Halloween is a 2007
AmericanThe cinema of the United States has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
horror filmHorror films are movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, horror and terror from viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness...
written, directed, and produced by
Rob ZombieRobert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
. The film is a
remakeA remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
/reimagining of the 1978 horror
film of the same nameHalloween is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, USA on Halloween. The original draft of the screenplay was titled The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter directed the film, which stars Donald Pleasence as Dr...
, and the ninth film in the
Halloween film series. The film stars
Malcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowell is an English actor. McDowell's career has spanned more than forty years and includes notable roles in if...., A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man!, Tank Girl, Star Trek Generations, the TV serial Our Friends in the North, Entourage, Heroes, Metalocalypse, the 2007 remake of Halloween...
as
Dr. Sam LoomisDr. Samuel James Loomis is a fictional character in the Halloween film series. He is a protagonist in Halloween , Halloween II , Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers , Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers . Donald Pleasence plays the character of...
, Tyler Mane as the adult
Michael MyersMichael Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his older sister, then fifteen years later returns home to murder more teenagers...
, and
Scout Taylor-ComptonScout Taylor-Compton is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous small television roles and in feature films that range from dramas to those in the horror genre...
as
Laurie StrodeLaurie Strode is a fictional character in the Halloween horror film series, portrayed by actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Scout Taylor-Compton. She appears in six of the present ten Halloween installments, first appearing in John Carpenter's original 1978 film. She is the primary female protagonist...
;
Daeg FaerchDaeg Faerch Daeg Faerch Daeg Faerch and, most notably, in the horror remake Halloween (2007)...
portrays a ten year old Michael Myers. Rob Zombie's "reimagining" follows the premise of
John CarpenterJohn Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born in Carthage, New York,...
's original, with Michael Myers stalking Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween night. Zombie's film goes deeper into the character's psyche, trying to answer the question of what drove him to kill people, whereas in Carpenter's original film Michael did not have an explicit reason for killing.
Working from Carpenter's advice to "make [the film] his own", Zombie chose to develop the film as both a prequel and a remake, allowing for more original content than simply refilming the same scenes. Despite mostly negative reviews, the film, which cost $15 million to make, went on to gross $80,208,039 worldwide.
Plot
On
HalloweenHalloween is an annual holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Gaelic pagan festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is largely a secular celebration but some have expressed strong feelings about perceived religious overtones...
in Haddonfield, Illinois, having already shown signs of
psychopathic tendenciesPsychopathy is a psychological construct that describes chronic disregard for ethical principles and antisocial behavior.The term is often used interchangeably with sociopathy. This is a commonly made mistake. Sociopathy is no longer a correct term to use, and when it is used it actually refers to...
, ten year old
Michael MyersMichael Myers is a fictional character from the Halloween series of slasher films. He first appears in John Carpenter's Halloween as a young boy who murders his older sister, then fifteen years later returns home to murder more teenagers...
(
Daeg FaerchDaeg Faerch Daeg Faerch Daeg Faerch and, most notably, in the horror remake Halloween (2007)...
) murders his sister Judith (
Hanna R. Hall-Private Life:Hanna went to the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado, where she graduated in 2002. In 2005, she graduated from Vancouver Film School where she completed the comprehensive program of film production.-Career:...
), her boyfriend Steve (
Adam WeismanAdam Weisman is an American actor probably best known for his role as Steve Haley in Rob Zombie's Halloween.-Filmography:*Halloween as Steven "Steve" Haley*Hatchet as Halloween Skeleton...
), his mother’s boyfriend Ronnie (
William ForsytheWilliam Forsythe may refer to:* William Forsythe * William Forsythe See also*William Forsyth...
), and a school bully named Wesley (
Daryl SabaraDaryl Christopher Sabara is an American film and television actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Juni Cortez in the Spy Kids trilogy, as well as for a variety of television and film appearances, including Wizards of Waverly Place, Father of the Pride, The Polar Express, Keeping Up with the...
