“Halloween” (MGM)
No Holiday From Gore
For some reason Hollywood thought it was time for a remake of the 1970’s gore classic “Halloween.” Director Rob Zombie and a cast of little knowns have created a new look at the old tale of Michael Myers – he of the face mask and slasher personality. Zombie and company stay true to the old theme of sex equals death, as most of Michael’s victims are teenagers who swear and have sex.
This film starts with Michael Myers (Daeg Faerch) as a ten-year-old. He lives a miserable life with his mother Deborah (Sheri Moon Zombie), her boyfriend (William Forsythe), his sister Judith (Hanna Hall) and a baby sister. He is constantly being tormented at school for his weird ways, and life at home is no better. One day he has had enough and goes on a killing spree which leaves multiple bodies around.
He is placed in an asylum where he comes under the tutelage of Dr. Samuel Loomis (Michael McDowell). Many years later he escapes from the hospital and ends up back in his hometown. There he begins another killing spree while he searches for the baby sister he has never known.
All of this is shown in grim and grisly fashion. This is a blood and guts movie with enough of both to deaden your senses. What is missing is any insight into Michael Myer’s motivation. He just appears to have been a “bad seed” from the beginning and nobody or no thing is going to change his path.
The acting in this film is subpar even for a horror flick. McDowell gets his chance to chew up the scenery and he does so with gusto. He also speaks with a British accent which seems totally out of place. At one point the young Michael asks Dr. Loomis why he talks funny but no explanation is ever given.
Other actors taking the paycheck and running are Brad Dourif, Clint Howard, Udo Keir, Danny Trejo, Dee Wallace Stone and Leslie Easterbrook. There is also an assortment of teen actresses who bare their bodies and suffer the consequences. Michael doesn’t like trashy girls.
The film is rated R for profanity, violence and nudity.
The film runs one hour and forty-seven minutes but it seems much longer. It goes on and on and on. One violent act leads to another with spaces of boredom in between.
Sadly audiences will lap up this gore mess and the deadening of America’s sensibilities against violence will increase. If this sleazy slasher film is the best Hollywood can offer by way of entertainment then we are in sad shape indeed.
I scored “Halloween” a boo-ed 2 out of 10.
