HALLOWEEN — * 1/2 — Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane; rated R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, vulgarity, sex, slurs); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15; Century Sandy and South Salt Lake; Cinemark Jordan Landing; Megaplex District, Gateway and Jordan Commons; Red Carpet 5-Star and Gateway 8
Rob Zombie's "re-envisioning" of the 1978 classic horror movie "Halloween" is actually two films in one. Two bad films, as it turns out.
The rocker-turned-filmmaker has tried to make a psychological thriller, one that provides background about a remorseless, seemingly unstoppable serial killer. And one that is also part homage to the earlier John Carpenter movie, albeit upping the violence and blood considerably, along with the sex and nudity.
Unfortunately, Zombie's "Halloween" fails on both counts.
The film begins with needless blather about a character who, frankly, didn't need a back story. And by making the film more graphic, Zombie has also made it considerably less scary and effective than Carpenter's version.
Credited as screenwriter and director, Zombie tries to explain how a steady diet of bullying, neglect by his stripper mother (played by Zombie's negligibly talented wife, Sheri Moon) and abuse by his alcoholic stepfather (William Forsythe) caused young Michael Myers to snap.
After serving 17 years in a sanitorium for the killings of his stepfather and an older sister, the now-grown Michael (Tyler Mane, from "X-Men") returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Ill., to begin a killing spree on the titular traditional pagan holiday.
Michael is also searching for Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton), his baby sister, who's now a smart-alecky teenager.
Zombie ("House of 1,000 Corpses," "The Devil's Rejects") may use Carpenter's still effective, synthesizer-heavy score, but clearly he doesn't understand what made Carpenter's movie so special.
The restagings here of some classic scenes pale in comparison to Carpenter's work, and the first hour of this film is a real snore.
As for Taylor-Compton, she may have Jamie Lee Curtis' scream down, but she's surprisingly unlikable.
At least Malcolm McDowell doesn't completely embarrass himself in the Donald Pleasence role.
"Halloween" is rated R for strong horror violence (graphic killings, including stabbings, beatings, throat-slashings, shootings and violence against women), gore and blood, crude sexual language (profanity, slang and other sexually suggestive talk and gestures), full female nudity and nude photos, simulated sex and other sexual contact, and slurs based on race and sexual preference. Running time: 109 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com