Rob Zombie's Halloween Duology - Exploring Anguish, Trauma, and Mental Deterioration (Video Essay)
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
- In 2007, Rob Zombie was brought up at the helm to direct the remake of the John Carpenter classic, Halloween. The film was immediately met with backlash upon release and was critically panned. In spite of it, it was moderately successful. Two years later, a sequel was made, and was not only panned, but is proactively maligned by fans of the Halloween franchise. So, in this whole video essay, analysis, defense, review, retrospective, or whatever you want to call it, I defend Rob Zombie's Halloween duology and explore how they tackle the topic of trauma and turmoil. Michael Myers as a character has always been an ambiguous one, and John Carpenter has gone on record to say that he's a force of nature, but I believe he's so much more than that, and that's why he's the perfect character to break down.
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#Halloween #HalloweenII #RobZombie #videoessay
Been defending these movies since they came out. Thank you for the thoughtful, intelligent analysis.
I love Rob but them films are rouuuugh Lolol. “I love you mommy” lololol
I think the reason most people say that Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” was “grimy and unpleasant” is because we’ve become so desensitized by all the violence in entertainment (that most of the time don’t mean anything when a character dies.)
Those people reacted the same way the Universal executives did when they looked at Rob’s first movie.
The thing people don’t understand is that Rob Zombie wasn’t trying to remake the original. He was making his own version, and at that he succeeded.
I don’t like it as much as the original, but they were what I saw first, and I probably wouldn’t have gotten into the franchise if I hadn’t seen these movies.
I loved these films. People get too nostalgic over old horror classics. I think Rob will get the respect he deserves for these over time.
Hes getting soon. After David Gordon Green's caravan of garbage.
That was interesting. Honestly I've never heard a defense of these movies before and that felt like a unique perspective.
its flawed in some spots but really good at calling out the critques on the movie that are straight falsehoods. like mike showing his face lol.
Found this video after watching Halloween Ends, this made me so much more fond of what Rob Zombie did with the mythology.
I didn't hate the Blumhouse Halloween films but they were nowhere near as great as Rob Zombie's Halloween films especially the 2nd one which I consider the best of the entire series after the Carpenter original.
I actually really enjoyed Rob Zombie's take on Halloween, I love that he gives us insight into the mind of Michael Myers like his childhood. As far as I am concerned I think he did a great job and that there is a reason they call it a remake, cause it is not the original. There are a lot of sequels to halloween that are soo much worse than RZ'S take.
The Original Halloween was a great trend setting suspense slasher horror movie where as Rob Zombies duology was an unrelenting unforgiving and unapologetic horror tragedy and a damn good duology at that.
8:46 He revived an iconic franchise . He humanized the character left the storyline open ended. Love Laurie's character development and loved his white horse analogy. I loved it he's a genius.
Revived it by showing the villain every four minutes ?😅
I agree with Rob Zombie's motive
Great analysis! I've always been a big defender of Zombie's Halloween films and also feel they have been grossly misunderstood. In my opinion Zombie's film did everything a remake should do in that it offered the audience a fresh take and a unique perspective on the material rather than simply retreading what came before the way the current iteration of the franchise has. In a way these films are anomalies within the slasher genre. Zombie took the basic structure of the original and the simplistic nature of the slasher film as a whole and expanded on it, crafting a more complex narrative with fully developed characters who are flawed yet relatable rather than the paper thin characterizations synonymous with the genre. Even Myers is fleshed out rather than being a simple plot device . Hes' presented as both victim and villian, both sympathetic and brutal. Loomis is equally layered. He obviously cares for Michael on some level, but is not above exploiting him for financial gain. This moral ambiguity, coupled with the realistic presentation of violence grounds the film and makes it a more neaunced viewing experience. The violence is visceral and has emotional impact beyond serving as an excuse to have a jump scare or a make up effect. It's uncomfortable and disturbing because its presented in all it's real world ugliness. The deaths have weight and feel tragic. The exploration of violence and trauma and their long reaching consequences is presented in an honest and tragically realistic fashion, far more effective than the cartoonish but much praised presentation of the subject matter in the Blumhouse