The idea of the highly acclaimed 1978 horror-classic 'Halloween' from John Carpenter being redone is one that has sparked much debate since its mentioning last year. Many hardcore fans of it stuck their noses up at the thought where just as many modern day horror lovers began to anticipate it. I find the first film nothing truly special. It's okay and all, but there's nothing distinguishing about it except for the wonderful music it featured. So when it was announced a remake, I'm sorry a "revision" was being made only one thing drew me in: the fact Rob Zombie was going to be directing. His previous works 'House of 1,000 Corpses' and its follow-up 'The Devil's Rejects' are both personal favorites of mine. The rawness and unique level of energy injected into those was exactly what I had expected to see present in 'Halloween' Sadly enough, it didn't pan out quite as I had hoped.
For me the best part of the entire film is its beginning. Instead of just a mere six or seven minutes of vague back story, Zombie stretches that time to about fifty as he explains in depth the origins of the infamous Michael Myers. Everything we could possibly want to know as far as his past is finally revealed here. The original actually could have used a maybe not so lengthy, but informative intro. Daeg Faerch portrays a troubled young Michael whose childhood "hobbies" inevitably transform him into the silent killer we all know him to be. Sheri Moon Zombie's wife and Baby Firefly from his first two films plays Michael's loving mother. Both give equally mediocre performances coming off as sorely one dimension. The only time they have any flare is when their characters aren't talking. (Michael beating a bully to death and Deborah swinging on a stripper pole.) All the others introduced in the beginning are forgettable except for William Forsythe as Ronnie White and Malcolm McDowell. The only reasons we remember them is because Forsythe's role in 'Devil's Rejects' and McDowell we see consistently throughout the rest of this film.
After the introduction there isn't much new to be seen. Most of what made the original halfway decent has been trashed or traded for traits far less worthy praise. Laurie played by Scout Taylor-Compton and her friends' personalities are non-existent. No longer is there any sense of mystery or suspense either. As soon as Michael sees his victim he kills them right then and there as the scene beings to shake as if an earthquake is occurring at the same time. We hardly get to know any of the characters which makes it a little difficult to care about their death. Probably the worst part of it all is Zombie claimed that in his "revision" he'd make Michael scary again. However, there are no scares to be had whatsoever. The fright factor has been traded out for the popular gross out gore takes. The original was never about the spilling of blood, but rather the sense of uncertainty of if, when and where the masked killer would strike next.
Having said that, 'Halloween' is nowhere near as bad nor the embarrassment fanboys and critics are making it out to be. Like I said, for the highlight of the film was indeed the beginning. The keywords there are "for me". I think that ever though Zombie may have lost some of the bite the original had the overall product is still acceptable for what most young horror fanatics of today expect in their movies. They essentially want two things: boobs and blood. Here they get exactly what they pay for. The difference between 'Halloween' and other recent horror flicks is that Zombie has style.