). After one of the longest trials in the state’s history, Michael is found guilty of first degree murder and sent to Smith's Grove - Warren County Sanitarium under the care of child psychologist
Dr. Sam LoomisDr. Samuel James Loomis is a fictional character in the Halloween film series. He is a protagonist in Halloween , Halloween II , Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers , Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers . Donald Pleasence plays the character of...
(
Malcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowell is an English actor. McDowell's career has spanned more than forty years and includes notable roles in if...., A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man!, Tank Girl, Star Trek Generations, the TV serial Our Friends in the North, Entourage, Heroes, Metalocalypse, the 2007 remake of Halloween...
).
Michael initially cooperates with Dr. Loomis, claiming no memory of the killings; his mother, Deborah (Sheri Moon Zombie), visits him regularly. After a year, Michael becomes fixated on his
papier-mâchéPapier-mâché , sometimes called paper-mâché, is a construction material that consists of pieces of paper, sometimes reinforced with textiles, stuck together using a wet paste...
masks, closing himself off from everyone, even his mother. When Michael kills a nurse (
Sybil DanningSybil Danning is an Austrian actress known for her many roles in B-movies, science fiction films, and action movies.-Early life:...
) during one of her visits, Deborah can no longer handle the situation and commits
suicideSuicide is the intentional killing of one's self. Many dictionaries also note the metaphorical sense of "willful destruction of one's self-interest"...
. For the next fifteen years, Michael (Tyler Mane) continues making his masks and not speaking to anyone. Dr. Loomis, having continued to treat Michael over the years, attempts to move on with his life and closes Michael’s case. Later, while being prepared for transfer to maximum security, Michael escapes Smith’s Grove, killing the sanitarium employees and a truck driver (
Ken ForeeKentotis Alvin "Ken" Foree is an American actor.- Biography :He began acting in the 1970s, appearing in the 1976 film The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings and the 1979 films The Wanderers and Dawn of the Dead, a cult horror film. He also had roles in the films The Dentist and...
) for his clothes, and heads to Haddonfield. On Halloween, Michael arrives at his old home, now abandoned, and finds a kitchen knife and Halloween mask he stored under the floorboards the night he killed his sister.
The story shifts to
Laurie StrodeLaurie Strode is a fictional character in the Halloween horror film series, portrayed by actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Scout Taylor-Compton. She appears in six of the present ten Halloween installments, first appearing in John Carpenter's original 1978 film. She is the primary female protagonist...
(
Scout Taylor-ComptonScout Taylor-Compton is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous small television roles and in feature films that range from dramas to those in the horror genre...
), and her friends Annie Brackett (
Danielle HarrisDanielle Andrea Harris is an American television and film actress, perhaps best known for her roles in four films in the Halloween series. She is considered a scream queen.-Personal life:...
) and Lynda Van Der Klok (
Kristina KlebeKristina Klebe is an American actress who is most known for her role in the Rob Zombie remake, Halloween as Lynda Van Der Klok. Klebe also starred in the film She Hate Me and has appeared on Law & Order, Rescue Me, and the German television program St. Angela.-Film:-Television:-External links:***...
) on Halloween. Throughout the day, Laurie witnesses Michael watching her from a distance. That night, she heads to the Doyle residence to watch their son
TommyThomas Doyle or Tommy Doyle may refer to:* Thomas Doyle , Irish soccer player* Tommy Doyle , former Gaelic footballer with Kerry GAA* Tommy Doyle , Irish hurler...
(
Skyler GisondoSkyler Gisondo is an American child actor probably best known for his roles as Bryan Pearson on The Bill Engvall Show and Tommy Doyle in Rob Zombie's Halloween.-Film:*Four Christmases as Connor McVie...