films. There is another element that I picked up on but have never seen mentioned and that's the parallel between Zombies dipiction of Myers and the Frankenstein monster. Both are scarred, hulking, misunderstood monsters seeking companionship who leave death and destruction in their wake. Both have a father figure in the form of a doctor who was involved in their creation and the parallels don't end there. Myers seeks out Laurie because of their familiar bond. In his mind they are the same and she is the only one who will truly accept him but she has no knowledge of her heritage and ultimately rejects him. This sends him into a murderous rage in which he tries to kill both Laurie and himself by tackling her from the window. He fails in a physical sense but on an emotional level he succeeds. The trauma she endures at the hands of Myers not only leaves her with PTSD but also triggers whatever deep-seeded mental illness that affected her brother and possibly mother to a lesser extent. Laurie Strode is dead and Angel Myers is created. Their bond is trauma and genetics. This somewhat parallels the arc of Karloffs monster in Bride of Frankenstein. The monster seeks a connection with the bride who he sees as his equal only to be rejected. Realizing that he is truly alone and that they are abominations he triggers an explosion killing both himself, the bride, as well as Dr. Pretorius who manipulated Frankenstein into creating the bride. (That in itself is very similar to the ending of Halloween 2 by comparison ) I'm quite sure this was intentional by Zombie as there is a scene in Halloween 2 featuring Myers and a trick or treating child that is lifted directly from Ghost of Frankenstein both in composition and dialogue. This adds another fascinating layer to Halloween 2 in that the main antagonist of the film is actively seeking death. Myers isn't just attempting to kill his sister but himself as well in an act of murder/suicide which in his mind will reunite them with their mother. That in itself is such a unique concept. There is so much to dissect in these. I could go on and on. It's great to see that people are finally starting to give these films the respect they deserve. Keep up the good work.
RZs Halloween films were sooooooo much better than the Blumhouse ones.
I will forever disagree but we all got opinion on what we prefer.
@@theautomator8372Blum house is just nostalgia bait
I love these two films; especially part two. You won't find better acting in the entire franchise than when Brackett finds Annie.
rob zombie actually makes horror movies. most people don't like horror. they enjoy thrillers with some ghost jump scares.
Rob Zombie’s Halloween is the best one right after the original. (I have even said this IS the best one and boy do I get looks). Great video. Glad others see the same thing. (The sequel to this one ROCKS too!!!!Psychological tornado “Night in white satiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin, never reaching the eeeeeeeeeeeeeend…”
Preach it brother
Nice use of the jinro soundtrack in the background at 17:21. Great video!
Its not supposed to feel like the OG, ITS A FUCKING REMAKE, A REIMAGEINING, its a new take on the story, its a realistic depiction of the shape, Quit comparing this film to the original. If you want the feel of the OG just go watch the fucking OG, why would you want the exact same film just remade. Oh and i not talking to you bro im just sayin in general to all them haters.
Imagine if the Halloween Franchise Never Existed and these 2 Movies came out as 2-part Standalone films, I think they would be very highly regarded, The Films plagued by Expectations.
Anytime I see a review on Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 it captures my attention. I love the light you shed on both these films, particular the 2nd film. Halloween 2 was my favorite halloween since the original because it focuses on mental health so much.
Thank you! I'm preaching pretty much the same thing for years. How amazingly detailed these films are, the many connections between them and how special Zombie's H2 is. I described these films oftentimes as a "Grindhouse opera".
And I will never understand the complain "Michael is too big". Back in high school one guy from our gang was over 2 meters big. He said he was a pretty normal kid, but one summer he started to grow so fast, when he returned to school after the summer holidays everybody in school was in shock of how much he had grown. Big people aren't born as 2m Babies for heaven's sake.
This was a wonderful review and retrospective. I've always enjoyed Zombie's Halloween flicks. Thanks for the retrospective!
I like these more than the originals tbh. I loved the first for how unapologetically brutal it was and the second for its exploration of not only Laurie’s psychological trauma, but the town of Haddonfield as a whole. The directors cut of II is amazing because of how it portrays Laurie, which I think is way more accurate to how someone would react to surviving that instead of becoming a one woman army against Michael. I think both films are f*cking amazing.
Agreed 100%. Excellent work, my dude.
