Halloween 2 reaction thread

[g0mang071]

Imagine that! I caved and went to see Halloween 2 today - the original and first sequel are at the top of my list for slashers. I skimmed through several negative reviews before going , but feel it's always best to judge for oneself. It wasn't super terrible and I even liked it better than his Halloween, but that is not saying much. I won't retread all the hate that's been spewed on Zombie for his remakes, but I kind of feel depressed for spending money on this and I just needed to get it out of my system...

[bigdaddyhorse]

Interested in others thoughts about Zombie's H2.

I went in with tons of hope but a worriedness from the trailer. I love his first Halloween but just could not get into this one at all.

I'll save some of my issues for a bit to see if not alone, so those who've seen it please leave your thoughts. If you haven't seen it please don't turn this into a Zombie bashing fest. Although I cannot even try to defend this latest movie. I've liked or loved all his previous film work, but think I hate this one. Maybe not quite hate, but really fucking close.:eek:

As far as I'm concerned, Michael died at the end of the first film and this never happened. I won't buy it on any format and doubt I'll even check it out from the library.

[DVDBone]

Absolutely HATED it. I really disliked the first one but had some hopes for this one since it didn't have to follow the classic Halloween storyline. But this movie was just a mess. I could not stand the editing/cinematography and the end had me actually laughing out loud (no spoilers). A couple good things - Brad Douriff rocked in his expanded role and Michael Myers was really sadistic and vicious. But those were not enough to save this clusterf*ck of a movie.

[old-boo-radley]

My buddy reviewed it on my site: http://www.oh-the-horror.com/page.php?id=545

God, it sounds like Zombie spoon fed his audience the meanings of the movie's metaphors at the beginning with text... good God.

[g0mang071]

Ehh... I actually liked it better than the first....but we get more of his white trash version of Haddenfield. I already posted on this, but I really feel like my dollar contributed to this and guilt has set in....

[Rocker416]

Still don't what I think............Some of it wasn't bad, but more of it seemed confusing. I won't drop any spoilers........Suffice to say, I don't think this story was thought all the way through.....
Guess I'm right with ya BigDaddyHorse,.......I think I hate it........

[fceurich39]

i loved the book signing scene with lynda's dad
also this movie to me was ruined by way to many scenes with deborah myers as well this movie begged for the halloween theme music throughout not just the ending

i also hated the ending it seemed to happen waaaaaaaay too fast
also all these scenes i was looking forward to got cut out and will hopefully be apart of the director's cut dvd/blu-ray

michael hanging the girl in the tree
dr loomis speech about michael is more evolved

the tension between annie and laurie with annie showing laurie the scars on her face this has been confirmed by rob zombie that it will be in the director's cut version

also additional stuff LIKE LAURIE SAYING i'm not strong enough and deborah myers saying kill her baby and only a river of blood line

sheriff brackett's saying no noooo noooooo
alsothere is another ending which i've heard about



but i just wished loomis and michael's confrontation was better like in 2007 version that was great this the ending seemed too rushed even some of the kills happen way too fast and the picture quality was very dark since it was shot on 16mm not 35mm like the last one

all in all i was disapointed but already am anxiously awaiting the director's cut and hoping everything that was in the trailers will be in the director's cut

[MadmanMarz]

I really wanted Zombie to redeem himself here, but again disappointment rears its ugly head. I thought the Loomis character was a throw away, especially in the ending with Michael Myers confrontation. Anything with Sheri Moon Zombie in it was horrible and left me asking "why does he continue to do this". What was this "white horse" bullsh!t..r u kidding me? What's up with the homeless Michael Myers BS? Is he like 50 years old now???

The only two things I enjoyed was Brad Dourif's performance and the death scenes. I think zombie did a better job exposing the brutality of the kills and adding tension, especially in the hospital sequence in the beginning. Otherwise a huge miss here...even I after saw the disappointing The Final Destination.

[moogong]

I liked it. I think it could have been much better but it was not what I was expecting it to be. Then again, I refused to watch the trailers leading up to it. There are some elements to it that I need to dissect and analyze to hopefully bet a better grasp of where Zombie is coming from.

[Queen B]

Hate to be immature here, but the one word that pretty much sums up the film is "STUPID". Honestly, it's one of the dumbest genre offerings in recent memory. The final is so damn laughable.

[fattyjoe37]

Zombie's worst yet. The opening scenes were interesting, but ended up being a huge cheat. Didn't like the ghost mom, hobo Myers just wandering the earth like Caine in Kung Fu in between Halloweens, Laurie's new friends who had the same personalities as her old ones, and the terrible changing of the Loomis character. All in all this is the weirdest Halloween since the Man in Black/Thorn stuff in Revenge and Curse. From someone who considers the original to be a pinnacle in the horror genre, can this series please die now?

[mclay18]

Zombie should never ever make movies again.

I don't mind violence in movies, but the scene in the strip club took it too far. (Betsy Rue still has nice tits, though.) And Danielle Harris makes the most of her scenes, even though she doesn't get as much as Scout Taylor-Compton (who overacts horribly).

Even though I saw this movie for free, I still wanted my time back from watching it. FD4 is a far better genre pic, at least it doesn't make its audience actively hate it like H2 does.

[Anthropophagus]

Don't want to spoil this for everyone so I won't reveal anything, I went with four friends(two of which loved the first Zombie take on Halloween) and we all hated it.
As for me, I thought that the first Halloween was nothing special and kind of dull.
I do love the original series though(I-IV).
This was a convoluted and contrived mess of a film with little to no entertainment value. The surreal imagery was cheesy beyond belief and I found myself laughing out loud at several scenes.
I am really getting sick of seeing the same actors in all of his films, we get it Rob, Sherri is an awesome looking woman but do we need her in every damn film? The pacing was slow and dull, the acting was atrocious(except for Douriff) and the dialogue awful. Zombie tried elaborating on the Myers character in ways that really destroyed the whole mystique. Scenes meant to be shocking seemed pretty tame compared to recent films like Last House and the kill scenes were just uninspired.
I also hate how Zombie sets a tone that seems totally 1970's and then throws in recent references to random dumb shit like Austin Powers and the Black Eyed Peas ruining the whole illusion. The aesthetic of the film is totally seventies again with references to Alice Cooper, Kiss etc.
If you're a fan of the original series-stay away from this. Several people left the theater and I was tempted to do the same. Overall, I was really disapointed in how boring it was.

[Slackjaw83]

Zombie tried elaborating on the Myers character in ways that really destroyed the whole mystique

Many, including myself, thought Zombie did this when he turned the epitome and the personification of evil into a chubby kid with anger issues.

That said, I think the wife and I, gluttons for punishment that we are, are going to check this out tomorrow. She enjoyed the remake (She dislikes the original, and, because the remake deviated pretty heavily, I can see where it appealed to her tastes as opposed to mine), so she's excited about the sequel. I'm just hoping I can make it through it.

[X-human]

I skimmed through several negative reviews before going , but feel it's always best to judge for oneself. [...] I won't retread all the hate that's been spewed on Zombie for his remakes, but I kind of feel depressed for spending money on this and I just needed to get it out of my system...

Really don't get that mentality. "I heard getting punched in the nads hurts, but I wanted to see for myself so I paid a guy $10 to punch my nads. It hurt like fuck and I feel like I've wasted my money."

[The Chaostar]

Really don't get that mentality. "I heard getting punched in the nads hurts, but I wanted to see for myself so I paid a guy $10 to punch my nads. It hurt like fuck and I feel like I've wasted my money."

Excelent observation.

[Shannafey]

I'll wait until I find a used copy on DVD a few months from now!

[Slackjaw83]

He, like myself, probably realized that everyone is different and that reviews, by nature, are subjective. Sure, he could find (and did find apparently) that he agreed with the reviews he read, but he could have also found that the film appealed to his tastes.

[19VOORHEES83]

I feel like this movie was rushed compared to the remake Rob Zombie did. I know alot of people didnt like the remake but that one to me is now a classic compared to the piece of shit i watched last night. I mean white horses and ghosts? The remake in my opinion had a hell of alot better story and u actually cared about the characters somewhat. I mean the only part that made me smile in this movie was when the music came on at the end. I really wished they could have atleast used more of the original music. Anyway see this movie just because its a Halloween movie otherwise just stick to the remake and the older Hallween movies.

[bigdaddyhorse]

O.K. I've cooled down from being so mad after seeing this last night. A bit of what did and didn't work:

Did - Michael as a hobo. I'm not thrilled with the idea, but if he somehow survived a gunshot to the forehead at point-blank range, it's the only thing that makes sense as to why he hasn't been caught. The beard also fit, if he's been living in the woods or on the streets for a year, personal grooming would probably never even enter his mind. See the NHL playoffs thread to see how much beard can grow in 3 months, and this was fitting. On the flip side of that, wouldn't someone smell him coming? I doubt he's been showering at truck stops, so a big dude living in the woods covered in blood from killig people and his food would be especially ripe, like if he's in the house, you should smell him ripe! Plus eating the dog shows he's turned more animal, also demo'd with the vicious kills, which were among the working parts for me. Back to speaking of being caught...

Didn't - was the crash with cow a dream or is that really what happened? If it really happened, after all the horror Michael caused in the first film, wouldn't Bracken and others not rest until his body was found? "Oh we lost the body of a massive serial killing freak, what do we do?' "It doesn't matter, he's dead." Fucking retarded and lost any sense of realism becuase of it.

Didn't: The girls digs. You both barely survived, most of your friends are dead, wouldn't that make you grow up a just a little fucking bit? Is Bracken an ex-hippy who doesn't care if his daughter and her now adopted friend paint 666 and pentagrams on the bathroom walls? I'd like to think I'll let my kids be themselves and what-not, but within limits. Spray-painting walls in a nice house isn't going to happen. Plus it's like the girls hadn't changed, they are still stupid and I couldn't care less about them. In fact, by the end I was hoping Michael would kill Laurie, like begging for it hoping! Never did I want Jamie Lee to get killed in any of the orginal films. No redeemable value in the central character, not a good sign.

Did work: The kills. After the spoon-fed intro we get Michael having bad mood-swings like he's a druggy, but that was good for the killing. He fucking meant it and made sure no one survived. The bad about this, where was it in the first film? How did Bracken's daughter and Laurie both manage to live. Did these "horse" visions just start after getting a bullet in the head?

Didn't work: editing during any action sequence including many kills. "Let's zoom in so close and make it so dark you can almost see what's happening, but not really. It will be cool and the fans will love it." Ugh, no we won't. It's a fucking cheap over-done trick that doesn't make anything seem more urgent. The only thing it makes feel urgent was my wanting the movie to end.

