Matthew Sanchelli's Movie Review of Halloween (2007)

The Boogeyman Is Back.
Matthew Sanchelli - wrote on 08/31/07

So....I saw a midnight screening last night. Not as many people I would have hoped to see there.....but I figure the crowds will hopefully be a little larger this weekend during "normal-people-movie-viewing-hours."

Anywho...the movie.

I do agree with Super Kev; in that there is nothing like the original....but that's why there are originals...I think I've given my "cloning analogy" in some other review somewhere before, so I won't go off on that again.

Rob Zombie did, in fact though, make a movie that certainly holds its own.

The back story of Michael is good. It gives you a little background to why he is the way he is. Sure, living in as crappy of a living environment as he did....it's liable to mess with you. But there were times you also went...even without this upbringing...he's still be pretty messed up; because there were some moments you just think "damn this kid is demented".

However, where Rob gives us a little background to Michael's childhood; we still are not given the answers as to 'Why he becomes a more 'random' killer (and I use the terms random loosely). And even more so; why he is such an unstoppable force. I think he endures more lethal blows in this version than in Carpenters; if not close to equal, but he still just keeps on coming. How is he so over-powering? That's the mystery that still makes Michael Myers still seem like the Boogeyman.

I dug the parallels between one and two and I think the amount of similarities was just right. There were some things that were put in there for the die-hards that have to involved to make this a 'Halloween' movie. Michael's observation and appreciation for one of his kills; the sheet; and "Totally", for example.

The new twists and turns. The newer material that stems differently from Carpenter's Halloween keep the film fresh and stop you from thinking "This is the same damn movie", and from thinking you know what to expect next. When you think you see something coming....you may not be right.

The music was very well done. Between traditional Halloween themes, to soundtrack songs; Rob has again done a good job at selecting a top choice musical accompaniment to the film.

Casting was very well done (I'm partially biased because...and this is a bragging moment for me....I got to personally work with the Casting Director Monika Mikkelsen during my time in Los Angeles working at a talent agency there.) She and her assistant Gene did a great job finding some fitting talent and iconic horror actors. Though I still think my girl Nikki would have been a great Laurie; but Scout did a decent job as well.

The only thing that really kept me from rating this higher than 3 stars was because I was hoping to maybe have a little bit more suspense in this film. There were a few jump moments in the film; but otherwise....the suspense didn't seem to be as high as I had hoped. We knew too often where Michael was at a given time. Which isn't a bad thing exactly. Perhaps Rob was looking at Michael in the way of the old 'time-bomb' cliche'. The terror isn't so much when the bomb goes off....but more so knowing it's there and wondering....when is it going to go off. You see Michael skulking around and you have to wonder......when is this bomb going to explode.

I still give mad props to Mr. Zombie for taking such a classic film and doing his own thing. I appreciate that more than you know in terms of people sometimes too afraid to take a chance and try something new.

So, my hat is off to Rob and his entire crew for putting together a movie that I think is more than welcome in the Halloween franchise and it will most definitely have a spot on my movie shelf when it comes out on DVD...right next to John Carpenters.