Reviewed by Lisa Fore
Genre: Horror
Released: August 28th, 2009
Rating: R for strong brutal bloody violence throughout, terror, disturbing graphic images, language, and some crude sexual content and nudity
Film Credits
Director: Rob Zombie
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris, Scout Taylor-Compton, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Matt Bush, Bill Moseley, Brea Grant, Howard Hesseman, Bill Fagerbakke, Caroline Williams, Chase Wright Vanek, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Daniel Roebuck, Chris Hardwick, Richard Brake, Ezra Buzzington, Angela Trimbur, Dayton Callie, Jeffrey Daniel Phillips
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I love it when a horror film wants to become more than what you were expecting, and Rob Zombie has hit that bliss point for me twice now.
Moving from the causes of abnormal psychology to its effects while sliding in raw exploitation, H2: Halloween 2 basically raises the bar in the name of the all-mighty American horror sequel. It's beautifully played once you sit back and take it in. You're NOT going to get a standard immortal stomping through the film, and hacking his way through a slew of vapid silicone and jocks. Well, I mean, you have the 'immortal' (with a great motive), and the stomping and the hacking (LOTS of hacking), but this design is surreal.
This time we go into the extremely damaged perspective of Laurie Strode/'Boo' Myers (Scout Taylor-Compton), where we experience a very possible reality for a surviving trauma victim. Laurie's squeaky, middle-class vibe has completely unraveled into her intended destiny as a mottled (minus the slutty desperation) outcast, before big bro flipped out and whacked the rot from the Myer's family tree. Huddled within another new 'family'-- best friend Annie (Daniele Harris) and her dad, Sheriff Brackett (Brad Dourif)-- she still bears the mental scars a year since Micheal's ambitious reunion. Laurie is now tormented by missing her (adopted) parents and, more specifically, by the horrific dreams of Michael hunting her down as the calendar marches closer towards Halloween.
While Laurie is busy breaking down and freaking out, Dr. Loomis -- who wears his sudden celebrity status like Liberace wore a cape -- swoops in on his new book tour venues, and gorges heavily on the glam. It's apparent that he'll 'cut a bitch' though, as he frequently spins off into blistering temper-tantrums whenever someone mentions his role in creating this mess or the possibility of the killer's return; after all this 'new' Loomis is "selling the 'sizzle,' not the steak." Heh.
Mommy Myers is never far away from either of her damaged babies, as Sherrie Moon-Zombie also returns as a gorgeous, ethereal, and yet icy specter often accompanied by a white horse - which is explained in the intro - a symbol of extreme emotions...like rage. So as one would expect, she shows up a lot. And like every good mother does, she's attempting to guide the feuding siblings to eventually come together to play nicely.
As the only 'horror-campy' character of the film, Dr. Loomis, who (in typically wonderful Mc Dowell fashion) has allowed his thoughtful and professional demeanor vanish into reality TV DIVA-whoredom. Loomis is as fun as ever (if you enjoy the obnoxious, and I do), but seemed extremely disconnected from the film as a whole. I understand that he's integral to the entire legend but it felt like he really didn't need to be there. I didn't get the Weird Al Yankovic cameo either at first, other than it seemed to stand as a crushing smack down to Loomis' A-list self-perception. If that was the intention, then it was certainly a clever dig, but Zombie seems to flow with the Asian philosophy of filmmaking, "it's here, take from it whatever you wish," so I maybe it's just me.
Doriff's Brackett, however, was a pleasant surprise as this time around he brought a strong amount of fatherly roundness to his character. It was easy to feel his weary desperation to protect his girls and it was strangely funny to see his hen-pecked 'husband' to Danielle Harris' delicious, battle-ax 'wife' persona.
Every character finally comes full circle with themselves, their responsibilities and involvement in the Meyers saga, and however horrible and/or final it is, it's an honest revelation of their true character.
The ending was furious with a denouement that's a chilling sledgehammer, and I can't reference the film it brings to mind without giving this scene away, but I absolutely loved it. With this closing, Rob Zombie gives us his final bow to the series.
It's not a conventional slasher film by any means, Zombie isn't handing out everything; you let it in and let it swirl around for awhile and it settles as something unique and refreshing.
All in all, Halloween 2 is an insightful, wicked winner.
Overall Rating: 4 |