Didn't work: The dream/mom/horse scenes. Come the fuck on Rob, it's so evident how pussy-whipped you are and how forced into the movie your wife is. This really feels like an idea thought up at the bar. Rob and Sherri out for drinks with friends and Rob says, "you know what, I' going to do a Halloween 2, now how do we get Sherri in the film?" Voice of reason guy says "Rob, you killed her in the first, you're fucked". Sherri says "you get any booty until the next film I'm in", retarded friend suggests the ghost-mother guide and all the drunks think it's briliant and original. Fucking morons!

Didn't work - Loomis. What the fucking fuck? Donald Pleasance has to be rolling over in his grave. You went from one of the only good people in the first film to this, a sleezy tell-all book-selling diva? Reduced to comic relief? Malcolm must've been drinking the Kool-Aid or just got paid too much to resist, but surely he didn't see the script and was like "I have to do this role". Oh, and then to all the sudden go from not caring to rushing to the final after seeing it on TV. Did he happen to be staying at a Holiday Inn Express right by the shack? How would he know where that shack was, he didn't spend much time in Haddenfield? With how his character had been played to that point, the reaction should've been jumping for joy that Michael was still alive so he could write more books, not an all-the-sudden found concious that makes him run to the middle of it.
The only good thing about this Loomis was Bracken rightfully clocking him on sight, at least that reaction was true to character. Then again, why was Bracken there? His daughter just got killed, for real this time. Which. o.k., let me keep on this for a sec.:
After the first film your daughter and friend barely survive. Why stay in the house you almost got killed in and some of your freinds did get killed in? Why keep the sheriff job after that? So even if they don't do what normal people would, which is move, how does it go back to business as usual within a year? I'm still mourning my dad, and he died naturally 2.5 years ago. Had my friend's been butchered in my living room I'd never want to go back in the house, much less stay there. Oh and don't forget, while I'm sure they believe Michael is dead (as point blank shots to the forehead usually make folk), his body has been missing this whole time and apartently no one is bothering to even look for it.
So, I'm Bracken. My daughter who love more than anything in life was nearly killed last year and her best friend was left an orphan. But the body of the guy who did it is missing. Why take that chance? Moving Laurie in makes sense, going back to work and letting them "express their individuality" by spray-painting 666 on my bathroom wall doesn't. Wouldn't he want to keep a closer eye on his precious daughter? I sure fucking would aftre coming that close to losing her. Normal people don't stay in crime-scenes, even when it used to be home!


Maybe there's a decent film in the unquestionably coming Dircetor's Cut. I didn't like the theater version of the first film as much either, but I didn't hate it like I did this. If the library gets the DC I will give it one more try, other than that I doubt I will. I will never ever watch the theater cut of this again, as it's just 90% shit and the 10% isn't worth the squeeze.

[fceurich39]

I feel like this movie was rushed compared to the remake Rob Zombie did. I know alot of people didnt like the remake but that one to me is now a classic compared to the piece of shit i watched last night. I mean white horses and ghosts? The remake in my opinion had a hell of alot better story and u actually cared about the characters somewhat. I mean the only part that made me smile in this movie was when the music came on at the end. I really wished they could have atleast used more of the original music. Anyway see this movie just because its a Halloween movie otherwise just stick to the remake and the older Hallween movies.

agreed this movie begged for the halloween them throughout i thought it was okay but too many shots of MOMMY and the ending/final confrontation in the barn seemed to rushed and some of the kills happened way too fast anyway looking forward to the much better director's cut

[Workshed]

Damn, the responses on here are savage. Haven't seen a showing like this in a while.

[SickNick89]

John Carpenters Halloween has been my favorite movie for the past 20 years and I hated Rob's Halloween (2007) but I loved Halloween 2. This movie is what I thought Rob should have done with the 2007 film and that's make it totally different. Let face it no one is going to make the original Halloween better so you might as well take that concept and run with it, just do something totally unique. Halloween (2007) was kinda in the middle. It wasn't completely its own thing yet wasn't faithful to the original franchise so what we got was a back story then a crappy, truncated version of the 1978 film.
Rob has made H2 all his own and it's a great movie on its own. Much like HO1K Corpses to Devil's Rejects Rob has fixed the problems with the first film and has also made a movie that feels like a completely different movie with the same characters much like those 1st 2 films. thumbs up.

[snowbeast323]

I've looked forward to this for 6 months, now I'm dreading going to see cuz I'm terrified I won't like it....

[othervoice1]

John Carpenters Halloween has been my favorite movie for the past 20 years and I hated Rob's Halloween (2007) but I loved Halloween 2.
Well I hold out some hope its watchable then- When he did the remake with the prequal it was just a bad idea and I dont think anyone could pull it off, but I liked the 2nd part of Zombies Halloween, didnt love it but liked it and hated the prequal portion.
I expected/hoped Halloween 2 to have a chance to stand on its own a bit more and I figured he would up the brutal factor in it giving us a really vicious Myers. This I thought might turn out okay. Only a very few on this board have seen it thus far and now I see one favorable viewer Ill still go in with low expectations and hope to be surprised or at least mildly entertained.

[bigwes15]

I told myself I wasn't going to see this after hating the first one, but there I was today for a rainy day matinee. I'm just a huge Halloween fan, so I couldn't let it pass me by despite my strong reservations. Besides, I have been very forgiving and loved some entries in the series that others did not (most notably part 6, which I thought had fantastic seasonal and spooky atmosphere although an admittedly strange plotline with many holes). The only ones I really didn't like much at all were H20 and the first Zombie movie. Anyway, I had high hopes up through the ending of the hospital sequence and for a short time afterwards, but for the most part after that it was more of the same trashtown stuff from Zombie. I especially disliked the frantic cutting and disjointed closeups during much of the killing scenes...I really would have thought that Rob would have realized that this approach is EXTREMELY tired by now. And don't get me started on the horse crap. I also thought that the hobo Myers wasn't scary......with all of that said, I went into this with the lowest possible expectations, so there was just enough to keep me more or less interested throughout. At this point I can only hope that Mr. Zombie will leave Halloween behind and let somebody else have a shot to bring the series back in line with the original series of films. Unless this absolutely tanks, which I don't think it will, there will definitely be more Halloween films.

[Grim]

Like I mentioned on Twitter, I love Rob Zombie's visual style. It's like you've been put on acid and you're taken through some redneck carnival funhouse. I've also enjoyed all of his films to varying degrees, Rejects still being his best work.

The Sheri Moon hallucination stuff was definitely the film's weakest point in terms of narrative, but I thought they were all trippy and wild to look at, especially the first one where Myers walks into the barn. Hell, I even think that one was alright in terms of dialog and everything too. I liked Brackett's character being beefed up. He was a pretty one dimensional character in the original series, but Zombie really makes him a big part of the story. Dourif handles the role well and it's great to see him in on the big screen. I didn't find the Loomis scenes bad nor did I have a problem with the changes to his character, but in the end I found myself asking what was the point of Loomis being in the film at all. You could have completely removed him from the film and just have his new book being released and the main story would have progressed exactly the same. I think Zombie's main weakness is dialogue and story structure. His films are visually appealing to me and I think he has talent as a director. I'd like to see him directing someone else's screenplay. I think it might yield a more impressive film. Or he could do what Tim Burton does a lot and have someone else take his basic story ideas and shape it into a script.

[Coverdale]

I hated how they had to use a different actor for the "child" Michael Myers. The kid in the first film was kind of chubby and ugly, and this new kid looked like a "pretty girl" a la one of the brothers in Hanson! I realize the original actor was probably too grown up by now, but they could have found an actor that was a bit...uglier...for lack of a better word.

[Coverdale]

Oh yeah, and how many sherriffs have hair THAT long? I liked Dourif's character but I don't think a conservative little Midwestern town would put up with that.

And how far from Haddonfiled does Loomis live? He sees the news and is at the barn in about 2 seconds!

And a strip club with no patrons...only a fat old owner, a guy who takes out trash, and one stripper?

[Grim]

And how far from Haddonfiled does Loomis live? He sees the news and is at the barn in about 2 seconds!

I think he was at a hotel in Haddonfield for the release of the book. Not sure how he found the barn, but I doubt he was that far from it.

[Coverdale]

I think he was at a hotel in Haddonfield for the release of the book. Not sure how he found the barn, but I doubt he was that far from it.

OK, that makes sense. But I guess the town was small enough that he could tell the cab driver, "take me to 'The Barn.'";)

[CrazyFatEthel]

Omg, I was so fucking confused throughout this whole movie!!!What the fuck with Sheri,the hoarse, and just why? What the fuck was the point of this movie?

[Grim]

OK, that makes sense. But I guess the town was small enough that he could tell the cab driver, "take me to 'The Barn.'";)

Haha, yeah. One of a few plot holes in the film.

[CrazyFatEthel]

Haha, yeah. One of a few plot holes in the film.

Few???!!!???

[Slackjaw83]

Just got back from seeing it. Visually, I really dug it. Some of the quick cutting got to be a bit much, but other than that i dug the look. The trippy dream sequences were great. Sure, they weren't in line with what I traditionally consider "Halloween", and, yes, they expanded Micheal Myers as a "person" (I'd rather see him solely as "The Shape"), but, visually, I loved them. They reminded me of some of the stuff in "House of 1000 Corpses" that I loved and Zombie dropped by the time he directed Rejects.

Story wise....Well, it was pretty weak and seemed spotty at points. While i wouldn't say there were "plot holes", i will say that the story seemed to jump around from point A to C, forgetting about point B a bit too often. That said, by the half way point, I switched my mind to "Italian Horror Mode" : i.e The story isn't making sense but the visuals are strong and engaging, and the kills are over the top enough to keep me entertained.

I hated Laurie's new friends and the old hippes she worked for. Zombie seemed like he was trying to write Tarantino-ish dialogue with them (and Dourif at points) but it always fell flat. I also just found them to be annoying and the girls, from second 1, were just obvious bland cannon fodder. I guess it IS based on a slasher franchise, so that's to be expected, though.

I wouldn't say it was an amazing film (the weak story and the rough acting from most of the cast prevent that), but it wasn't the train wreck I feared it would be. I dug it more than the initial remake, and I'll definitely check out a director's cut if one comes to DVD.

As a side note, I'm slightly biased because the film involved Jesse Dayton playing live at a Halloween party. Dayton (and, in particular, his band The Road Kings) has been one of my favorite musical performers for about 8 years or so. I marked out like a 10 year old at an 80's Hulk Hogan match when I saw him.

[Grim]

Few???!!!???

Yeah, a few. Regardless of the quality of the story, for the most part it all makes sense and there are reasons and explanations for the events that occur.

[Paff]

Really don't get that mentality. "I heard getting punched in the nads hurts, but I wanted to see for myself so I paid a guy $10 to punch my nads. It hurt like fuck and I feel like I've wasted my money."

Agreed. Even if you get in for free, that's still 2 hours of your life you lose. And there are better movies out there! Go see Inglourious Basterds. If you've already seen it, see it again! I'd see IB a dozen times before I'd sit through Halloween 2 once.

