Rob Zombie's H2

niallon

So, as any of the Horror regulars know, Rob Zombie has embarked on a sequel to his Halloween remake. Personally I am quite disappointed about this but mainly because the workprint version of his original was so good but this sequel will be tied to the theatrical version.

Storywise it seems Zombie once again has a film of two halves, first half the same as the original sequel, same night setting, some hospital locations. Then we move onto a film principally about Laurie according to Zombie.

Anyways, we can all find out in August but for now, what does everyone think? If this sequel was inevitable are you pleased Zombie has the job? Happy to see a new direction from the original sequel? Just as pi**ed off as me that it appears the mask has been reduced to very little screen time and it is now butchered?

http://www.halloweenmovies.com/ - For all your H2 update needs.

spooky donkey

I LOVED THE first remake he did. In fact I think it is the best horror remake there is, in a world where remakes are uasually crappy. So i am happy he is doing the 2nd one.

Otis Driftwood

Halloween is one of the better remakes there has been.Not a patch on the original but enjoyable nonetheless.I havnt seen the workprint but have heard good things.A sequel was always going to happen so I guess if anyone is going to do it then Zombie is the right choice.

niallon

It is a plus that zombie is back on board by all means, I do like him as a director and think it will be interesting to see him continue his vision of where the Halloween series can go. The trailer unnerves me somewhat though with the whole mother angle, bit too Friday The 13th for my liking. Also of course there is the fear that this will get studio tampering akin to the original, guess I'll have to scower the net for a workprint of this too!

@nedtheshed: Ya gotta see the workprint, incredible difference.

spooky donkey

yes I thought that too about friday 13 th when I saw the mother angle. And the fri 13th remake did not impress me very much.

Kernel

spooky donkey wrote: »

I LOVED THE first remake he did. In fact I think it is the best horror remake there is, in a world where remakes are uasually crappy. So i am happy he is doing the 2nd one.

No way, thats either Dawn of the Dead, TCM or House on Haunted Hill!

Otis Driftwood

Kernel wrote: »

No way, thats either Dawn of the Dead, TCM or House on Haunted Hill!

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

spooky donkey

with all of those XXX of the dead movies I have kinda lost track of them. they all sound the same.

niallon

DOTD remake was a good film, but not at all a good remake. Same to a lesser extent for TCM. Basically they were both harmless horror films but when they use the name of such greats they are required to carry a little more dignity!

House On Haunted Hill remake I actually love until the craptacular black smokey sneeze of CGI showed up at the end!

More on H2, only just noticed Margot Kidder is appearing in it! Anyone else love how Zombie recruits the lost and forgotten names to appear in his films? Slightly gimmicky but pretty cool on his part too "Here guys, you haven't worked in 20 years, have a pay cheque!"

spooky donkey

niallon wrote: »

More on H2, only just noticed Margot Kidder is appearing in it! Anyone else love how Zombie recruits the lost and forgotten names to appear in his films? Slightly gimmicky but pretty cool on his part too "Here guys, you haven't worked in 20 years, have a pay cheque!"

LOL! funny but so true.

Otis Driftwood

I wonder how he will manage to get Sherri into this one.;)

considering she topped herself

Flashback Id imagine.

I have to say,part of why I like Zombies work is because they really are spot the cameo fests for horror fans.

niallon

nedtheshed wrote: »

I wonder how he will manage to get Sherri into this one.;)

considering she topped herself

Flashback Id imagine.

She seems, from the trailer, to be appearing as a ghostly vision to Michael urging him to kill....and then go to Camp Crystal Lake.....and whack off to a bunch of teens.....wait, wrong franchise!

niallon

Another small update, new still on Arrow In The Head showing scar masked Mikey. Apparently Zombie, according to the article, is really taking his own direction with this and not adhering too much to the Halloween formula, not sure how to feel about this. Changing the plot is fair enough but changing any of the core dynamics that make Halloween what it is, dodgy...

Fysh

niallon wrote: »

Another small update, new still on Arrow In The Head showing scar masked Mikey. Apparently Zombie, according to the article, is really taking his own direction with this and not adhering too much to the Halloween formula, not sure how to feel about this. Changing the plot is fair enough but changing any of the core dynamics that make Halloween what it is, dodgy...

If you wanted to see the original Halloween films, why not get 'em on DVD? If we have to have new films under the same old franchises, I'd prefer that they try and do something different with 'em. I get the whole "ZOMG It's betraying the fans" thing, but surely the whole point of rebooting the franchise was that the established fanbase was no longer profitable enough to be worth catering to?

niallon

I've no issue with changing around the franchise, but there are some core attributes to Halloween (and all franchises) that have to be retained or esle it is just a rip off. For example, Zombie seems to be downscaling the amount of screen time Mikey's mask gets. Also seems to be bringing in this mother angle too. In all, there's only so much can be changed, otherwise it's not a reboot, just a boot!

Fysh

I suppose there is a certain point at which you have to ask whether you've got enough in the new film to justify using a name that's been established by previous films. Difficult to say whether they've crossed that line until we see the film though.

