NationStates Jolt Archive


Wilgrove's Movie Review: Rob Zombie's Halloween (Spoiler Alert)

Wilgrove
01-09-2007, 02:31
Ahh Halloween, not only is it my favorite holiday, but it's also the title of the classic 1978 horror movie. A movie that's about Michael Myers, an antisocial psychopath who breaks out of the mental institution to kill the remaining member of his family, his sister. The 1978 movies end with Dr. Loomis unloading a few rounds into Michael Myers, only to have him get up and walk away, thus leading room for a re-make that became Halloween II.

Fast forward to 2007, and the classic movie breathes one again as Rob Zombie release a re-make of the classic horror movie. This time, the movie delt with Michael Myers home life before he was sent to the mental institution. His home life was basically a perfect breeding ground for a psychopathic killer. This movie showed Michael slow progress from a kid growing up in a dysfunctional family to the soul-less monster that he evolved in. This made Michael Myers more human, which at first distracted from his monster side, but the movie made up for that by basically adding in more victims for Michael Myers to kill.

This movie also showed life inside the mental institution from a few session that Michael had with Dr. Loomis to his eventual breaking out of. This movie does add more background in why Dr. Loomis refers to Michael as a soul-less monster who doesn't know right from wrong, death and life, and that his eyes are completely black, void of any life. I really liked how the movie did show what lead Michael to basically kill anyone and everyone.

SPOILER ALERT AHEAD, DO NOT READ ANYMORE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!

After Michael Myers broke out of the institution, he goes back to his hometown to find his baby sister, Laurie Strode. In this movie Laurie does not know that she is related to Michael and basically grew up with an adopted family. The movie basically followed the 1978 version with Michael chasing down Laurie and killing both of her friends (and their boyfriends, while they were having sex.) Dr. Loomis did fire the shots into Michael Myers but that only temporary stopped him. Michael ended up killing Dr. Loomis after the Dr. told him that it wasn't Laurie fault, that he failed him. The movie ended with Michael Myers body slamming Laurie resulting in them falling out of the second story window of Michael's childhood home. It did show Laurie firing a round into Michael's head, but that's it. Which once again leaves it open for a sequel.

Spoiler over, resume.

I like that Rob Zombie added the background story from Michael's childhood to the moment when he broke out of the institution. That was a nice touch and it sure explain a whole lot. However, after he broke out it just followed the original movie with a few changes here and there. It would've been better if there was a few twist, but I know I know, this is a re-make. I didn't like how during every chase scene with Michael in it, the camera shook. I mean why would the camera shake during this? Did an earthquake happen?

Overall, I would give this movie an 8/10. It's a great slasher film and it does do the 1978 version justice, but don't go in expecting anything new beside the background story.
Australiasiaville
01-09-2007, 02:34
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