And I still haven't seen The Hurt Locker....

[RidgeShark]

I had a bad feeling about this one. Thanks for the warning guys. I'll rent it a few years from now and not contribute to the inevitable part 3.

TV commericial for part 3 - "Rob Zombie really finishes his vision of evil this time...Well, that is if this one doesn't make any money, but c'mon, it's freakin' Halloween!"

[Cydeous]

I wonder what the thoughts on this film would be if John Carpenter made it instead of Rob Zombie? I thought that both H1 and H2 were great. I just saw H2 last night and I loved it. The images were amazing, the symbolism was clear even though it seemed to confuse many people, and there was a fair bit of satire. I think someone bitched about the book signing being in Haddonfield... well, do you remember the NRA holding a pro gun meeting in the small town where a little girl shot herself with her dad's gun (or something like that?) Loomis even stated that he was selling the sizzle... same thing.

[Harry Warden]

Just got back from seeing Halloween 2 and actually liked it very much. I have to agree with some others here that the dialogue was probably the weakest part of the film, but visually, the film was marvelous. The opening hospital scene and killings were especially well done. I don't understand why everyone is so upset or confused with Zombie and his depictions of Laurie and her friends. I felt that Zombie was trying to convey and depict a world for these young women that over the course of one year, has transcended into shit..literally. They were trying to cope with what they had gone through and the numerous depictions of foul language and images on their walls may have been an outward attempt for them to rationalize the internal nightmare they've experienced, thus explaining Laurie's violent dreams. Grant you, her friends seem to be rocking in the cradle of idiocy, but once again, Zombie is depicting society of today and not that of 30 or 40 years ago. What may have seemed extreme in 1978 is simply not the case in 2009. The depiction of Michael's mother and the white horse were simply a metaphorical visual aide associated with what seemed to be very few comforting memories that Michael had as a child, and his hallucination, more or less, is what spurs him to continue to find his sister. At times, the film does feel forced, especially with the visions of mother/horse played buy Sherrie Moon Zombie. I can see why people might say that the only reason Zombie did this was to include a part for his wife in the film, and that may very well be the case, and thereby, probably made for the weakest part of the movie next to the dialogue. It only served to confuse the audience. On a more postive side, I really liked what Zombie did with some of the characters. Brad Dourif was very good and I liked what he did with Malcolm McDowell's Loomis character. His portrayal felt like some of the tell-all assholes that you read about in our nation's headlines and actually seemed very realistic. Dourif appears to be some strung out hippie, but we discover that he is more practical and pragmatic then one might give him credit for. Lastly, the depiction of Michael as a violent, viscious killing machine only serves to heighten this film experience. I'd run as fast as I could to evade anyone who would even remotely appear that crazy. For slasher fans, the killings are top notch and very graphic and the ending made me chuckle. Overall: 8/10.

[X-human]

He, like myself, probably realized that everyone is different and that reviews, by nature, are subjective. Sure, he could find (and did find apparently) that he agreed with the reviews he read, but he could have also found that the film appealed to his tastes.

Well then, how about for ten bucks I punch you in the nads? And if you weren't sure you were being objective enough the first time, I'll throw in a second punch at discount. Wouldn't want you to ever be left wondering.

Might have quite the business on my hands here...

[NaturesMistake]

I just saw this, and I don't understand the hate...

Well, I do, it's not "Halloween." However, this had great atmosphere and awesome kills. The only thing that was terrible was the "white horse" thing, but that's nitpicking. The film also payed homage to the original five sequels throughout in several differing scenes. The plot holes while large, made the film entertaining and were within the trappings of the genre. This is the first film I have seen in years that feels like an eighties slasher.

This film was no masterpiece, but it was good.

Another plus was the exclusion of that horrendous prologue we had to get through in the re-make. This one was a straight up slash fest.

...and while the kills were good in the re-make, the white trash thing was too much. That was severely toned down here; so what is everybody's problem with this film? Ya done good Rob. Just when I thought I had lost faith in you.

...and yes, I will always love the originals. This just needs to be looked at as its own film. I don't think people judged it objectively and went in with preconceived notions and tore it apart.

I also liked the new Loomis character angle. Sure Pleasance will always be crazy Loomis, but this was an interesting take.

[rxfiend]

...and yes, I will always love the originals. This just needs to be looked at as it's own film. I don't think people judged it objectively and went in with preconceived notions and tore it apart.


That's the trend with a lot of people when it comes to Rob Zombie. I've noticed it on several forums I visit.

I agree with your statements regarding the film. I liked it quite a bit. It's good to see a film in a franchise (being #10 now) go in a different direction.

[fceurich39]

Here is some of the alternate ending

Squad cars are parked haphazardly in a field. They surround a remote shack. Red and blue lights cutting through the night. An overturned car is on fire near the road behind them. Cops have their guns trained on the shack. Brad Dourif as Sheriff Brackett is here, his gray hair blowing from the down draft of the police helicopter hovering in the sky above. Its spotlight blasts down on the scene.

Then, two figures burst violently out of the wall of the shack, in an explosion of splintering wood, and out in the open night, captured in the headlights of the surrounding cars. Once the dust settles we see their identities. It's Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) and Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell), face-to-face again. The latter regains his footing and claws at the battered mask of his former patient. "Michael, no!" he yelps.

Myers thrusts the blade he holds in his hand into Loomis' gut. "Die!" the killer growls. Loomis collapses and from somewhere in the field, "Cut!" is called. Writer-director Rob Zombie rushes down to his two actors while the crew of Halloween II re-set the scene.

i kinda think this ending if better than the theatrical version hopefully the director's cut dvd/blu-ray will have this i dunno about michael saying die but everything else sounds good

[Mok]

I thought it was great. Scout was incredible and pretty much sold the film herself. I liked the David Lynch / Stanley Kubrick influence and the kills were uber-brutal. What more does anyone ask for from a slasher film? Not having the original kid was unfortunate, but I hear he went through a growth spurt oh well.

So to answer the question I previously asked, was it Zombie's most selfish film to date? I'd say yes, but that's not a bad thing for me. If you hated the first one, I feel like you'd probably really hate this one. He's done everything to make this vision his own and pretty much went against everything the original series established. All that being said, I really enjoyed it. I woke up thinking about it and discussed it multiple times with my wife.

Thumbs way up for me.

Too bad he's not doing the third film.

[crikan]

I saw this movie yesterday. I didn't watch any trailers or read anyone's reactions or reviews. I really enjoyed the Director's Cut of the first Zombie Halloween and never saw the theatrical release.

While I didn't hate this movie I definitely didn't love it either. There are quite a few things I enjoyed that I'm sure will be reviled by most on this board. I did not enjoy the first 20 minutes of the movie that ended up to be the dream sequence and at first hated seeing Deborah Myers as a ghost. That latter opinion changed as the movie went on. I did like hobo Michael Myers with a beard, wandering the earth waiting for Halloween. I thought the kills were especially brutal in this movie, but at times it was too dark and not framed well. The cast of victims weren't as memorable as the last movie but weren't terrible either. I didn't like the inference that Michael may have raped Annie by his mother's command.

I did not like Malcolm McDowell's Dr. Loomis in the first movie which is why I loved him in the sequel. He couldn't pull off Donald Pleansance's character but, I very much enjoyed the slime ball he plays in Halloween 2. It was brilliant to change the character to something that works.

I missed the Halloween theme throughout the movie and when I finaly heard it during the credits I hated the new version. I also didn't care for the grainy effect and how dark many of the shots were.

I love the final showdown and the ending. Laurie is just as batsh!t as Michael. Nice.

I bet I will enjoy the Director's cut much more.

[NaturesMistake]

If you hated the first one, I feel like you'd probably really hate this one.



I pretty much hated the remake, but enjoyed this.

[Slackjaw83]

Well then, how about for ten bucks I punch you in the nads? And if you weren't sure you were being objective enough the first time, I'll throw in a second punch at discount. Wouldn't want you to ever be left wondering.

Might have quite the business on my hands here...

"Bodily harm" is different than "not enjoying a film". Physical pain being inflicted is far different than a mental state of "unhappiness" due to not enjoying a particular kind of story of not enjoying a directing/editing/cinematography style. Just throwing that out there.

....still, with that being said, I actually know a friends people heavily into BDSM that DO enjoy having their junk knocked around, but I guess that's neither here nor there.... :p

[KillerCannabis]

I don't even feel like typing out anything expository regarding my feelings because this film sucks so fucking hard.

[Ghostkeeper]

Let me sum this whole Halloween retread shit up,Matty Rich can come up with a better
storyline Rob Zombie is an ass hole,is his music anygood?? lol.Guys look here this guy got
the funding for this crap because we as horror fans have a soft spot for the genre and wanted to support him and you know what we actually wanted it to work because you can never have too many horror films.Zombie should focus on fresh ideas,this remake thing is not for him,i absolutely loved the Devil's Rejects maybe he peaked there whatever the case maybe he won't get any more of my hard earned money,i felt like i blew my whole check at the strip club before going home on pay day,guilty,guilty,lol lol
He has the blob remake scheduled for next year i think,heard......lol lol lol lol!!!!

[spawningblue]

Let me sum this whole Halloween retread shit up,Matty Rich can come up with a better
storyline Rob Zombie is an ass hole,is his music anygood?? lol.Guys look here this guy got
the funding for this crap because we as horror fans have a soft spot for the genre and wanted to support him and you know what we actually wanted it to work because you can never have too many horror films.Zombie should focus on fresh ideas,this remake thing is not for him,i absolutely loved the Devil's Rejects maybe he peaked there whatever the case maybe he won't get any more of my hard earned money,i felt like i blew my whole check at the strip club before going home on pay day,guilty,guilty,lol lol
He has the blob remake scheduled for next year i think,heard......lol lol lol lol!!!!

WTF!?

"Let me sum up this whole Halloween retread shit. Matty Rich can come up with a better story line. Rob Zombie is an asshole, is his music any good? lol. Guys look here. This guy got the funding for this crap because we as horror fans have a soft spot for the genre, and wanted to support him. And you know what, we actually wanted it to work because you can never have too many horror films. Zombie should focus on fresh ideas, as this remake thing is not for him. I absolutely loved the Devil's Rejects, maybe he peaked there? Whatever the case may be, he won't get any more of my hard earned money. I felt like I blew my whole cheque at the strip club before going home on pay day, guilty, guilty, lol. He has the blob remake scheduled for next year I think I heard lol!"

It kind of makes sense now.

[marcx]

SAw it last night and really enjoyed it...Loved the surreal aspect and the whole look of the film...Look no one wil lever hold a candle to carepenters originals but if the series must continue I'd say Zombies films are the ebst since the original....and this is coming form a fan of the orignal part 2, part 4 and H20 and someone who tolerates the others...

