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Genre: Horror

Director: Rob Zombie

Certificate: Halloween was rated 18 by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable only for those of 18 years of age and over.

Violence = strong. Drugs = strong. Sex/Nudity = strong. Language = strong.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:  Halloween

Halloween shows the horrific creation and disturbing growth of the serial killer Michael Myers.  Rob Zombie re-imagines this horror classic, putting his stamp on the Halloween story.  There are stabbings, bludgeoning, and general mayhem.

At ten years old, Michael Myers (Daeg Faerch) spends his days trying to avoid the abuse of his step father, ignore the neglect of his mother and steer clear of bullies at school.  His mother Deborah (Sheri Moon Zombie) makes attempts to be a good mother but refuses to ditch the loser.   One day at school his sanity is shattered and the Michael Myers we all know and love is born.    He is sent to live at a sanatorium and is treated by Dr. Samuel Loomis (Malcolm McDowell).

By showing the abuse that Myers suffered, director and writer Rob Zombie humanizes Myers in Halloween.  It is a big risk to make the villain tragic.  Instead of leaving you trembling and wondering why he is a psychopath, you could mourn his lost childhood and take pity on him.  Much to Zombie’s credit, I felt both for Myers.   There are scenes in the movie I wished a character would give him any attention, the slightest affection.   At the same time I hoped they wouldn’t because I didn’t trust Myers not to kill the person showing affection.

Zombie took, with one exception, the camp out of his version of Halloween.  I don’t find horror movies scary because they are usually so campy.  Zombie’s style doesn’t shy away from realism.  Zombie shamelessly portrays violence in Halloween with all the ghastly, stomach turning seriousness it deserves.   His style, a change from horror directors of the past, is often disgusting but always frightening.

The kid who plays young Michael Myers, Daeg Faerch, plays Myers as a total creep job.  I think we all went to school with the kid we were sure was pulling the legs off cats.  Daeg Faerch plays that kid perfectly.  In the first few scenes he is a little awkward but as Halloween progresses he becomes progressively more ghoulish.  I don’t know where they found Faerch but I suspect it was on a trip down Gruesome St.

In a return to old style horror the three teenage girls are waggish, their dialogue downright silly at times.  Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) has more than her fair share of eye rolling lines.  The classic goodie two shoes horror heroine for the first half of her performance, Laurie pulls herself out of that role and finds a new definition of horror movie woman in Halloween.  Her fight scenes are heart pounding - her will to survive palpable.   Laurie, unlike other women in horror movies, does everything she can to live, and makes good decisions.

Scout Taylor-Compton is an uninhibited, full volume, back of the throat, ear ringing screamer.  The ability to scream without reservation is a challenging, and rare skill.  I don’t think she’s quite as phenomenal as Jamie Lee Curtis, but she is pretty damned close.  Her performance in Halloween should earn her a spot of her own in the minds and hearts of horror fans.

I have not seen so many breasts in one movie since The Black Book.   Halloween casting director, Monika Mikkelsen, must have required these actresses to get naked and casted them by their tits.  Just when you begin to miss bosoms, two more show up to give you a fix of busty femininity.

I walked into the theatre worried the Halloween series would be put to shame.  I walked out, worried about going to bed, knowing I had seen Michael Myers, and was in love with Halloween.

Reviewed by LaRae Meadows, Premier Movie Reviews 2007

• Malcolm McDowell
• Brad Dourif
• Tyler Mane
• Daeg Faerch
• Sheri Moon

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