I don't care what anyone says... I love all of Rob Zombie's films. I dig his visual style and his way of storytelling. The way I look at it, no matter what the dude does, everyone will find a reason to bitch about it and if that's the case, why are they still watching his films???... But they do and that's just hypocritical on their part. I say let them continue to bitch about his films, they have to see the movie to be able to bitch and the dude is still getting paid... So go, Rob Zombie! 🤘🏻😈
What a great video. I love both Rob Zombie's Halloween films; are they perfect? No, but for me, from the beginning it felt like Zombie was saying: You wanted to know who was behind the mask and why he killed those kids on Halloween? Ok cool and every kill we show - Michael wants to kill them, he's not some magic death tornado that you simply avoid and he can magically appear at will.
Instead, he's a hulk of a man (a broken child) who is going to get his baby sister killing anybody who gets between them .... Period.
Plus Brad Dourif and Danielle Harris completely make H2. Her death is chilling. That mirror shot when she looks up and in a flash you see the hope drain from her body, hearing her being attacked struggling helplessly, .... so intense.
Then you hear Douriff just wail ... with those flashes of the BTS from Halloween 4 ... I don't think someone who wasn't a real director would be able to pull that off.
Cheers man. Subscribed.
From 10:15-12:20 you make the exact same arguments I make every time someone hates on this movie and praises Carpenters. Really everything you say after that is great as well. Great job on this! Glad someone else sees this movie the way it's suppose to be seen and it doesn't actually go against the original.
Your editing and script timing had me on the edge of my seat. My fav movies are the rob zombies Halloween and you had me feeling like i watched it again. Forgot to mention, these movies are fucking art
Good video. Also enjoyed the Death Note OST and Nujabes in the backround.
Rob is an awesome filmmaker, he just needs a little help with his dialogue
a little?
RZ Halloween is my fav of the franchise and RZ part 2 is my second favorite. Have to say they are even some of my top 5 all time slashers.
I used to hate these movies. I watched them 2 or 3 weeks ago and I fell in love. These movies used to be at the bottom of my ranking and they’re now in my top 5.
Say what u want ab the remake rob zombie gave us the scariest Michael myers of all time and I’ll stand by that till the day I die
Come on anyone would be afraid of a 7 foot tall man who is built like a grizzly bear.
I just question what they were feeding Michael at Smith's Grove for him to get that tall and built.
Best analysis of these films I've ever watched. I saw Rob share this on Facebook and really couldn't agree more with you!
I always said H2 is a masterpiece
You should say something else
@@ghostface6901 nah I’d rather talk reality than win popularity contests.
@@marriedwithchildrenpodcast9804 I don't think you're doing either
@@marriedwithchildrenpodcast9804 here's some reality. It has a 4.8 on imdb. It made way less then the first movie. It has a 23% on rotten tomatoes. And finally a 40% audience score.
You can like the movie. That is completely fine but don't claim its reality that it's a masterpiece when it shows that it clearly isn't in the eyes of many.
@@theautomator8372the many are wrong
I just finished watching his Duology today, and while it’s definitely not my favorite “timeline” I thought it did some interesting things for sure.
Micheal has always been the power of psychopathic mentally. There's a sense of mental... let's call it determination. Paired with the unknown nature of psychopathic behavior. He lived in his head, and couldn't be stopped. He's not Jason or Freddy, Micheal was always exactly what rob zombie showed. A person who lived in his head and didn't allow physical limitations to stop him
Rob Zombie's House of 1000 corpes and The Devil Reject is soooo freaking awesome!!!!
I prefer the director's cut of Halloween 2007. I wish the Rob got to complete the trilogy. I might have been one of the best trilogies ever made.
30:52 Looking like Saberthooth ;)
I think the first remake is fine on its own however I will never like the second one. I felt like I was watching everything but a halloween movie and it doesn't help that I wanted almost everyone to die. The one thing I really liked is that Annie survived into the next movie but she's barely in it.
Amazing video!! I’ve also defended these movies for awhile
Good video! I definitely have a soft spot for Zombie's Halloween movies!
Very good video and take on these movies and what they are saying. Enjoyed watching and listening to your opinions, and views. Rob zombie is not everyone's cup of tea. I am a Halloween fan ,but not a purist. I think he took what John carpenter had done, tried to pay respect, and make his own movie. That's why if you watch the trailer for Halloween 2007. They say it's a reimaging of a horror classic, or something along those lines. You can't remake Halloween, anymore than you could remake Jaws. Anyway nice video. Keep up the good work.