). Meanwhile, Lynda meets with her boyfriend Bob (
Nick MennellNick Mennell is an American actor known for his roles in horror/slasher films like Halloween , and Friday The 13th .- Life And Career :Mennell graduated from Juilliard School in 2005....
) at Michael's childhood home. Michael appears, murders them, and then heads to the Strode home, where he murders Laurie's parents, Mason (
Pat SkipperWilliam Patterson "Pat" Skipper is an American television actor, film actor and voice actor. Pat is probably best known for his television work on such shows as X-Files and Boston Legal...
) and Cynthia (
Dee WallaceDee Wallace-Stone is an American motion picture and television actress. She is perhaps best known for her roles in several popular films. These include the starring role as Elliot's separated mother in the Steven Spielberg film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial , her widest seen role...
). Having been alerted to Michael's escape, Dr. Loomis comes to Haddonfield looking for Michael. After obtaining a handgun, Loomis attempts to warn Sheriff Brackett (
Brad DourifBradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is a BAFTA-winning and Academy Award- and Emmy-nominated American film and television actor, best known for his roles as Younger Brother in Ragtime, Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Hazel Motes in Wise Blood, Gríma Wormtongue in The Lord of the Rings:...
) that Michael has returned to Haddonfield. Brackett and Dr. Loomis head to the Strode home, with Brackett explaining along the way that Laurie is actually Michael Myers' baby sister.
Meanwhile, Annie convinces Laurie to babysit Lindsey Wallace (Jenny Gregg Stewart), a girl Annie is supposed to be watching, long enough so she can have sex with her boyfriend Paul (
Max Van VilleMax Van Ville is an American actor who mostly appears in small roles in movies and television shows. He is 6'3" and has blonde hair. He is mostly known for playing the typical skater/surfer type character.- Filmography :...
). Annie and Paul return to the Wallace home; during sex, Michael kills Paul and attacks Annie. Bringing Lindsey home, Laurie finds Annie on the floor, bloodied but alive, and calls 911. She is attacked by Michael, who chases her back to the Doyle home. Sheriff Brackett and Loomis hear the 911 call and head to the Wallace residence. Michael kidnaps Laurie, and takes her back to his home. Michael approaches Laurie and tries to show her that she is his younger sister. Unable to understand, Laurie grabs Michael's knife and stabs him before escaping the house; Michael chases her, but is repeatedly shot by Dr. Loomis. Laurie and Loomis are just about to leave when Michael grabs Laurie and heads back to the house. Loomis intervenes, but Michael attacks him by squeezing Loomis's skull with his hands. Laurie takes Loomis' gun and runs upstairs; she is chased by Michael, who, after cornering her on a balcony, charges her head-on and knocks both of them over the railing. Laurie finds herself on top of a bleeding Michael. Aiming Loomis' gun at his face, she repeatedly pulls the trigger until the gun finally goes off just as Michael's hand grips Laurie's wrist.
Development
On June 4, 2006,
DimensionDimension Films is a motion picture unit currently a part of The Weinstein Company. It was formerly used as Bob Weinstein's label within Miramax Films, to produce and release genre films...
announced that
Rob ZombieRobert Bartleh Cummings , better known by his stage name, Rob Zombie, is a Grammy-nominated American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the metal band White Zombie....
, director of
House of 1000 CorpsesHouse of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 exploitation horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie, and is his directorial debut. It was released in the United States on April 11, 2003 by Lions Gate Entertainment.- Plot :...
and
The Devil's RejectsThe Devil's Rejects is a 2005 horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. It is the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The movie is about the family of psychopathic killers from the previous film now on the run...
, would be creating the next installment in the
Halloween franchise. The plan was for Zombie to hold many positions in the production; he would write, direct, produce, and serve as music supervisor.
Bob WeinsteinRobert "Bob" Weinstein is an American film and theatre producer, the former head of Dimension Films, former co-chairman of Miramax Films, and current head, with his brother Harvey Weinstein, of The Weinstein Co.-Career:...
approached him about making the film, and Zombie, who was a fan of the original
HalloweenHalloween is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, USA on Halloween. The original draft of the screenplay was titled The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter directed the film, which stars Donald Pleasence as Dr...
