007, in the same neighborhood as Carpenter’s original. Made on a $15 million budget, Halloween was officially released over the Labor Day Weekend on August 31st, 2007. Several days before the film premiered, a “work print” version of the film leaked on BitTorrent sites across the internet. Producers feared it could bring disaster to the final cut and its release, but Halloween came in at #1 over the 4 day weekend, with a record setting box office of just over $30 million, making it the top grossing film over the Labor Day holiday weekend, surpassing Transporter 2, which previously held that title. By the time it was pulled from theaters, Halloween walked away with a total box office, domestic and foreign markets combined, with just over $80 million. To this day, Halloween is still the top Labor Day weekend winner.
Upon its release, mixed criticism was met from critics and fans alike, which disliked his use of trashy dialogue, copious nudity, and violent kills. Most fans believed Zombie’s vision “destroyed the Shape,” while others commended him for making something different. One critic wrote, “Zombie doesn’t bring many new ideas to the table in Halloween, making it another bloody disappointment for fans of the franchise.” Another critic praised it, proclaiming Zombie “put his own spin on it, while at the same time paying tribute to Carpenter’s film.”
I personally enjoyed the remake, and feel it is a worthy entry into the series that had taken a nose dive after Halloween: H20. Giving us a Michael Myers that was more brutal certainly was a big change from the silent stalker we know, but this is a Rob Zombie film. And although most of the dialogue is a bit uncomfortable at some points, you can get past them and take this move for what it is. It is a straight-forward slasher offering just a bit more than the original (although it can never be replicated) and gives us something new. Whether you love it, hate it or in between, Rob Zombie’s Halloween is here to stay. You can’t really compare this with the original because both films are different in their own ways. They each do their own thing which makes both Halloween films good.
HALLOWEEN II (2009)
It was revealed at the 30 Years of Terror convention in 2008 by Malek Akkad that there was going to be a sequel to Rob’s 2007 film. Several writers/directors were in talks, but the studio really wanted Rob Zombie. However, Rob expressed his feelings about how exhausted he was after the first one and that he didn’t want to come back for a sequel. After a year of cooling down, and some coaxing, Akkad told Rob to make this “your vision.” With this sequel, he was no longer tied down by the need to retain any kind of “John Carpenter-ness.” He was free to do what he wanted. Akkad himself even stated that he wanted Rob to “move the franchise away from some of its established rules.”
With that in mind, the sequel was in motion. Picking up moments after the previous film then jumping ahead one year later, Halloween II shows the aftermath and how it affected the characters. Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) is now living with Annie (Danielle Harris) and Sheriff Brackett (Brad Dourif). Laurie suffers from horrific nightmares, masking her pain with booze and pills and seeing a shrink, played by the delightful Margot Kidder. Annie, who barely survived, is now a borderline agoraphobic who rarely leaves the house. Annie has become somewhat of the “mother” to Laurie, trying to help her only to have Laurie flip out on her. It’s a strained relationship, one that is looked at more in the Director’s Cut version.
Dr. Loomis is back in town, along with his ego, publicizing his new book based on the events of the previous film. Inside it reveals secrets of the Myers clan, and the truth about Laurie. When Brackett discovers that Loomis actually betrayed a promise he made, he tries everything in his power to keep it from Laurie. Unfortunately, Laurie discovers this herself after walking past a book store, and curiosity gets the best of her. She walks in, buys the book and learns who she really is: her name was Angel Myers and she is the sister of the most dangerous serial killer in history. McDowell’s portrayal of Loomis is quite a departure from the previous film and makes him less likeable. Whether it was written that way, or McDowell played it that way, it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. He does, however, try to redeem himself after Michael kidnaps Laurie and puts himself in the line of fire to save her.
Zombie’s vision for his sequel was to make it more realistic and violent, showing us how the events of the first film affected everyone and establishing a mental connection between Michael and Laurie who both suffer from hallucinations involving their dead mother and a young Michael.
Released on August 28th, 2009, Halloween II was immediately met with a negative reception. Again, made on a $15 million budget, the original opening grossed only $7 million, far less than the remake earned. In October, the film was re-released to coincide with the Halloween weekend, but only made just shy of $500,000. When all was said and done, Halloween II walked away with a box office total of almost $40 million with North American and foreign markets combined. Halloween II sits in fourth place, just behind the original Halloween in box office sales.