Halloween 2007 is by far the best of the whole franchise
I still enjoy the Blumhouse Halloween movies. I think having Michael Myers as a unstoppable force of nature terrorizing Haddonfield is way better than killing his own relatives. And I don’t think it was first brought up in the 1978 film at all. It was only first introduced in 1981’s Halloween II. But again, they’re just movies. I still watch them even if they’re good or bad. 😆
He killed his own sister so yes it was brought up
Love these two movies and all Rob's movies! He definitely dosen't get the love he deserves!
I've been a horror fan dam near my whole life. I love a very very wide variety of horror and have favs in almost every sub genre. Idgaf what other people think about the films I love, no offense intended. Art is subjective. I've never liked/didn't like or watched/didn't watch a film due to another person's opinion. Social media has created a large portion of the population who have a false sense of importance. I don't mind them, and of course I have plenty of my own, but ultimately, most people don't give a poo about other people's opinions or what they think about the art forms they love. I absolutely love RZ films. RZ's Halloween made me love Halloween and Michael Myers. I loved both films. I absolutely love Hof1000c, DR'S, LoS, 3FH, and Halloween 1&2. Id watch RZ Halloween over the OG any day. I've always been way more of a NOES, F13, and TCM fan over the original Halloween, although I do like it and respect it for what it did for horror. Also and finally, and this will be blasphemy to some, but John Carpenter comes off as a pretentious poo bag sometimes. People say Ari Aster or Eggers or Peele are pretentious but I love their films too and JC is definitely fricking pretentious af! I love Christine, They Live, The Thing and a few others. JC is definitely not the best horror director when it comes to his overall body or work, in my humble opinion of course. Keep up the good work and interesting vids.
Amazing Job! This was awesome 😎😎😎
The problem isn't that Michael has a motive. It's that Rob wants us to care about him and humanize him.
For me the Rob Zombie's Michael is impossessed by the soul of his mother , except that in The Beginning it doesn't manifest itself but speaks in Michael's head, and in fact Michael becomes what he is after the suicide of his mother, who takes possession of his body because she went totally crazy after seeing all the evil that revolved around Michael, then about the fact that Michael killed as a child, well he went crazy because of the evil around him
I REALLY LOVE THE EFFECT IT HAD ON ME!! I FELT THAT SATIN WAS WATCHING THE MOVIE WITH ME I SAW IT FOUR TIMES WITHIN A WEEK IT'S TRUE HORROR!!!
THANK YOU!!
This comes across a lil unhinged
IT DESERVES IT'S OWN TRIOGY!!!!
I completely agree with you. Great job
Alot of issues people have with thus film aren't surface level. Especially some of the ones you mentioned. And I think quote has to be said for just how much better the theatrical cuts are compared to his vision that are more easily purchasable to watch......still dig seeing a different point of view
Rob Zombie's Halloween duology is... Interesting. With me I'm more mixed on it. It tries something different and basically tried grounding it more in reality. It's certainly brutal, but it's the 2nd one I'm more conflicted on. There's certainly good ideas, and I liked the theme of trauma, but my problem stems with "Hobo-Myers." And especially having him speak. I didn't mind having the backstory be more nature than nurture, but I like my Michael more like the new one in the Greene trilogy. Completely quiet, even when killing. I wouldn't have minded it if they 1 - Kept the mask in tact and had him with it on from the moment he got it and 2 - Kept him in the shadows and less screen time and emotion. Overall I don't hate them, actually I love them. They brought so much discussion to the Halloween fanbase and I can't really put my finger on it or rate them. I also have always loved Rob Zombie and a fan of his music. I think he's underrated, but a bit hit and miss with some of his movies.
I would love to see RZ make a movie about a group of people locked up in an abandoned amusement park, where all the killers are the band members of slipknot in their mask.
I love rob zombies Halloween, I understand it the movie and where he was coming from.
THANK YOU EliDPERRY 2000!!
I don't think you realize that Halloween was supposed to be 1 movie. Any motive he was forced to give Michael in sequels didn't make sense and he didn't approve.
Can you link the video’s to other creators you cited in your video? I’d like to watch their videos too
Amazing analysis, also what was the Rob zombie song at the beginning when you introduced him ?
