Halloween II

Horror is usually built around a clear contrast between good and evil. Either something good enters an evil place (hixploitation, haunted houses), or something evil enters a good place (most slashers and zombie movies). One of the problems (though it doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as such) of Halloween II is that it basically overturns the above mentioned rule. Rob Zombie’s “good” Halloween world looks so lawless that the masked bum Michael Myers fits almost perfectly and doesn’t feel like a great menace. I’d say that the “good guys” there must be used to stuff like this. Add to that the dodgy dream sequences and the only conclusion is that Zombie’s second Halloween is not classic horror, and certainly not classic Halloween. As far as I’m concerned, it was a very unusual film that got on my nerves throughout, to the point that only by the end I realised that it isn’t so bad. (12/09/2009)

Rather than being a standalone film, I would describe Halloween II as a kind of a DLC to the first film. It works with the motifs from the previous film, with the difference being that the script has totally abandoned anything resembling a coherent plot. There’s also an absolute emphasis on Michael's rampage, which creates a sort of dreamy atmosphere of a psychedelic trip. I can see why my friend said afterwards: "That was bullshit!" I also didn't find it all that surprising that two-thirds of the audience was gone after the lights were turned on. All Rob has done is confirmed that he is unmatched in film brutality in contemporary Hollywood. The insane violence, with full-frame head stomping or throat slashing - which does not avoid women - goes far beyond what is permissible not only in terms of political correctness but also in terms of moral standards. Admitting that you liked something like this isn't really the best calling card for personal film taste, but we are who we are. Regardless, this is Rob's weakest film. From a more objective point of view, for the aforementioned lack of plot, and especially for Dr. Loomis, there’s been no bigger idiot yet that emerged from his screenwriting. PS: Now it really needs something more distinctive, although I wouldn't be opposed to a third film because the ending is damn funny. (10/29/2009)