[dave13]

Another plus was the exclusion of that horrendous prologue we had to get through in the re-make. This one was a straight up slash fest.

Thats what I thought as well...for the first 15 minutes of the film i was actually enjoying it. it was suspenseful, it was scary, it was brutal. ...and then it was all a dream. what a let down! from there, for the next 60-odd minutes, the movie was just dull.

...and yes, I will always love the originals. This just needs to be looked at as its own film. I don't think people judged it objectively and went in with preconceived notions and tore it apart.

i gotta disagree. i didn't like his first halloween when i saw it, but as time passed i began to think maybe i was too hard on it. i was actually looking for a copy of the 3 disc dvd recently, in order to give it another chance. so when i saw H2, i was willing to give it a fair shake. i figured i knew what type of film i was in for, and so i was ready to make the best of it. and like i said, for the first 15 minutes i was really enjoying it. and then it just fell apart.

[Mok]

I don't even feel like typing out anything expository regarding my feelings because this film sucks so fucking hard.

"expository" how long have you been waiting to slide that one into a sentence? We don't need your big college words here ok buddy! :lol:

[baggio]

One of the funniest things said by Rob Zombie while interviewing for the Halloween 2 movie.

When asked about part 2. He said he had zero intentions of making part 2. And he thought they were moving on without him.

But at the Scream Awards show he asked "so how is Halloween 2 going, they said we don't even have a script yet, we have nothing"

"So now I'm feeling I wish I'd done Halloween 2 because I didn't want someone coming in and mess up my world"

:lol:

Oh!, Halloween is your world? I wonder what John Carpenter thought about your film Rob?

[Body Boy]

Well well, what to say about this film? On the plus side, Zombie actually adds a style to Halloween II that was not present in any form in the remake. But it was so poorly photographed and edited and just...dare I say...idiotic. Confusing too. I kind of liked the "Sheri Moon Horse" scenes at first. They were stand-out from the boringness that the rest of the first hour had to offer. But near the end, it became another evident excuse to cast Zombie's wife in the picture. The hospital scene, while pailing in comparison to the original Part 2's scenes, were at least more sensible and suspenseful (though barely) than anything that followed. Oh, and FUCK SCOUT! Hands down the worst and whiniest heroine in the series. And why does everybody live and hang out in trashy homes? Like, what's with the upside-down five-pointed star in the Brackett bathroom? Seriously Zombie?

I used to think Part 6 was the worst of the series. I may still, but to be honest, it's looking far more favorable than the vomit that 2009's Myers has spewed out. This sequel makes me almost enjoy looking back on Rob's 2007 vision. Which wasn't much of a vision at all. And Loomis has lost all little likeability produced in the remake. It's a pleasure to see- oh wait, spoilers...anyways, Buddy, the Doctors, and the blonde friend are about the only people I felt bad for dying. Even Annie wasn't method enough to give two shits about, even though we've seen her carried through from the last flick. A huge disappointment. Zombie's worst flick.

[indiephantom]

I thought it was great. Scout was incredible and pretty much sold the film herself. I liked the David Lynch / Stanley Kubrick influence and the kills were uber-brutal. What more does anyone ask for from a slasher film? Not having the original kid was unfortunate, but I hear he went through a growth spurt oh well.

So to answer the question I previously asked, was it Zombie's most selfish film to date? I'd say yes, but that's not a bad thing for me. If you hated the first one, I feel like you'd probably really hate this one. He's done everything to make this vision his own and pretty much went against everything the original series established. All that being said, I really enjoyed it. I woke up thinking about it and discussed it multiple times with my wife.

Thumbs way up for me.

Too bad he's not doing the third film.

Whew! Someone who I agree with. Glad to see someone else point out the Lynch/Kubrick nods. This is Zombie's second best film IMO (behind Devil's Rejects). That was a brutal Michael Myers. Loved all the cameos/character actors that turned up. Had a great time, and much preferred NOT having that kid from the original and all the contrived backstory that weakened Zombie's first film. This is the best Halloween since Part 4.

[MorallySound]

Rob Zombie's Halloween II is the greatest comedy of the year! Hell, it's even got a cameo from Weird Al himself! The laughs just keep rolling from Loomis' "I'll beat it out of you" line and classic diva attitude to hobo Michael Myers disguised to look like Rob Zombie to the rendition of 'Love Hurts' over the ending credits. If you're looking for gut-busting laughs, don't see those crappy comedies like Funny People, go see H2! It'll have you rolling in the aisles!

But as a horror film, H2 fails HORRENDOUSLY! Personally, I've loved every other Rob Zombie film venture, but this was a complete mess and pretty much a mockery of just about anything Halloween-related. The 'white horse' metaphors were completely left field just to bring back Sherri, hobo Michael (while I get the points mentioned in previous posts) looks like he's going to audition for Vince McMahon, Loomis is an asshole (hilariously so), and I'm so sure that anyone who's been through a serial killer ordeal like Laurie or Daniel Harris' character would rebel by having giant Manson posters behind their beds and pentagrams everywhere... However I did like the use of the Super16 film stock and thought the look of the film was spectacular and the kills graphic, but holy shit did this film just clusterfuck any sheer bit of story or incoherency to just become a film for WWE wrestling fans.

During the end credits I was waiting for a bonus scene after the last credits where Rob Zombie would be blowing a slide whistle. That would have been the icing on the cake.

Zombie's H2: The Horror Movie - *1/2 out of *****
Zombie's H2: The Funny Version - **** out of *****

[Ash28M]

Saw this today and thought it really missed the mark. When I first saw the original remake, I I liked it. I like it less with repeated viewings. Saying that it was much better then this. The kills were brutal and there was some good atmosphere, even though I think it belonged in a different film. That's all you get though. No suspense, no story and I didn't care for any of the characters. It was gritty but gritty doesn't really work for a Halloween film . I agree with fceurich39 I did like the book signing scene. Am I confused or did this film not take place in 1979? What is with the references to Austin Powers and using hip 2005 slang like "that outfit was sick"? This is Zombie's worst movie.

[Slackjaw83]

If memory serves, Laurie has a cell phone in the first film, thereby meaning it has to AT LEAST be the late 90's (as it's a smaller one). I assumed that the stuff with Laurie at the end of the remake was "present day" (i.e early 2000's) and that the flashback stuff was the 80's (maybe 85 or 86 as most small towns like the Haddonfield depicted in the remake look/act roughly 10 years "behind the times")

Peole assumed because of the clothes/music that it had to be the 70's, but that's not exactly the case. I know tons of folks that act/dress as if it's still the 70's, and love the pop culture of the era.

[Grim]

If memory serves, Laurie has a cell phone in the first film, thereby meaning it has to AT LEAST be the late 90's (as it's a smaller one). I assumed that the stuff with Laurie at the end of the remake was "present day" (i.e early 2000's) and that the flashback stuff was the 80's (maybe 85 or 86 as most small towns like the Haddonfield depicted in the remake look/act roughly 10 years "behind the times")

Peole assumed because of the clothes/music that it had to be the 70's, but that's not exactly the case. I know tons of folks that act/dress as if it's still the 70's, and love the pop culture of the era.

I just figured the first film took place in any present day time. Hell, for all I know the first could have been in 2007 and the second half could have been 2024. Or it could have been 1990 and then 2007. I dunno. There aren't really any huge distinguishable features that give you an idea of when it takes place.

[Chunkblower]

The first half of the film takes place in 1981, the latter half in 1996.

[Slackjaw83]

Which would put H2 around 97, which makes sense.

- Chris Hardwick was hosting "Singled Out" at the time, was a reasonably "hot commodity", and could have been given his own late-night talk show around the time.

- The first "Austin Powers" film came out that year, which puts Weird Al's cheesy joke into context.

- Speaking of Weird Al, since "Amish Paradise" was released in '96 and was a oddly big hit, it would make sense that he'd be doing the late-night talk show circuit to promote his next release (though, if memory serves, he had no '97 release, so he could have been doing promo work for a tour)

Aside from that, the only pop culture references were the 70's rock songs (which, as I said earlier, people have always clung to). Even the idea of a Rockabilly/Psychobilly/Garage Rock band playing at the Halloween Costume Party doesn't really root it to a time period.

If anything, the only gripe I have is a cell phone being used (and being seen as commonplace) in part 1. Maybe in larger cities like LA or NYC, a cell phone in 96 was no big deal. Haddonfield is supposed to be a small midwestern town, and I'd assume that cell phones were still really sparse there at the time. Still, it'd a really minor gripe and the fact that at least they did exist at the time makes it ok.

I'd say 81-96 and 97 work perfectly fine for me.

[Ash28M]

Alright then I stand corrected. I thought all of Zombie's films took place in the 70's.

[Paul0889]

Halloween 07 took place in 2007 I'm guessing, and H2 takes place in 2008 or 2009, I'm guessing this because Loomis is watching that stupid Weird Al segment on a nice thin flat screen tv, those weren't around in the 90's. also, Weird Al looks like he does today so that's why I assumed it took place in the present day. both films do, it's just I assumed Rob Zombie wanted to have a bunch of 70's style shit for some reason...that's one of the biggest problems in both movies, the time frame. it just looks like it takes place in some sorta weird world set in the present day, with everyone still stuck in the 1970's, you get me?

[Slackjaw83]

I forgot about the flat screen TV. That does make things slightly more problematic. As to the "people stuck in the 70's" thing : I see it EVERYDAY. College kids in tight, girl's jeans, Chuck Taylors and tight-cropped 70's band shirts (Cheap Trick, Kiss, etc etc etc) with shaggy hair and sterotypical bad teenage facial hair that just looks straight out of the 70's. Why anyone would WANT to look this way is beyond me....

[Chunkblower]

...a nice thin flat screen tv, those weren't around in the 90's.

They were ultra expensive, but flat screens were most definitely around in the late 90's.

[Slackjaw83]

I had no clue, but apparently they were :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_Display
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display_television#History

According to those wiki articles (which could be wrong but, in this case, I doubt it), Plasmas were made readily available (for about 1500 bucks) in '97 and Sharp produced an LCD TV (though not in high def) in 1988.

Seeing as how Loomis was a celebraty and all, he would be put up in the swankiest hotel available, and the idea of a crazy expensive TV in the room wouldn't be that hard to conceive.

[Grim]

The clothes they're wearing in the second half of Halloween, especially the girls, are definitely styles from the mid-2000's. I still stick by present day, unless someone can provide proof otherwise.