I still haven't gotten around to seeing the first Zombie Halloween movie, but the fact that he's making a sequel to it actually has me more interested in watching it as it gets me thinking that he might have some sort of idea for an overall story to a trilogy of films in the new franchise.

niallon

Again, back to the workprint, it clearly shows that

Zombie wanted to do just the one film and kill of Myers for good

so it's interesting that he hass continued it on alright, must have a good game plan as you're suggesting Fysh

niallon

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=16787

Yet another incredibly unrevealing clip!

Fysh

I finally got around to watching Zombie's Halloween - certainly the ending could work either way. I enjoyed the new material a lot more than I expected to considering some of the reviews, so I'm looking forward to H2 out of curiosity of where Zombie wants to go next with this.

Posted a thread about this in the film board but it's proberly more appropriate here.

One of the few remakes which I really liked was Rob Zombie's Halloween. Rather than simply remake the original Zombie tried to do something diferent. The upcomign sequel has been shaping up quite nicely though till now all the pictures released have been rather bland but now we have this rather odd and pretty awesome looking pic which reminds me a lot of the masks in part 3.



And heres the theatrical poster.

niallon

Nice going Darko, best update in a long time. As I said over in Film, thank christ he's finally gone with Halloween II instead of H2. Amazing how something as subtle as a title change can alter how much interest I have in this film!

niallon

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=17092

Slightly old update but here's another image, this time the fantastic Brad Dourif reprising his role as Brackett. Also interesting is in the article where Zombie mentions the initial compilation cut clocked in at 4 hours! Now apparently he has it down to just under 2.

Necronomicon

This is the latest trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT_e1JbwLVA

niallon

Definitely looking better with each trailer, loks like that very promising set up at the end of Halloween 4 is being properly explored by Zombie. Still though, Michael shouldn't have a face, get him a new mask!!!

I like that Zombie seems to be exploring the supernatural element of michael and isn't just giving us another generic stalk and slash.

niallon

"Leaked" trailer now online, supposedly not meant to see the light of day. Not much different but what is different reveals a little more plot, not too shabby!

http://www.filmshaft.com/leaked-halloween-ii-trailer/

GrizzlyMan

Rob should just stick to the music!!!

GrizzlyMan

GrizzlyMan wrote: »

Rob should just stick to the music!!!

From 3 films he has shown that he is a talented writer and director. You can't really judge House of 1,000 Corpses as his original cut was butchered by the studio and over 30 minutes was destroyed. Devil's Rejects is one of the best genre films of many years and managed to be the grindhouse film Tarantino tried so desperately to make with Grindhouse.

Halloween was an interesting choice for Zombie as he had stated that eh did not want to remake the original and if you watch his cut of the film that is the case. While the second half of the film is identical to the original this is down tot he studio and not Zombie. He realised that if he did'nt give in to some of the studios demands they would simply re-shoot the film or cut it to ribbons to get the desired effect.

To me Zombie is exactly what the American studio driver horror system needs. He's not afraid to take risks and isn't going to turn in some generic, cliched, PG13 slasher film.

Now if only someone would finance his version of the Crow, the script is one of the true great unproduced masterpieces.

GrizzlyMan

'Now if only someone would finance his version of the Crow, the script is one of the true great unproduced masterpieces.'


Yeah I know he is very talented and all the props etc were all designed by him, I really didnt know he had a version of the Crow, One of the all time great movies - must look into it!!!

Just wish he would write another album Like - Astro Creep 2000:D

Fysh

Deleted User wrote: »

Now if only someone would finance his version of the Crow, the script is one of the true great unproduced masterpieces.

Link plz? It's a source of constant surprise to me that barring the first one all the Crow films have been utter dreck, given the potential present in the material...

On a separate Zombie-related note, who else is looking forward to The Haunted World of El Superbeasto?

GrizzlyMan

GrizzlyMan wrote: »

'Now if only someone would finance his version of the Crow, the script is one of the true great unproduced masterpieces.'


Yeah I know he is very talented and all the props etc were all designed by him, I really didnt know he had a version of the Crow, One of the all time great movies - must look into it!!!

Just wish he would write another album Like - Astro Creep 2000:D

Fysh wrote: »

Link plz? It's a source of constant surprise to me that barring the first one all the Crow films have been utter dreck, given the potential present in the material...

On a separate Zombie-related note, who else is looking forward to The Haunted World of El Superbeasto?

Here's The Crow: 2037 script.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNQSLzEClDA

El Superbeasto is shaping up quite nicely. About bloody time though, it's been having it's release date changed for a number of years now. It's upcoming release has given me some hope for Conan Red Nails which has been in post production for years.

GrizzlyMan

Cheers for that copy of the script, im sure it will be a great read - As the crow (part one) has always being one of my favourite Movies

Necronomicon

I'd love to see a Zombie version of The Crow. Original film aside, the franchise has been seriously abused. Whatever about the sequels, let us not forget the Marc Dacasscos television series. *Shudder*

G-Bal

I saw it earlier this evening, and am still processing it. Don't really know what to make of it, really. Definitely not as bad as Halloween: Resurrection, anyway!

