Halloween '07
Review by Mari Lynne Rupp

I’ll be honest, I’m not in love with the idea of remaking all the classic horror. First, “Night of the Living Dead”, then “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, now Rob Zombie’s tribute, “Halloween”. If someone tries to remake “Nightmare on Elm St.”, I may hurt someone.

This film did nothing to change my mind about remakes. The back story stole a lot from Michael Myer’s mystique, overanalyzing why he became the cold-blooded killer he was. Sheri Moon Zombie does a passable job playing his overworked, but fiercely loving mother. I got the impression the sequel lasted as long as it did, solely for Mr. Zombie to say to the world, “Hey, here’s my hot wife. Who can act.”

Sorry, Sheri, really not your fault.

Daeg Faerch pretty much saves the movie here, though, as a creepy eleven-year-old Myers, showing signs of his cold-blooded nature, but is predictably neglected, and predictably abused, predictably killing his abusive stepfather, and promiscuous siter before finally snapping for good in the Sanitarium.

Michael McDowell brings on a flawless performance as Dr. Sam Loomis, making the character slightly more likeable than Donald Pleasance’s portrayal. Unfortunately, that’s part of the edginess of the original, Dr. Loomis tiredly and unemotional as Myers himself, dogging Michael’s steps with a “Oh, fuck, here we go” kind of feeling.

Zombie tries to put in as many of his friends as possible and while it’s nice to see Sid Haig and Bill Moseley away from their previously murderous counterparts we remembered, it seems to try too hard.

The ending tries to be original and “shocking”, but too predictable, the reflections of the original scenes were mediocre at best.

All in all, if you want to watch a Rob Zombie film, rent “House of 1000 Corpses”, or “Devil’s Rejects” instead.