[snowbeast323]

I still haven't seen it, I really really want to *Stomps feet and cries*

[rhett]

Why bother dissecting the time frame of this movie? The script is all over the fucking place when it comes to continuity, character, logic, etc. the last thing that we should expect to make any semblance of sense is time. That said, it worked for me. I liked it. The flaws of his previous movies were all still very much present (everyone, regardless of age or sex, talks like a swearing, witty, perverted hillbilly) but this is the first film where I've sensed an artistic growth and an ability to explore a more personal vision. His other carnival freak shows to me were endless rip-offs and muddying of better movies like TCM, The Wild Bunch, Halloween, etc. but this one launched off on a whole different wavelength. I enjoyed the dream sequences - they've been one of the only times in the series (other than the endings of 1 and 4 and the beginning of Resurrection) that there's been a sad tragedy to the tale of Michael Myers. Zombie took note of his falter in the first of trying to humanize Michael with back story and instead made this a film about feeling - to get into the head space of a man who should never speak. Once he pulls the rug with that first act dream you know all ties to plot that the first film had are long gone. It becomes a mythic, almost romanticized crystal ball of a film less about Michael and more about the journey of a lost soul. Hopefully Rob Zombie has realized now that that's a hell of a lot more ballsy than having your characters sleaze up the scenery.

That said, Rob Zombie still doesn't know how to write or direct characters at all, everyone other than the silent Michael seeming so far off the mark it does border on hilarity. Compton's Laurie Strode is such a emo-wannabe goth/punk loser. You don't want her to die, but can't take her as anything other than foolish kid you just want to pat on the back and shoo out of your life until she grows up. Harris is always great to watch, but yeah, you'd think all those scars on her face would have her character perhaps a touch more remorseful or hell, just different then the wiseass she was in the first. Don't get me started on that nympho slut they befriend, and don't anyone even dare try to rationalize that with "that's how girls are these days!"

Other than that vulgar friend, Zombie surprisingly keeps his misogynistic worldview in check. Even the fat-hick-boss-forcing-the-stripper-to-fuck-him-to-keep-her-job bit wasn't nearly as distasteful as Zombie's previous films. Maybe it's because the whole movie had that frozen in-time capture of life, like any of the vile repulse present in Zombie's Haddonfield was something that Michael had to observe and address on his Dante-esque journey into death.

I loved the journey, and I loved the character he made of Michael. In the first he was two sides of bad - an annoying, chubby little emo kid and a FUCKINTOUGH stuntman, but here his unshaven Rob Zombie foil is actually something that makes sense. It's even interesting since through the dreams we do get a sense of this monster's morality. And yeah, why would someone who gave up completely on life shave, drive a car, or whatever? That's why hillbilly Jason in Part 2 works so much better than Yul Brenner Jason in Part 3.

In exploring the essence of Michael, rather than his back story in the first, H2 says something new in the series and it's the first time I've really felt Zombie finding his own creatively as an artist to actually care about. The visual style was much closer to HO1KC, which is to say much more colorful, creative and visually appealing than those brown, DV-looking crapfests in-between. There were a lot of flaws, and Zombie still has a ways to go before receiving a seat in (or at this point even an invite to) the horror hall of fame, but with this he's definitely on his way. Now who thought I'd say that?


On a side note, of all the films this Halloween remake could resemble, I actually thought it bore the closest resemblance to Monte Hellman's under-appreciated Silent Night, Deadly Night III: Better Watch Out!

[mcchrist]

I absolutely loathed the Halloween remake. I thought it was one of the worst movies ever made.

I watched H2 last night. I liked it, in all honesty. Surreal aspects and all. It reminded me of my own visual style a bit. Dourif was a delight to watch. The straight up slasher elements were good. The thing that bothered me the most was Loomis, i didn't buy that side-story at all. Stupid. Otherwise, not bad. I was going in ready to butcher it.

[Grim]

I too really dug the style of this film. Zombie's Halloween was overall really bland. HO1KC was like a crazy funhouse on acid, TDR had a washed out exploitation/documentary look which suited it, but Halloween was just kinda blah. H2 was definitely a return to form in my opinion.

[Zillamon51]

Going back to H1 for some context: Mixed feelings. Like the prequel / origin stuff. Final third is a lifeless retread. Don't like the characters of Laurie and her friends, and the pervasive trashiness of it all.

On to H2: LOVED IT. The opening in the hospital is a nice nod to the original H2, before this film forges ahead on its own unique path. I really like how the visions (which most here seem to hate) got into Michael's head and expanded on why he didn't want to just kill Laurie in H1.

The kills are brutal, and Michael's "mountain man" look MAKES PERFECT SENSE. What do you expect him to do between Halloweens, get a job in an office and rent a nice apartment?

Laurie's character is much more tolerable this time around. At first, I didn't care for her "decorating choices" (it looks like Rob Zombie putting a room together, not a traumatized young woman), but I get it as foreshadowing of her mental instability. You know, if young Mikey didn't get locked away, his room as a teenager would probably look like this.

As for the new take on Loomis: THIS IS NOT DONALD PLEASANCE PLAYING THE OLD DR. LOOMIS. This is a new timeline and a different take on the character. After damn near getting killed last time, cashing in seems like a viable option for the man, who BTW possesses both sincerity and asshole-potential in H1.

Overall, I had realistic expectations for a sequel to a hit-and-miss film, and H2 surpassed them. It feels much more like a nasty '80s slasher, and I really enjoyed it (so did my GF, who likes H1 a lot less than I do). I encourage you all to give it a chance, let it be it's own thing, and approach it with an open mind. You might be pleasantly surprised.


* Addressing the timeline: I believe Zombie himself said that H1 wasn't meant to take place in any specific time. The '70s look is just his personal style. The "grown-up Michael stalking Laurie" parts took place in a vague "present," allowing for cell phones and such.

[mcchrist]

As for the new take on Loomis: THIS IS NOT DONALD PLEASANCE PLAYING THE OLD DR. LOOMIS. This is a new timeline and a different take on the character. After damn near getting killed last time, cashing in seems like a viable option for the man, who BTW possesses both sincerity and asshole-potential in H1.

I wouldn't compare him to Pleasance at all. I think that given the context, Loomis character's portrayal seems a bit to arbitrary here rather than having any substance. In any case, my view of Zombie is still on the low side and I don't think he thinks things through with his writing too much. Going a single year from what he was portrayed in the remake to now seems a bit much, he's a very two-dimensional character anyway. We know nothing about him, and given at face value I don't doubt that Loomis could decend into such greed and other such nonsense, but I think it would have happened as overnight as this.

Besides, nobody becomes that kind of a sensation as a true-crime author. I didn't find it believable at all only because it's missing a lot of story here.

[pieces35]

I liked this version by Zombie!!!

[Chunkblower]

Why bother dissecting the time frame of this movie?

Don't play. You know I'm right.

[rhett]

Don't play. You know I'm right.

If I concede to that Rob Zombie will wake me up and tell me the last four months of my life have been a dream.

[Cujo108]

^ The same thing happened to me last time I was in Dallas.

[Chunkblower]

If I concede to that Rob Zombie will wake me up and tell me the last four months of my life have been a dream.

Take the red pill, and I will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.

[Slackjaw83]

Did someone just make a Matrix reference?!?!?! Did I just fall into a time warp an end up 9 years ago?!?!?!?! :eek2:

[othervoice1]

I just saw this movie tonight with a couple friends and had mixed feelings on it just like I did the first one. With the first Halloween it is easy for me to seperate what I liked and didnt like. The prequal part sucked and the actual remake portion was actually pretty good. For Halloween 2 I had the same split feelings but the parts I liked and disliked were all over the place throughout the movie. Everytime I felt like "this isnt half bad" then a scene I didnt like got thrown in. Overall I thought it was okay just like the first one but had some scenes that just didnt work for me. But I had a good time and didnt hate it.

[Chunkblower]

Did someone just make a Matrix reference?!?!?! Did I just fall into a time warp an end up 9 years ago?!?!?!?!

Is ten years too soon for passé pop culture references become relevant again?

[Slackjaw83]

It generally does skip a decade or 2 (70's being cool again in the 90's, 80's being cool again now, etc.), so it may be a little too early for a cliche/passe reference to a film that's heavily tied to a recent time period to be considered "classic" or "retro" :D

[acp35]

It was hands down the worst horror film I have seen in many many years.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

It was hands down the worst horror film I have seen in many many years.

same here

Zombie just does not get it at all. Everyone in his movies is mindless, they all swear and act like cocks. Michael Myers is just wrong hes too big does none of the trademark Myers stuff i.e. headtilt, sit-up etc and his kills are just disgusting in my opinion no fun at all. Not scary just sickening. I hated both of his movies, he also took Loomis and made him a total prick and then killed him off. You don't kill off Loomis. I just hope if they make a Halloween 3 they ignore the Zombie movies and get a decent Michael Myers (the guy from Halloween Resurrection would be perfect). Also I'd even bring back McDowell as Loomis cause hes the only decent thing Zombie did with the franchsie.

I just hope Zombie goes back to making sh*t music and leaves films alone.

[Grim]

http://shocktillyoudrop.com/news/topnews.php?id=12449

Some info on the director's cut.

[snowbeast323]

I've seen the movie twice now....
And I did atually like it, better the first time though...

[fceurich39]

update the dvd/blu-ray release date is supposedly 1-12-09 and sony is releasing it

[Vortex]

How the hell did they get the rights? I hate them and their stupid Bluray promos.

[Grim]

How the hell did they get the rights? I hate them and their stupid Bluray promos.

Probably because the damn Weinsteins can't even afford to release their own movies anymore.

[fceurich39]

How the hell did they get the rights? I hate them and their stupid Bluray promos.

true i kinda hoped universal got it since they are releasing inglorious basterds also sony usually puts both versions of the movie on the dvd or blu-ray release just like universal.

also i am very happy with sony's night of the creeps dvd/blu-ray release easily a contender for best horror dvd/blu-ray release of 2009

[birbirdul]

thanks

[fceurich39]

release date and runtime for Sony's dvd/blu-ray of halloween II looks like the blu-ray is just getting the DC thus far nothing official yet


"Halloween 2: Unrated Director's Cut" (BLU-RAY)
1/12/2010. Run Time: 126 Minutes Not Rated
Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Brea Grant, Howard Hesseman, Scout Taylor-Compton, Angela Trimbur, Daniel Roebuck, Mary Birdsong.



"Halloween 2" (DVD)
1/12/2010. Run Time: 101 Minutes Rated R.
Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Brea Grant, Howard Hesseman, Scout Taylor-Compton, Angela Trimbur, Daniel Roebuck, Mary Birdsong.

[Grim]

release date and runtime for Sony's dvd/blu-ray of halloween II looks like the blu-ray is just getting the DC thus far nothing official yet


"Halloween 2: Unrated Director's Cut" (BLU-RAY)
1/12/2010. Run Time: 126 Minutes Not Rated
Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Brea Grant, Howard Hesseman, Scout Taylor-Compton, Angela Trimbur, Daniel Roebuck, Mary Birdsong.



"Halloween 2" (DVD)
1/12/2010. Run Time: 101 Minutes Rated R.
Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Brea Grant, Howard Hesseman, Scout Taylor-Compton, Angela Trimbur, Daniel Roebuck, Mary Birdsong.

