Rob Zombie's Halloween

[McMurphy]

Rob Zombie, ex front man of the heavy metal band White Zombie (a band, hence the name, that proclaimed its love for old horror films between crunches of the guitar), has started to make a name for himself in the horror cinema arena.

I believe Hollywood first started to take a look at him as a possible screenwriter and director with the sequel of The Crow. He was signed up to write and direct it, but, due to sited creative differences, Zombie backed out of the agreement. Since then, he has written and directed two campy horror films: House of a 1,000 Corpses and Devil's Rejects.

Zombie will be releasing his version of the slasher classic Halloween at the end of the month (State side). What are people's feelings on that? Do you think he is capable of lifting the terrible trend of horror remakes into something noteworthy, or do you think that it will be of rental quality at best? How about his other films?

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing it. Yes, I was a fan of White Zombie, and I am a fan of his current solo project work. But I also enjoyed his other two films. House of a 1,000 Corpses more so.

Ah! I almost forgot Zombie has an odd bit of movie creds with his short animated sequence in Beavis and Butthead Do America. He placed motion to some of the artwork he originally published on White Zombie's La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1.

[ravenus]

I wouldn't describe The Devil's Rejects as a campy horror film: It's done with a good deal of restraint (in the right parts) and has a genuinely scary vibe to it.

I personally am disappointed with a talented artist like Zombie taking on a project like a Halloween remake. I thought even John Carpenter's original film was a dull affair and can't understand the hype behind it. I've seen the trailer and so far it appears an uninspired mess. I doubt I will be making the pilgrimage to see it. I just hope Zombie finds some good new original material, apart from the remakes and tributes that seem to be the sum factor of most horror films these days.

[j. d. worthington]

I'm afraid I'll have to agree. Though I think Zombie has some talent, and I'm all for trying to do something different if you're going to do a remake (a dubious proposition in the first place, given their track record), I've seen quite a few clips, trailers, etc., for this one, and it does look like an unmitigated mess, turning what could be (and was intended to be) an archetypal, nearly-identityless character into someone specifically human... thus reducing the dimensions of the whole thing into simply another slasher film. (Besides, there was something very appropriate in the nearly black eyes of the original which blue eyes just lack... it robs it of any sort of frisson.)

I'll admit that I'm one of those who likes the original, though as much for some of the implications as for what is actually put on the screen.... Here, though, what I'm seeing so far is very, very disappointing coming from someone whose work was, though seriously flawed, nonetheless showing promise. Frankly, I'd much rather have something original from Zombie and see him grow in his own right... especially with that uneasy blending of very dark humor and stark horror (and often brutal explicitness) that made his films just a leetle different than what normally comes down the pike....

[McMurphy]

I see where both of you are coming from: I would far rather see Zombie bone up his original screenwriting and directing abilities. He has some great promise in this genre, a genre he clearly adores, and I have to support that.

It is a bit ironic that Zombie has taken the captain's seat in an unneeded horror remake, since it was not all that long ago that he publicly smirked at Hollywood for attempting to cash in on the Dawn of the Dead revamp. Perhaps Zombie is under the belief that Hollywood is going to make a Halloween retelling regardless, and he might as well be involved in hopes that something can be salvaged from the wreck. Maybe not. But that is why, if a remake should be made, I look forward to Zombie being heavily involved.

[steve12553]

My big complaint was that the original Halloween was the first of the "slasher" movies and was quite original. It has been copied many times since and is in my opinion another movie that does not need to be remade. I seriously doubt that it will have have of the impact at fisrt viewing that hte original had.

[The_Warrior]

I'm just gong to wait and see intell I see it for my self. It might be awful. It might be nice to it's source. it came out on friday. A person and I saw the og. It's was playing on IFC. probly for the new remake. So now I have it refreshend in my mind. If anyone sees it, I hope they put thier review of it on here.

[xander838]

Originally Posted by steve12553

My big complaint was that the original Halloween was the first of the "slasher" movies and was quite original. It has been copied many times since and is in my opinion another movie that does not need to be remade. I seriously doubt that it will have have of the impact at fisrt viewing that hte original had.

halloween was not the first of the slasher films Black Christmas was it was released 4 years earlier.

But anyway back to the point, i am looking forward to seeing this movie, i enjoyed Zombies other films and hope he can bring something new to this remake

[steve12553]

Originally Posted by xander838

halloween was not the first of the slasher films Black Christmas was it was released 4 years earlier.

I had never heard of that one but I looked it up. Judging by the cast, it probably didn't need to be remade either.

[Abbi]

John Carpenters Halloween was one of the scariest films I ever saw. I have seen better films since, but it still a very atmospheric film. I see no benefit in remaking it and turning it into yet another graphic sick outing like so many horror films out these days.

I have recently seen Hostel 2 which is the most revolting film I have ever seen. One reviewer described it as "Torture pornography for morons". A good description I think. I also loathed Wolf Creek. I have seen the trailer to the new Halloween film and it looks to me like it is going to be one of the "new breed" of horror films. I dont know if I can stomach any more of these!

Notably two really cr*p remakes of classics were The Omen and The Fog. Why bother!!! They will be remaking The Exorcist next. (Pleeeeease dont tell me they are!!!)

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by steve12553

I had never heard of that one but I looked it up. Judging by the cast, it probably didn't need to be remade either.

Actually... it either has been, or is being, remade... I saw this film a couple of years ago and actually rather liked it. For one thing, it took time to develop the characters and to turn the screw rather slowly and subtly... much more so than the films which followed. It has some serious flaws, but it's an interesting film, and in general a film that relies more on a quiet sort of suspense that gradually builds, rather than the violence or onscreen gore, etc.

[McMurphy]

The remake of Black Christmas opened in theaters (State side) on Christmas in 2006. I would like to see the original, since it is often placed on "best slasher film lists," but I thought the 2006 version was quite bad.

Besides, I am a little afraid of the people that showed up at 10am on Christmas morning to see Black Christmas.

[dustinzgirl]

Zombie's version of Halloween is not a remake, it is a prequel, which was kind of done in one of the Halloween's released in the 80's but not totally from the Myers as a child POV

This version messes with your head and makes you pity Myers. It will also make you wonder why the Dr. was such a crappy child psychologist.

There is lots of blood and guts, and some of the scenes are just like HOLY CRAPPOLA....I let my 12 yr old watch it but not my younger kids, and he only got to watch it because he is one of those kids who doesn't believe in the boogeyman, LOL.

But, if you get past the gore and follow the story, its actually pretty well done (some holes with the other H's but not too many) and it makes you think about the person of Myers, where other H's were just about the killing/demon/evil stuff.

I like this version because it gives a solid foundation for many things, the killing to come, the silence, the stalker, and most importantly, the mask.

PS: And on a more important note, Black Christmas the OG version was still not the first slasher film, anyways. The first slasher, true slasher film, was Psycho (althought I might put the 1940 Dr. Jekyl and Mr. hide in, but that isn't really a slasher, close but no cigar, and Phantom of the Opera also, but that movie never gets the respect it deserves, at least not the OG version...), I don't care what any film critics say. And Silent Night, Deadly Night rules over the OG and remake BC any day of the week.

Santa's so much cuter when he's a murderer.

[The_Warrior]

I thought about the first 30 minute is like a prequle.