Theaters have been so overrun with horror movie remakes these past few years that it’s been difficult to keep track. As can be expected, most of these films pale in comparison to their original predecessors; even in cases where they differ enough from the originals to stand out, they still tend to play like unnecessary rehashes. Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake of Halloween falls into that very trap.
Michael Myers Re-Imagined
Remaking a movie as popular and iconic as John Carpenter’s original Halloween is problematic in and of itself. Michael Myers isn’t a movie monster in the same vein as Dracula or Frankenstein’s monster; he is a character with an established appearance and set of behaviors, if not a personality, and he had appeared in seven films prior to Zombie’s remake, the most recent (and arguably worst) of which came out in 2002. Having first appeared in 1978 and remaining a fairly constant presence in the horror genre since then, he isn’t a character who is generally open to different interpretations.
Thankfully, although Zombie does “re-imagine” Halloween a great deal, to the extent that the film’s first third is more of a prequel than a remake, Myers’s ultimate characterization—a silent, unstoppable evil in a featureless William Shatner mask—remains unchanged. It’s doubtful that fans of the original franchise (likely including Zombie himself) would tolerate anything else. However, Zombie has elaborated on Myers’s backstory.
Just like in the original film, a young Michael (Daeg Faerch) is locked away in a mental institution after he puts on a clown costume and murders his older sister (Hanna R. Hall) on Halloween night. Also like in the original, he escapes the institution as an adult and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield to kill again. But this movie goes to greater lengths to characterize him, giving the audience a detailed look at his childhood and family. His mom (Sheri Moon Zombie) works as a stripper to support her children and her sleazy boyfriend (William Forsythe). Michael has been acting out for some time now—he tortures small animals, antagonizes his teachers, and shows other signs of deep disturbance.
Yet he also has a sweet side typical of a normal boy. He loves his baby sister, whom he affectionately calls “Boo,” and is crestfallen when his big sister neglects to take him trick-or-treating on Halloween night. When he is locked away, he expresses a longing to return home and see his family again, even going so far as to ask his mother if everyone at home is okay. It’s as though there are two dueling sides to the child, and eventually, the darker side wins out. Fifteen years later, he has transformed into the familiar Michael Myers (played as an adult by Tyler Mane) that audiences know and fear.
Prequel, Remake, and Tribute
The movie shifts from a prequel to a remake almost seamlessly. There are some scenes that almost mirror the original film exactly; since it’s inevitable that the first movie will loom so large in many viewers memories, these little reminders are strangely welcome. It’s as though Zombie is admitting that he is a fan of the series too and is shooting a tribute rather than a remake. One of Zombie's smartest moves was in casting Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Sam Loomis. He lives up to Donald Pleasance's original performance without copying it directly.
Honestly, Halloween isn’t a bad movie, particularly for a remake. It’s fun to look at John Carpenter’s film through Rob Zombie’s distorted lens, and the production, acting and execution are great. It’s just that the whole thing, just like the gaggle of other horror remakes out there, is so unnecessary. Rob Zombie is a talented, creative director; instead of remaking an icon, he would better serve himself and his audience by creating something entirely new.