Oh wow that's a lot longer. The differences in runtime with the first one weren't as vast, but that's almost a half hour more. Dang.

[Cujo108]

I'm actually not surprised. While I quite liked the film, there did seem to be a good deal missing.

[snowbeast323]

I can't wait to get those DVDs :D

[fceurich39]

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment have announced the US DVD and Blu-ray Disc release of Halloween II on 12th January 2010. Rob Zombie's H2 (Halloween) picks up at the exact moment that Halloween stopped and follows the aftermath of Michael Myers's (Tyler Mane) murderous rampage through the eyes of heroine Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor Compton).

Available on DVD (separate Rated and Unrated versions priced at $28.96 SRP each) and Blu-ray Disc ($38.96 SRP, includes the Unrated version and probably the Rated version as well though this is still TBC), features are outlined below…

DVD
1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
English DD5.1 Surround
Commentary with Writer/Director Rob Zombie (Unrated DVD only)
Deleted and Alternate Scenes
Blooper Reel
Audition Footage
Michael - Interior
Uncle Seymour Coffins' Stand-Up Routines
Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures Music Videos

Blu-ray Disc
1080P 1.85:1 Widescreen
English 5.1
Commentary with Writer/Director Rob Zombie
movieIQ and BD-Live connect you to real-time information on the cast, music, trivia and more while watching the movie!
Deleted and Alternate Scenes
Blooper Reel
Audition Footage
Michael - Interior
Uncle Seymour Coffins' Stand-Up Routines
Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures Music Videos

The running time of the Unrated version is TBC.

i am assuming the blu-ray will have both versions since this sony and the 8 hr documentary isn't included

[MorallySound]

To the moderators, it looks like post #93 from this thread appears to be a spammer.

[Grim]

To the moderators, it looks like post #93 from this thread appears to be a spammer.

Wow I just noticed that too. It seems like more than usual have been creeping in lately.

[rhett]

Wow I just noticed that too. It seems like more than usual have been creeping in lately.

There are always spammers, but we usually moderate them out. You never get to see signatures in the moderation cue, so sometimes generic posts like that make it through. Fixed.

[Mutilated Prey]

Just watched this on Blu and man oh man whata travesty.

This shoulda just been Halloween X: Attack of the Killer Hobo or something like that.

Dr. Loomis? WTF?!?! Whata kick in the teeth.

Good to see Johnny Fever is holding up well though :)

By itself, not a bad flick (for gorehounds at least), but to associate it with the Halloween fame is just wrong.

[Mutilated Prey]

i am assuming the blu-ray will have both versions since this sony and the 8 hr documentary isn't included

Nope - just the Director's Cut, and no theatrical ending as part of the deleted/alternate scenes.

[zompirejoe]

Just watched this on Blu and man oh man whata travesty.

This shoulda just been Halloween X: Attack of the Killer Hobo or something like that.

Dr. Loomis? WTF?!?! Whata kick in the teeth.

Good to see Johnny Fever is holding up well though :)

By itself, not a bad flick (for gorehounds at least), but to associate it with the Halloween fame is just wrong.

I think you hit the nail right on the head ! It would have been an okay stand alone slasher , but it is not a Michael Myers / Halloween film. Very bizarre indeed. As the credits rolled I actually looked at my wife and said " What the fuck did we just watch ?" I don't know what Zombie was going for with this one, but the whole thing was like a slap in the face. On the good side there were a few scenes that actually worked, but overall this film is a mess.

[fceurich39]

atleast Halloween II was waaaaay better than the final destination 3D god that movie was just terrible i like the first 3 FD films but not the 4th film of course that isn't saying much that Halloween II is better the TFD3D

[synthemesc]

the DVD stated one year later after the first attack on Laurie, but the Blu-ray stated TWO years later???

[dave13]

atleast Halloween II was waaaaay better than the final destination 3D god that movie was just terrible i like the first 3 FD films but not the 4th film of course that isn't saying much that Halloween II is better the TFD3D

id put final destination 3D above final destination 3. and waaaay above H2. I saw them both on the same night. now, thats not saying final destination 3D was a good movie, but at least it kept my attention. not only was H2 awful, it wasn't even interesting. it was fucking BORING. and thats about the worst thing you can say about a movie.

[fceurich39]

id put final destination 3D above final destination 3. and waaaay above H2. I saw them both on the same night. now, thats not saying final destination 3D was a good movie, but at least it kept my attention. not only was H2 awful, it wasn't even interesting. it was fucking BORING. and thats about the worst thing you can say about a movie.

see that is opposite of what i feel i was really bored to death with The Final destination 3D of course i loved all the halloween movies ever since childhood so that is probably why i like Halloween II more

[Mutilated Prey]

I think you hit the nail right on the head ! It would have been an okay stand alone slasher , but it is not a Michael Myers / Halloween film. Very bizarre indeed. As the credits rolled I actually looked at my wife and said " What the fuck did we just watch ?" I don't know what Zombie was going for with this one, but the whole thing was like a slap in the face. On the good side there were a few scenes that actually worked, but overall this film is a mess.

Yeah, I was really having confusing feelings throughout this one. It's basically like Zombie just purposely went waaaaay off base.

the DVD stated one year later after the first attack on Laurie, but the Blu-ray stated TWO years later???

Really? Interesting. I know the Blu indeed says 2 yrs later.

[synthemesc]

here are the pics i took from my iPhone.

"one year later" is from the DVD Theatrical Cut.
"two years later" is from the BD Unrated Director's Cut.

i don't understand why the different time-spans?

[MisterTwister]

Zombie's intention was for it to always be 2 years later. For some reason it was one year for the TC. It was correct for the DC.

[Grim]

I think there are some added lines of dialog that mention the previous year's Halloween and what the girls did, so he had to change how many years it had been. Not sure though.

Also, is it just me or does that guy in the passenger seat of the meat wagon say "fuck" not as many times in the DC. I remember that part going on for way too fucking long in theaters, but it seemed shorter in the DC.

[Vortex]

I bought the Blu-ray and really dislike the new ending. The theatrical is better. Both versions should be included on the same disc.

[Mutilated Prey]

I bought the Blu-ray and really dislike the new ending. The theatrical is better. Both versions should be included on the same disc.

Yeah, it makes no sense why both versions are not on the Blu. Redo!

[soxfan666]

Just watched this tonight and I did not like it. I actully enjoyed the first Zombie Halloween, which I was surprised by since I love the original so much. I just found this movie to be very boring. Far too many scenes of Michael walking through fields and Laurie could not have been more unlikable. Not to mention all of the shit with the horse, I could not wait for this one to end. I watched the Directors Cut on DVD and it did say 2 years later.

[Zombie Dude]

You know considering, the movie isn't that bad. I'd say if Zombie was given adequate time to work on it it would have ultimately turned out better. They had all sorts of problems during the making of the film such as budget cuts and a rushed time schedule. I'd say the Weinstein's can't help but fuck things up.

[Queen B]

Okay, so I've watched the film a third time (once in theaters, twice on DVD) and I've got to admit...it's grown on me. Sure it does a ton of things "wrong" (ex: Hot Topic Laurie, maskless Myers, the maraude of pointless hillbilly trash characters), but Zombie's unique stamp of wretching violence, inane dialouge and demented mayhem makes it, at the very least, a memorable viewing experience....and that's more that can be said for most current theatrical horror offerings. It truly is a product of its maker. Not a single sign of studio inteference is to be found within its runtime. Some can argue that's where things went wrong (respectfully, Zombie should have had some boundaries laid on him -- it is a franchise for crying out loud!), but there's a certain kind of adventerous appeal in the film that seems to have been lost since the days of late 70's/early80's independent horror autuers.

[shape22]

I held off on seeing this for as long as possible--which wasn't easy for a Myers fanatic with a shelf full of Myers masks. But I really didn't care for Zombie's vision in the reboot. And the trailer made it pretty apparent that this would be more of the same and then some.

Good God! I DESPISE this movie. It's bad enough that Zombie has no conception about what makes Myers special. Or that the movie is a pretentious, off-putting mess full of disparate and stupid elements that don't hang together. Or that he made a shameful cash grab with these films despite the fact that he obviously has no genuine affection for Carpenter's original or his iconic characters.

Yeah, all that was bothersome. But what made this one boring, unpleasant, and almost unwatchable for me is Zombie's unrelenting obsession with ugliness. Is it really necessary to completely degrade Danielle Harris (and every other female character) repeatedly and in the most repugnant manner possible? I'm not the least bit squeamish. Hell, I usually enjoy seeing people get gored, slashed, impaled, and mutilated. But there's just no entertainment value in the way that Zombie handles this kind of stuff. It's like watching a snuff film. I don't enjoy any aspect of this guy's universe.

How does Zombie keep getting new film assignments? He's obviously a one-trick pony with no ability to step away from white trash opera. And I've never seen a scary moment in any of his films. But there's always something to make me cringe. And I'm about as desensitized to that kind of stuff as anyone could be.

I enjoy even the worst pre-Zombie entries in this series on some level. Here's hoping that any future installments return to a more traditional Myers and Halloween universe. And that Zombie stays far away from my other favorite properties in the future.

[YottNik]

I have yet to see this but Netflix delivered it today so I suppose I'll check it out this weekend. I really disliked the first one so to say I have low expectations would be an understatement. I'm hoping a few beers during the viewing will help.

[HoldenMcNeil]

Picked this up on blu-ray, and I can honestly say that I enjoyed the hell out the movie. The weird dream sequences, Michael just going around destroying people, and Brad Dourif putting up an amazing acting job. I understand the hate for what new things the film tried to bring to the Halloween franchise, but I personally thought it was quite refreshing.

[MacabreFilms]

This is such a weird movie! It has to be the most refreshingly bonkers movie I've ever seen in a mainstream movie theatre. I'm still not sure what to think of it. I must give Zombie props for at least going his own route, a problem which came up in his original remake. I felt that in the first film, he was at his best when he was actually"re-inventing" the story and it's character. It was once Laurie and her friends came into the picture that the film fell apart.

I just wish he didn't have EVERY character say "fuck" a million times over. To hear the same word over and over again is all kinds of annoying. The scene with the ambulance driver in the first 5 minutes of this film just grated on my nerves, as well as just about every time Laurie said the word.

I loved the first 25 minutes or so and found them genuinely suspenseful, but then they had to all be a dream. Funny that Zombie can only build suspense when it's not even supposed to be real. WTF? That's my main problem with both of his Halloween movies. There's none of the suspense or scares that the original series was known for. It's just a string of annoying characters, f-bombs, useless murders of characters who mostly serve no function in the narrative, etc.