Ratfinks, Suicide Tanks and Cannibal Girls (from the Beavis and Butt-head Do America Soundtrack)
I love his size, not too big. The other actors present no menace. Not a big fan of the cultists crap and super natural nonsense.
And as an English major I love the exposition and character building. I hate the idea that he should have no motivation explained.
Thank you
I REALLY LOVE SEEING MICHAEL MYERS WITH LONG HAIR AND A HUGH BEARD!!!
Preach it!🤍🖤🎃
Rob Zombie’s versions are fuckn great!!!!! Real!!! Ugly!!! Powerful!!!! Angry!!!! Non of this Alfred Hitchcock mysterious bs!😎🤘🏻
THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU...YOUR LOOK ON THESE TWO INCREDIBLE MOVIE WERE AMAZING AND NEEDED TO BE SAID I FEEL HW FANS REALLY NEED TO LET GO OF THE 78 FLAG AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE REMAKES WERE MADE NOT TO OUT DUE THE ORIGINAL BUT TO LOOK AT FROM ANOTHER ANGLE LIKE MICHAEL TILTING HIS HEAD AFTER HE PINS A VICTIM TO THE WALL... AGAIN THANK BRO... CONSIDER ME FAN
Thank you!! The first one is flawless and one of my top three movies, I love the direction of the second but I have my criticisms about it with replacing young Michaels actor rather then just not showing the face and I wish it ended with Laurie being the killer the whole time in part 2 and that Michael did in fact die in the first film
John Carpenter has a problem when criticizing these entries, didn't he tell Rob to make it his own? If he didn't know Rob's style of filmmaking he should have done a bit of research.
Not to b like that but these movies are like the Zack Snyder of horror imo
The only person I like consistently in both of the movies was brad dourif's character.. Thats how much all of the other characters were annoying... (Even annie at some points..) Even though I like Danielle harris.. 😁 but I just love brad dourif and the characters he plays like way to much... He is such a good actor!
27:37
Rob zombie just shared this video on Facebook did you see what he said 🤣
first person to sound like they have some fucking sense thank you sir for this amazing video or should i say for this "fucking art" 😉🤣
I stop at Halloween H20. But I did get. Rob zombie movie Halloween 🎃🎃
I haven't really been into most of the Zombie movies I've seen aside from Lords of Salem. I give you credit, your analysis has given me enough reason to watch the first RZ Halloween again and then give II a chance. Well done.
Based in reality. Until we get to 2 😂
You also did a bad job explaining why he has a motive in the original, you said "he's clearly motivated by his sister because he grabs her tombstone" and what does that mean exactly? She's been dead for 15 years, Tombstone and the mask and the exact same knife and stalking horny teens are just ways he can relive "that night". Pretty aimless motive if you ask me
Halloween 2 from rob zombie is my favorite in the entire franchise, it always will be
Theres another version more brutal and overall different ending where Michael myers just fucks up loomis i mean his face is all fucked up ..its on tubi
That scene is in the theatrical cut, which I wasn’t particularly fond of, though it does have its fans. I’ve always preferred the director’s cut, but that’s just me.
DANIELLE HARRIS RULES!!!!
"art"
Yes art, he said it like three times
I don’t mind the gris at all, but the story sucks and he tried to change a supernatural monster into a domestic monster lol
Did you really say that Zombie made people speak how they really do in real life? 😂
Dude; I like the film but the dialogue is awful.
Halloween II is a bad movie. While you do get everything right about the themes, it’s the execution that’s the problem.
I lived in a town where everyone spoke like a Rob zombie film. I used to live in a real small backwoods town that was full of people that could fit in a Rob zombie film. His dialogue is very realistic to me.
Yooo that’s not how people talk lolol great takes otherwise though
Hard disagree. I think Rob zombie understands halloween but I don't think it all works well as a Michael Myers movie. Especially cause I hate kid Michael and adult Michael is too Frankenstein to me and doesn't feel like Michael. And hobo Michael in 2 is just awful
That’s perfectly understandable. Rob Zombie’s films are an acquired taste and can be rather divisive, especially his Halloween films.
@@EDP2000 I like some of his movies. Just not a fan of the halloween ones. I enjoy his style I don't think it works for these characters
I’ve always loved both of Zombies Halloween films, Rejects & corpses are two of my alltime faves but I also love his Halloween flicks , there loads better than the Blumhouse trilogy…..