When Rob Zombie was announced to direct a remake of John Carpenter’s Halloween, there was skepticism from all sides of the front. Fans just didn’t feel a remake of the 1978 classic was needed since it was perfect as is. They were also hesitant as they didn’t feel like Zombie’s “hellbilly” subgenre of horror was the right fit for a Halloween movie.
Looking back on the 2007 remake, it isn’t the worst thing to come out of the Halloween franchise (that would be Resurrection). It also isn’t even close to being one of the best. There are some things Zombie brought to the table that moviegoers can appreciate but unfortunately, there are just as many awful aspects that fans want to forget.
DID IT WELL: Sheri Moon Zombie's Performance
Despite being criticized for always being included in her husband’s films, Sheri Moon Zombie does show she has some acting chops from time to time. Such is the case with her role as Michael’s mother, Deborah Myers.
Sheri Moon ends up holding her own in the film’s first act. She’s able to convey the utter heartbreak Deborah is experiencing from Michael’s murderous rampage. Most notably, her facial expressions show the tragic reality that she's lost her son. Some fans would argue that Halloween is her best role so far, and they wouldn't be wrong in saying so.
DID IT WRONG: The Rob Zombie-ness
Within the first five minutes, audiences immediately know that this Halloween is a Rob Zombie film. There’s excessive f-bombs, crude sexual dialogue, and constant shouting. While it is meant to show Michael’s rough upbringing, it just comes off as annoying as it drags on.
A large portion of the film just feels dirty and grimy, but not in an authentic way. This is the kind of aesthetic that fits perfectly in the deliberately trashy Firefly Trilogy but not in a Halloween film. There’s also a ton of nudity that Zombie loves to put in his films that just comes off as juvenile, especially during one scene that will be brought up in its own entry on this list.
DID IT WELL: The Excellent Visuals & Camera Work
For all the flak Rob Zombie gets, there’s no denying that he knows what he’s doing behind the camera. Halloween (2007), despite all of its flaws in the script, is filmed with exceptional camera work and haunting visuals.
This is very evident in the film’s second half. There are some really memorable shots of Michael lurking in the background and showing up at the last second but not relying on any cheap jump scares. When some of the action starts, Zombie is still able to keep it all in focus despite the intensity of the situation.
DID IT WRONG: Smith's Grove Needed More Time
In a film that is already too long, too much screen time was given to Michael’s dysfunctional family life. Since the point already comes across in the first five minutes, there should’ve been less time on his family life and more on his relationship with Dr. Loomis.
Once Michael is institutionalized, Halloween basically glosses over his sessions with Dr. Loomis to get to the murder as soon as possible. The thing is, their dynamic was way more intriguing than the ensuing carnage. Giving more time to Smith's Grove would’ve allowed legendary Malcolm McDowell to add more to the film. Instead, he just repeats most of Donald Pleasence's dialogue in the remake's second half.
DID IT WELL: Michael's Mask Is The Best Since The Original
There are many inconsistencies in the Halloween franchise, especially the masks. Michael Myers's mask goes from terrifying to silly between films. Case in point, things started out well with the classic mask and then devolved into whatever that plastic surgery-looking face was in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.
Thankfully, the mask in the remake stands out as one of the best since the original. While the emotionless nature of the masks always added to the creepiness, the mask in Zombie’s version has a sinister look to it. Once it's put on, actor Tyler Mane is able to show his violent intentions just through his eyes.
DID IT WRONG: Michael's Escape Is Unnecessarily Distasteful
Technically this one is a problem only known to those who saw the director’s cut. However, when Halloween was released on home video, Zombie put this uncut version on most of the DVDs, meaning the actual theatrical cut is harder to obtain. Even renting Halloween on Amazon Video will show the director’s cut without saying so.
The scene in question is Michael’s escape. It sees two depraved guards sexually assaulting a catatonic female patient in front of Michael, eventually angering him enough to kill them both and escape. It’s just distasteful to the point where it's unwatchable. When a mass-murdering Michael is not the vilest character in a Halloween film, something's obviously wrong.
DID IT WELL: The Brutal Violence
Aside from all the “Rob Zombie-ness” that hinder this remake, the brutal violence is actually something that works and allows this version to form its own identity. Yes, the 1978 original was mostly bloodless and focused more on suspense, which is why it's still superior. This remake, on the other hand, makes the violence horrifying to watch.
Michael attacks his victims with such ferocity. The kills may not be all that creative for a slasher flick but its the visceral nature of it all that makes it bone-chilling. Zombie’s follow-up sequel took things even further, making it the goriest entry in the franchise.
DID IT WRONG: Remake Laurie Isn’t As Strong As The Original
This isn't meant to disrespect Scout Taylor-Compton as she’s actually quite good in the remake. The problem is that once Michael shows up, all she gets to do is scream helplessly and run away. In the original film, Jamie Lee Curtis’s version of Laurie Strode is able to somehow hold her own against Michael Myers while being (understandably) dead scared.
Taylor-Compton’s take is just running away constantly, asking for help, and never fighting back. Once again, this is taking aim at the character and not the actress herself. Taylor-Compton can be quite the scream queen, and it’s just a shame audiences didn’t see more fight in her until the very last minute.
DID IT RIGHT: Michael Myers's Most Terrifying Incarnation So Far
As the years went by, Michael Myers’s scare-factor really started to diminish. This remake version of Michael, though, is downright terrifying and is perhaps the scariest he’s ever been. It helps that he’s being played by the 6’ 8” Tyler Mane.
It isn’t just his size, though. Mane adds a ton of physicality to the titular role where he just seems relentless in all of his kills. As the Halloween series went on, the slow-walking Michael started to look silly as he was basically teleporting across Haddonfield. Mane, meanwhile, moves at a fast pace. Seeing this behemoth of a man quickly move towards you is more frightening overall.
DID IT WRONG: The Second Half Is Just A Remake
It goes without saying that remakes of classic films need to justify their existence. They need to add something new to the table by putting a different spin on the story. To his credit, Rob Zombie does this in the first half of his Halloween by exploring Michael’s childhood.
Once Michael escapes the sanitarium, however, the rest of the film essentially becomes a shot-for-shot remake of the original. It would be one thing to pay homage to certain scenes but instead, they just do the exact same scenes. These include Michael stalking Laurie outside her school as well as Lynda’s death scene, with the only difference being the time setting and the fact that some characters now have cell phones.