I think Halloween II had potential. The dynamic between Laurie, Annie, and Brackett was VERY interesting and I wanted to see more. The hospital scene was wonderful, but a cheat. The scene with Lynda's dad paying Loomis a visit is one of the more realistic, heart wrenching moments from a horror film that I've seen. They had the potential to actually make a decent psycho drama here, but it just crumbles under the weight of Deborah/Young Michael/White Horse stuff, useless killings (Rabbit in Red, rednecks in field), and things being trashy just because they can be (Why is Annie naked again when Laurie finds her?)
I actually enjoy part 2 more than Zombie's first abortion, but just because I respect him for finally going all out and doing something that feel more personal. It's still not a very good movie though, but it had lots of potential.

[indiephantom]

watched the first twenty minutes of so of the BD last night and it feels even better to me. I'm a little concerned about the new ending, but I'm not sure I remember the theatrical well enough to spot major changes. :eek2:

[fceurich39]

kinda odd the unrated version of Rob's first Halloween i liked better than the theatrical except the horrible escape scene rape i prefer the cameos cops escape scene in the theatrical

with Halloween II again the unrated is better with the exception of the ending in which the theatrical ending is way better

[MacabreFilms]

yeah, I kinda like the idea of Laurie's fate in the unrated version, but other than that, I don't like it. The stuff with Michael pulling of the mask and then talking is just too much.

[maskull]

I'm half asleep right now so I'm going to keep this short. Just watched the Director's Cut of this (haven't seen the theatrical version) and I really, really liked this sucker. It's disjointed and weird and Zombie can't write decent dialogue to save his life....and Sherri Moon Zombie is really a bad actress....but it just worked for me. I'm shocked to say that I liked the dream sequences, I enjoyed most of the performances (except SMZ), found some of the kills to be vicious as hell, felt sad for some of the characters (Rob Zombie does sadness/grief/pain really well--the last scene with Annie and Laurie was heart-wrenching) and liked the idea that Michael didn't wear the mask all the time, it seemed more realistic.

I'm not what you'd call a Rob Zombie fan. All of his previous films have had huge chunks that completely lost me (Hof1kC- the ending, Devil's Rejects - most of the movie, Halloween - movie was too long), and up until now I didn't see a lot of potential for him to do much more than be a one trick pony. Now I do. Maybe he can even have a film without the excessive f-bombs in the future.

I love the original Halloween series but I'm glad Zombie did something different with this movie and didn't just follow the "formula". I was actually disappointed to hear the Halloween theme in the closing credits as it just seemed unnecessary when you consider the movie had nothing to do with the original series.

Kind of seems a shame that Rob won't be back for a third movie just when he seems to be finding the groove.

Anyway I have no idea if what I typed above makes any sense, but I have to sleep now.

[Grim]

I'm half asleep right now so I'm going to keep this short. Just watched the Director's Cut of this (haven't seen the theatrical version) and I really, really liked this sucker. It's disjointed and weird and Zombie can't write decent dialogue to save his life....and Sherri Moon Zombie is really a bad actress....but it just worked for me. I'm shocked to say that I liked the dream sequences, I enjoyed most of the performances (except SMZ), found some of the kills to be vicious as hell, felt sad for some of the characters (Rob Zombie does sadness/grief/pain really well--the last scene with Annie and Laurie was heart-wrenching) and liked the idea that Michael didn't wear the mask all the time, it seemed more realistic.

I'm not what you'd call a Rob Zombie fan. All of his previous films have had huge chunks that completely lost me (Hof1kC- the ending, Devil's Rejects - most of the movie, Halloween - movie was too long), and up until now I didn't see a lot of potential for him to do much more than be a one trick pony. Now I do. Maybe he can even have a film without the excessive f-bombs in the future.

I love the original Halloween series but I'm glad Zombie did something different with this movie and didn't just follow the "formula". I was actually disappointed to hear the Halloween theme in the closing credits as it just seemed unnecessary when you consider the movie had nothing to do with the original series.

Kind of seems a shame that Rob won't be back for a third movie just when he seems to be finding the groove.

Anyway I have no idea if what I typed above makes any sense, but I have to sleep now.

Half asleep or not, agreed.

[CrazyFatEthel]

I may have to just pick up the Directors Cut!!!

[_pi_]

I honestly thought this was one of the very worst motion pictures to get a mainstream release in the last few years.

Just completely inept in every way.

[hellraiser40]

just saw this with a friend (director's cut), some things i noticed

* Brad Dourif got away scat free, the rest of the 'acting' was irritating as hell (with the top award going to Laurie Strode, thought most of the foul language, that got tiring very quickly, is the fault of an inept script)
* it's very brutal, but almost all the kill scenes are filmed so badly that you don't really know what's happening most of the time
* a running time of 2 hours is just too long/plodding for a slasher film
* the dream sequences (with the white horse, and others) were just plain pathetic, it seems as if RZ just watched some David Lynch movies and thought "hey that seems kinda cool"
* most of the movie is just pure randomness => did this thing even have a script?
* Dr. Loomis character gets totally screwed and is quite meaningless for this movie
* the class of the original Halloween is totally missing, this movie looks cheap
* it's just not very interesting, and we don't care for anyone

conclusion? Rob Zombie should never be allowed to use a camera ever again => pure, worthless piece of sh*t!

[Zombie Dude]

just saw this with a friend (director's cut), some things i noticed

* Brad Dourif got away scat free, the rest of the 'acting' was irritating as hell (with the top award going to Laurie Strode, thought most of the foul language, that got tiring very quickly, is the fault of an inept script)
* it's very brutal, but almost all the kill scenes are filmed so badly that you don't really know what's happening most of the time
* a running time of 2 hours is just too long/plodding for a slasher film
* the dream sequences (with the white horse, and others) were just plain pathetic, it seems as if RZ just watched some David Lynch movies and thought "hey that seems kinda cool"
* most of the movie is just pure randomness => did this thing even have a script?
* Dr. Loomis character gets totally screwed and is quite meaningless for this movie
* the class of the original Halloween is totally missing, this movie looks cheap
* it's just not very interesting, and we don't care for anyone

conclusion? Rob Zombie should never be allowed to use a camera ever again => pure, worthless piece of sh*t!

While I agree with a lot of the comment you made I do think Zombie had some really great ideas for H2, he just isn't so good at executing them. Things I'd change would be getting rid of the white horse, ghost mum and the re-cast little Michael (who couldn't act). I would have given Loomis a more meaningful role and made the script a little less random.

[deepred]

I actually really liked the direction he took Laurie in but I really didn't like the endings for the theatrical or the unrated.

I would have enjoyed the movie more if Zombie used the theatrical version of the hospital scene for the director's cut and made an ending that was more satisfying - it all wraps up too quickly, why does Laurie say she loves Michael and it's funny how fast Loomis gets there. And I hate the love hurts song! It really makes it cheesy.

If they didn't rush this one into production and Zombie spent a little more time on the script and had a better ending, I think it could have been great instead of almost good.

[joltaddict]

I hated the first one. But this one... was fucking great. Brutal. This is where the series SHOULD be going. If this didnt have Zombies name on it I bet more of you would like it. I think you guys forgot how awful this franchise had become. Busta Rhymes TRICK OR TREAT MOTHERFUCKER... need I say more? At least Mike has his balls back.

[Zombie Dude]

If they didn't rush this one into production and Zombie spent a little more time on the script and had a better ending, I think it could have been great instead of almost good.

That's my thoughts too. Zombie seems to make better films when he has a lot of time under his belt.

[dave13]

i recalled loathing this one when i saw it in theaters, but i thought that time, diminished expectations, and the benefit of a reportedly improved directors cut would elevate my opinion. I just watched it tonight for the first time since the theater. my first instinct is to type "garbage" and just leave it at that, but thats not quite fair. there were certain scenes that were very effective. for instance the scene where brad dourif discovers annie's body, the music and the slow motion shots of laurie running in the woods works extremely well, and honestly we go from not caring about anybody in the entire film to finally giving a shit about annie and sherif brackett - although she's dead now, and his character is pretty much done as far as the film's concerned. i don't know if i can blame taylor scout compton for laurie being such an awful character. the writing is just atrocious, and i don't see how any actress could have made that character even the least bit sympathetic. as far as loomis goes, i think if zombie wanted to go this direction with his character, he should have gone further. for a character that has undergone such a dramatic shift between films, he's really given an incredibly small amount to do. i think it would have been interesting to watch him slowly realize what he's turned into, if only he'd actually been able to get the screen time to do it. There were some great compositions on screen, and some great shots of michael. even though him without his mask gets a pretty "meh" reaction from me, at least zombie makes him look interesting on screen. i'm a little sick of zombie projecting his obvious love of long dirty hair onto every man in the film, though. i mean, i don't think it would be possible to make michael look more like rob zombie than he does in this film. and the black and white dream sequences look like a white zombie music video that you used to think was super cool in the early 90's, but now just looks lame.

i don't really know what some people are seeing in this movie. its still boring. makes the first one look good.

[Demoni]

i don't really know what some people are seeing in this movie. its still boring. makes the first one look good.

"Cold Prey 2" is the real sequel to the remake of "Halloween".

[dave13]

"Cold Prey 2" is the real sequel to the remake of "Halloween".

:D thread cross-contamination!

[Anthropophagus]

i recalled loathing this one when i saw it in theaters, but i thought that time, diminished expectations, and the benefit of a reportedly improved directors cut would elevate my opinion. I just watched it tonight for the first time since the theater. my first instinct is to type "garbage" and just leave it at that, but thats not quite fair. there were certain scenes that were very effective. for instance the scene where brad dourif discovers annie's body, the music and the slow motion shots of laurie running in the woods works extremely well, and honestly we go from not caring about anybody in the entire film to finally giving a shit about annie and sherif brackett - although she's dead now, and his character is pretty much done as far as the film's concerned. i don't know if i can blame taylor scout compton for laurie being such an awful character. the writing is just atrocious, and i don't see how any actress could have made that character even the least bit sympathetic. as far as loomis goes, i think if zombie wanted to go this direction with his character, he should have gone further. for a character that has undergone such a dramatic shift between films, he's really given an incredibly small amount to do. i think it would have been interesting to watch him slowly realize what he's turned into, if only he'd actually been able to get the screen time to do it. There were some great compositions on screen, and some great shots of michael. even though him without his mask gets a pretty "meh" reaction from me, at least zombie makes him look interesting on screen. i'm a little sick of zombie projecting his obvious love of long dirty hair onto every man in the film, though. i mean, i don't think it would be possible to make michael look more like rob zombie than he does in this film. and the black and white dream sequences look like a white zombie music video that you used to think was super cool in the early 90's, but now just looks lame.

i don't really know what some people are seeing in this movie. its still boring. makes the first one look good.

Agree with everything you said.
I saw it in theaters and sat across from a guy chugging Jack Daniels from a bottle wrapped in a paper bag, within thirty minutes he was out cold and I envied him for not having to suffer through this crap. If not for my friend who's a huge fan of anything horror, I would have left for sure.