The film seems to follow four story arcs, in that it deals with Laurie's reaction to coping with the attack by Myers one year ago, how the Bracketts (Sheriff and Annie) are dealing with it, Sam Loomis' book tour (in which he has cashed in on the events of the previous year) and Myers himself, and his visions of his younger self, his mother Deborah, and a white horse.

(Spoilers will follow...) Stuff I liked about the film included the domestic scenes featuring the Bracketts and Laurie, who are now all living together in the aftermath of Zombie's original. This helped to ground the film a little, and add at least two sympathetic characters in Annie and the Sheriff (played excellently by genre favourites Danielle Harris and Brad Dourif, respectively.) For some reason, though, which bothered me a little, the cluttered, untidy, and grungy feel of the living arrangements didn't seem to reflect the characters living within. The house, which was daubed with pentagrams and satanic iconography may indicate the change in Laurie's character and personality, but didn't at all reflect that of the Bracketts, who seemed to be doing ok, as it were, one year removed from the previous film. I know it's a minor point, but I think it was a very bad choice in production design. That aside, I liked these scenes.

The Loomis arc was really well done, I have to say, and I genuinely thought Malcolm McDowell did a superb job making the Loomis character his own, in this one. There was a lot of humour during the promotion of his book, and I think the addition of Linda's father confronting him was a nice touch. That said, I think the completion of his arc was completely unrealistic and at odds with the character as portrayed by McDowell. The idea that his fame-hungry media whore would return to try and help with the Myers/Laurie situation didn't make sense to me. As far as Loomis being a million miles away from the Carpenter version of him, I can understand that this is Zombie's take on the character-- I didn't think, however, that he did justice to his vision of him in the completion of this arc.

Michael Myers spends most of the film wandering around killing off side characters (including My Bloody Valentine's Betsy Rue) in particularly gruesome and excessive ways, and having visions. The "white horse" thing didn't do much for me, I've gotta say. There was an explanation for its relevance in dream studies in the opening title card, but it stank of pretentious symbolism throughout the rest of the film, and was unnecessary. I don't really get why these scenes were added, to be honest and why Laurie would be seeing her "mother" in these visions as well (seeing as they had never really met. Deborah killed herself, in the original, while Laurie/Angel was still a baby.)

I've no idea whether I actually liked this film or not! It's a tough call. I liked the build-up of Brackett as one of the lead protagonists (essentially filling the void left by the original Loomis character) but I felt that there was really no payoff for his character, especially since Annie was killed by Myers. I thought Laurie's character was a little more sympathetic this time around, but I didn't buy her drastic personality change after the "revelation" that she was Myers' sister. Fundamentally, I felt the conclusion was ludicrous, and the vision of Laurie emerging from the barn wearing Myers' mask was comical as opposed to scary, and made little sense in the grand scheme of things. (It certainly got a laugh at the screening I saw.)

I haven't seen Zombie's other films, like House of 1000 Corpses or The Devil's Rejects, but based on his Halloween stuff, I would say he has potential as a director, but his writing of characters, and general vision, leaves a little to be desired at times.



Good:

• Danielle Harris and Brad Dourif
• Loomis' character in this one. McDowell hams it up nicely.
• Scout Taylor-Compton isn't as annoying in this one!
• Deborah Myers' first flashback-- I liked her character in the first one.
• Not as much vulgar language in this one.

Not So Good:

• There's really not that much suspense.
• The kills are a little OTT, and unnecessary for stock characters
• Laurie's friends made no impression at all
• Loomis coming to the rescue made no sense for his character
• Production design for the Brackett house
• No mention (that I heard) of how Myers survived a point-blank bullet to the head
• An uneven pace through the film
• A pretty lousy conclusion
• The visions-- what purpose did they really serve?

The not-so-good may outweigh the good, but I still wouldn't say I hated the film. I don't tend to nitpick that much with regular films, but I do like the Halloween franchise a lot, so would tend to have more of an interest in it. If anyone else has seen it, it'd be good to hear what ye thought...

beans

A total aside, but I noticed that Samuel Loomis is the name of the boyfriend from 'Psycho' the other night!

Den_M

God I really hated this film, such a waste of 8 quid. Scout Taylor-Compton was so bloody annoying, so were her 'rock chick' friends. The script was still overly loaded with swearing and typical American teenager slang-speak. The deaths got old really quickly and the dream sequences (or whatever they were supposed to be) were laughable. I'm sick of seeing Rob Zombies wife in his films, she can't bloody act, same as Kevin Smiths. I didn't like the previous Zombie Halloween film but at least there was some invention and style to it, and the kid was a bit creepy. This was just terrible all the way through. Give me Halloween H20 any day (as far as recent Halloween films go). Also, Loomis' character was such a dick and really one dimensional. Poor McDowell, a quality actor having to work with a shoddy script like that.

Poppycock!