I respect Rob and his work, and always find his films entertaining. I did not however, like the visions of Deborah and the white horse, although I do get its point. For Laurie, she is no longer the sweet suburban girl we first met. She now sports tattoos and a grunge style of clothing. She is a wreck, and it’s understandable that anybody would be after going through what she did. But Laurie gets to a point where I wanted to reach through the screen and slap her. She unknowingly alienates everyone around her, which pushes more than a few buttons. Loomis is a complete sellout, barking orders at his assistant and acting like a complete dick. Daeg Faerch was set to reprise his role for the sequel. By the time production began, Faerch had grown too big for the part and was recast by Chase Wright Vanek. The first trailers showed Faerch, but were only test shots and were never meant to be used in the trailer or film.
Many complaints from fans were concerning the mask. Rumors ran rampant that Michael wouldn’t have his trademark mask. In the end, there was a mask, and during an attack, gets ripped half off. His only other change was his clothes. Gone are the coveralls and replaced with a hooded jacket. I liked the image switch and felt it made Michael more disconnected, as if hiding himself from the world. His grunting when he stabs his victims, albeit repeatedly, made his actions more horrific. If Zombie was going for realism, he captured it. The most violent kill is in the beginning when Michael tracks Laurie down to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital and repeatedly stabs the nurse, played by Octavia Spencer. Tyler Mane once again donned the mask and is the only actor to portray Michael in two consecutive films.
When compared to everyone else in the film, Danielle Harris and Brad Dourif are the normal ones. While Annie’s scars are external, always being a “constant reminder,” Harris brought a different vulnerability to the character. She seems at times disconnected from the events that happened, until the moment she comes face to face with Michael again. When Laurie discovers Annie lying on the bathroom floor, it’s a moment in the film where Laurie has lost everyone she knows. Annie’s death scene is probably the strongest and most emotional scene in the film, and the series, and is a bittersweet send off that we never got in Halloween 6 when she was replaced by J.C Brandy. In the original script, Annie was supposed to be in the bathtub, but the scene was changed on set. “Rob just gave me and Scout the freedom to go for it. He let the cameras roll and sat back and watched,” she said in an interview I did with her. “To sit in a theater and cry when Annie dies was amazing. I do believe they (the fans) were emotional because it was me. If another actress played that role, that fans might not have been that invested. I think they were watching her (Jamie Lloyd) die more than Annie and that’s what made it so emotional.”
The filming took place in Georgia, which provided Zombie major tax breaks. Another reason was location, providing the visual feel he was going for. The film, as described by Zombie is “ultra gritty, ultra intense and very real,” going for the exact opposite of what people expected him to make. Shot on 16mm also provided that grainy, gritty feel.
Zombie only used John Carpenter’s theme in the final shot of the film. He said he and composer Tyler Bates tried to find places for it, but it never felt right with what was happening on screen, claiming it “just didn’t feel right.” Zombie also uses pop culture rock and roll song, “Night in White Satin” being used the most. He had chosen songs he liked, bringing out the scene they were played in.
I personally enjoy this sequel, and while it’s not without its flaws, it’s still a good entry into the series. The opening of the film is the strongest, and is a great tribute to the original Halloween II, in fact even one upping it. Most critics disliked the use of Deborah and the white horse, claiming it “silly,” while one said it was a “relief from the blood soaked brutality” of Michael’s kills. Zombie’s vision is more inventive, taking the series in a different direction than anything we had seen previously. And while most fans disregard this entry, just remember that we also have Halloween: Resurrection.
HALLOWEEN III (2014, rumored)
Zombie stated after filming Halloween II, that he was done with Michael Myers and felt he got to tell the story he wanted to. Rumors of Halloween III began almost immediately after the film was released, with Dimension rushing into production without a script. Todd Farmer (Jason X) was to have a written treatment ready with Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) attached as director. Tom Atkins, who was in the original Halloween III: Season of the Witch, was rumored to star in this sequel as Laurie’s doctor. Brad Dourif, Scout Taylor-Compton and Tyler Mane were rumored to be attached at the time. Farmer and Lussier’s involvement was sacked due to their investment on the Hellraiser reboot. Several other writers have come and gone, and Dimension even went so far as to put Halloween III on their “scheduled for release” list. They pulled it a short time later. With no script, no director or a cast attached, Halloween III still remains in limbo. Rumors of this third and final film were going to follow Rob Zombie’s two films, but bring Michael Myers “back to his roots.” There were suggestions this third film would also be filmed in 3D, a gimmick at the time that was all the rage.
I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Michael Myers. After the negative fan reaction to Halloween II, most fans may not be ready for another film, especially if it follows Zombie’s vision. Only the most hardcore fans would want another film, me included. With a rumored possible date set, it’s almost looking good that we will see Michael back on the big screen real soon.
And just to make the fans happy, Zombie has stated recently that he will not be coming back for another round of Halloween.
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