[Demoni]

:d thread cross-contamination!

:d

[Everxon]

wicked movie! i got goosebumps all over my body!

[MarkWarner]

My second favorite Halloween film. Zombie finally decided to ditch most of the baggage that accompanied the original series and do the movie HE wanted to do. I'm definitely in the minority on this, but I thought this was a big step up from the remake and an even bigger step up from most of the original series sequels. I also dug the fact that Zombie wasn't afraid to leave the Halloween theme out of the film until the credits (in the director's cut anyway). If I had to hear the theme used as much as it was in all the other films, I doubt the film would have been as effective as it was for me. Its a great, classic theme, but inappropriate for Zombie's H2.

And for all the talk of Zombie demystifying Michael, I thought he did the opposite. He's not a phantom anymore, of course, but he's a LEGEND now. He's Michael Myers. He's the Grim Reaper (the night scenes where Michael has his hood on are definitely meant to echo that). I think Zombie's approach to Michael is not for everyone, but for me it was a welcome change to the (now cliche) boogeyman idea. It worked (and still works) in Carpenter's film, but we're over thirty years past that now. Hanging onto it like some kind of security blanket just isn't going to cut it with these films now.

Anyway, just some of my thoughts on it. I love the film, but I know its not for everyone.

[shape22]

I don't begrudge anyone for being more open-minded about the way Zombie treated this franchise. But I'm really happy that H2 wasn't well received by the general public. The box office returns for Zombie's H2 are virtually the same as the returns for Resurrection. And H2 came on the heels of a much more commercially successful entry than H6. So despite a lot of momentum, H2 marked a serious downturn in the popularity of the series.

When you take on iconic characters like Myers, Loomis, and Laurie Strode, you inherit many preconceived notions and a fearsomely protective fan base--like it or not. So if your desire is to completely subvert all of those expectations and drastically alter every character and aspect of the franchise universe, why not just pass on the reboot/sequel opportunities and make your own original films?

Yes, I think the Zombie Halloween films are terrible abominations. But that's not the real reason that I utterly despise them. I hate the fact that Zombie exploited a loyal fan base for his own financial gain despite an obvious absence of love and respect for the extremely popular source material. He simply repackaged his own completely incongruous ideas and slapped the Halloween brand name on them. If that's not a shameless money grab, what is?

Eon could decide to change James Bond into a break-dancing Samoan midget who leaves MI6 to become a rogue hitman. But it probably wouldn't please the majority of the fans who've supported the franchise since 1962. Fortunately when Eon decided to reboot the Bond series with Casino Royale they did it with restraint and respect. Bond was a more grounded character. But he wasn't completely unrecognizable to long-time fans of the series. I wish Malek Akkad had demanded that approach.

The Halloween graphic novels all present more faithful and compelling stories lines than what Zombie offered in either of his Halloween films. Those books are also better than the bulk of the original sequels. So there's plenty of mileage left in the classic Halloween universe. Hopefully the series will get back on track with the next installment. I miss the old Michael.

[deepred]

Yes, I think the Zombie Halloween films are terrible abominations. But that's not the real reason that I utterly despise them. I hate the fact that Zombie exploited a loyal fan base for his own financial gain despite an obvious absence of love and respect for the extremely popular source material. He simply repackaged his own completely incongruous ideas and slapped the Halloween brand name on them. If that's not a shameless money grab, what is?

I am not a big fan of Zombie's Halloween movies either, particularly, the 1st but I wouldn't call what Zombie did a shameless money grab. Most everyone knows Rob Zombie is a huge fan of these classic horror movies and his version of Halloween is similar to his own films - so how is he doing it shamelessly for money?? I think the money grab comment should be pointed at Samuel Bayer after he repeatedly talked trash about the elm street films and then put out something so lazily put together with no heart in it at all. While fans might not agree with Zombie's vision - at least he is true to his own artistic instincts. I think that's something we need to see more of.

I personally did like where Zombie took the Laurie Strode character as it would be psychologically devastating to lose and learn so much in a night. This was never really explored in the original series because I/II were the same night and Laurie did not return to the series for 20 years and then she was pretty messed up psychologically - no? I think Halloween II would have been more successful if the studio didn't rush Zombie to get this out asap. I did enjoy his remake of the second one more than 5-8 and maybe 4 too.

[shape22]

and his version of Halloween is similar to his own films - so how is he doing it shamelessly for money??

Zombie made absolutely no effort to curb his typical excesses to better fit the established Halloween universe. Instead of Anytown USA we're immediately thrust into Zombie's white trash Neverland--that magical place where the 70s never end, every male under 50 years old looks like a filthy, long-haired homeless person, and every woman under 50 considers it a badge of honor to use the word "fuck" as a meaningless participle at least twice in every sentence.

Since Zombie is obviously more interested in white trash opera than ANY aspect of the original series, I think it's fair to ask why he didn't just create his own slasher franchise inspired (like so many others) by Halloween.

But his reasons are pretty obvious. He wanted the extra attention and money that comes from making a film in an established series--even though his contempt for the source material is obvious in both the finished film and the many interviews he gave to promote the project. That's a big-time money grab in my book.

[Zombie Dude]

Personally H2 is guilty pleasure of mine. I think to expect anything but white trash characters from Zombie is a bit ridiculous and not worth bitching about. Zombie was put on these films for his distinct tastes and filming styles. The Weinsteins wanted something different from this franchise. If you recall before Zombie came on for the remake the Weinsteins were just going to reboot a name only franchise.

I just like that Zombie gave us something different. His films could have been better yes, but I found it somewhat refreshing that we got something new. Fuck Zombie made Michael Myers more violent and bad-ass than remake Jason Voorhees. I would love to see his take on Jason.

[joltaddict]

I would suggest anyone complaining that Zombie ruined "the established universe" of Halloween go watch Resurection again but I wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy. It may not have been the direction you wanted it to go but it didnt ruin shit. Shit was already ruined.

[JGrendel]

I think H2 would've gone over better had it not had the Halloween banner on it. If Zombie had just made the film his own without the baggage like was said. Not only that the one thing that really disturbed my watching of his Halloween movies was I kept asking the question how did a stripper afford such a nice house in the subburbs with 3 kids?

[othervoice1]

I kept asking the question how did a stripper afford such a nice house in the subburbs with 3 kids?
Well strippers can make some pretty nice cash - especially ones that look like Sheri Moon

[JGrendel]

True but it was a two story house right smack in the middle of middle america I'm sure the bank would've of had some issues when she marked down dancer on her loan application.

[MarkWarner]

I don't begrudge anyone for being more open-minded about the way Zombie treated this franchise. But I'm really happy that H2 wasn't well received by the general public. The box office returns for Zombie's H2 are virtually the same as the returns for Resurrection. And H2 came on the heels of a much more commercially successful entry than H6. So despite a lot of momentum, H2 marked a serious downturn in the popularity of the series.

Box office returns are not a sign of the quality of a film. Michael Bay's Trashformers movies made more money than I'll probably ever have in my life, but that doesn't make those films any better.

When you take on iconic characters like Myers, Loomis, and Laurie Strode, you inherit many preconceived notions and a fearsomely protective fan base--like it or not.

That would be "not" in my case. The fan base to most franchises always act like spoiled kids who don't get their way, and I'm not just talking about when a divisive or downright hated film comes out. I'm talking about when ANY film comes out (after the original usually).

So if your desire is to completely subvert all of those expectations and drastically alter every character and aspect of the franchise universe, why not just pass on the reboot/sequel opportunities and make your own original films?

Why not make your own original Halloween films? He took the characters and did something different with them (as any reboot director should do, lest we get another Psycho/Funny Games scenario). Blaming Zombie for not delivering what is expected isn't his fault, its the fault of anyone who believes that a director should cater to them rather than follow their own artistic vision. Zombie has shown time and again that he's not just a director-for-hire. He does his own thing. Whether you like it or not is entirely up to you, but I wouldn't blame him for something that he was never going to do in the first place.

Yes, I think the Zombie Halloween films are terrible abominations.

In a world where Ed Wood was allowed to make films, I can't agree with this.

But that's not the real reason that I utterly despise them. I hate the fact that Zombie exploited a loyal fan base for his own financial gain despite an obvious absence of love and respect for the extremely popular source material. He simply repackaged his own completely incongruous ideas and slapped the Halloween brand name on them. If that's not a shameless money grab, what is?

You didn't like his film, so that makes him, essentially, a whore? I completely disagree with that. Zombie obviously has a lot of passion for the original film, but just because he changed things up and didn't slavishly adhere to what the whining fans wanted doesn't mean he only did it for the money, especially with H2, which to me is a lot more artistic and thought out than most of the other films in the franchise.

And again, he took the general Halloween idea and put his own spin on it, which I think is more admirable than Dimension hiring a generic director who will just slap ripoff after ripoff of scenes from the original into their film and then have the balls to call it a "new movie".

Oh, and a lot of people still see John Carpenter as a "master of horror", but that guy has PROVEN that he's all about the paycheck. And yet, not a lot of people give him shit about that. Why can't we hold him accountable for lining his wallet too when he makes shit like The Ward and Ghosts Of Mars?

Eon could decide to change James Bond into a break-dancing Samoan midget who leaves MI6 to become a rogue hitman. But it probably wouldn't please the majority of the fans who've supported the franchise since 1962. Fortunately when Eon decided to reboot the Bond series with Casino Royale they did it with restraint and respect. Bond was a more grounded character. But he wasn't completely unrecognizable to long-time fans of the series. I wish Malek Akkad had demanded that approach.

See, I don't think Zombie changed the characters that drastically. If Michael was suddenly a juggling clown who killed people with pies and said one-liners, I would be inclined to agree that the changes were too dramatic, but that didn't happen. In the remake they're essentially the same characters, and in H2 they've changed for a reason: people dying affects you, and the fact that Zombie showed this rather than just throwing some new teens into the film to die (ala Resurrection) was pretty refreshing and to me showed that he's put a lot more thought into these films than people give him credit for.

The Halloween graphic novels all present more faithful and compelling stories lines than what Zombie offered in either of his Halloween films. Those books are also better than the bulk of the original sequels. So there's plenty of mileage left in the classic Halloween universe. Hopefully the series will get back on track with the next installment. I miss the old Michael.

I'm a huge fan of the comics AND of Zombie's films. I don't see any reason they can't co-exist as different stories. Locking Halloween down to a specific way of telling the story is, frankly, boring to me (hence my disdain for the later films in the original series). Such a simple tale can be told so many ways, and to limit it by trying to keep it "classic" just cheapens it in my opinion. The more original stories to be told, the better.

[Zombie Keeper]

The original sequel lacked substance. The remake of the sequel had too much substance. Zombie went too deep into Myer's head and ruined the film.