, and friend of
John CarpenterJohn Howard Carpenter is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction.- Early life :Carpenter was born in Carthage, New York,...
, jumped at the chance to make a
Halloween film for Dimension Studios. Before Dimension went public with the news, Zombie felt obligated to inform John Carpenter, out of respect, of the plans to remake his film. Carpenter's request was for Zombie to "make it his own". During a June 16, 2006 interview, Zombie announced that his film would combine the elements of prequel and remake with the original concept. He insisted that there would be considerable original content in the new film, as opposed to mere rehashed material. The
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
reported that the new film would disregard the numerous sequels that followed
Halloween.
His intention is to reinvent Michael Myers, because, in his opinion, the character, along with
Freddy KruegerFreddy Krueger is a fictional character from the A Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill children and teenagers in their dreams, which ultimately results in...
,
Jason VoorheesJason Voorhees is a fictional character from the Friday the 13th series of slasher films. He first appeared in Friday the 13th , as the son of camp cook-turned-murderer Mrs. Voorhees, in which he was portrayed by Ari Lehman. Created by Victor Miller, with contributions by Ron Kurz, Sean S...
, and
PinheadPinhead is a fictional character from Clive Barker's Hellraiser universe. He is portrayed in the movies by actor Doug Bradley.In the original film, Pinhead did not have a name, but was simply credited as the "Lead Cenobite". Pinhead was a name coined by the Make Up Department, who needed reference...
, has become more familiar to audiences, and as a result, less scary. The idea behind the new film was to delve deeper into Michael Myers' back story. A deeper back story would add "new life" to the character, as Zombie put it. Michael's mask will be given its own story, to provide an explanation as to why he wears it, instead of having the character simply steal a random mask from a hardware store, as in the original film. Zombie explained that he wanted Michael to be true to what a psychopath really is, and wanted the mask to be a way for Michael to hide. He wants the young Michael to have
charismaThe word charisma refers to a trait found in persons whose personalities are characterized by a personal charm and magnetism , along with innate and powerfully sophisticated abilities of interpersonal communication and persuasion...
, which would be projected onto the adult Michael. Zombie has decided that Michael's motives for returning to Haddonfield should be more ambiguous. As Zombie explains, "was he trying to kill Laurie, or just find her because he loves her?"
Moreover, Michael would not be able to drive in the new film, unlike his 1978 counterpart who stole Loomis' car so that he could drive back to Haddonfield. Zombie also wants the Dr. Loomis character to be more intertwined with that of Michael Myers; Zombie said that the character's role in the original was "showing up merely to say something dramatic". Although Zombie has added more history to the Michael Myers character, hence creating more original content for the film, he chose to keep the character's trademark mask and Carpenter's theme song intact for his version (despite an apparent misinterpretation in an interview suggesting the theme would be ditched). Production officially began on January 29 2007. Shortly before production began, Zombie reported that he had seen the first production of Michael's signature mask. Zombie commented, "It looks perfect, exactly like the original. Not since 1978 has The Shape looked so good". Filming occurred in the same neighborhood that Carpenter used for the original
Halloween.
Casting
On December 19, 2006, Zombie mailed
Bloody-Disgusting in which he announced that Daeg Faerch would play the part of ten year old Michael Myers. On December 22, 2006,
Malcolm McDowellMalcolm McDowell is an English actor. McDowell's career has spanned more than forty years and includes notable roles in if...., A Clockwork Orange, O Lucky Man!, Tank Girl, Star Trek Generations, the TV serial Our Friends in the North, Entourage, Heroes, Metalocalypse, the 2007 remake of Halloween...
was officially announced to be playing Dr. Loomis. McDowell stated that he wanted a tremendous ego in Loomis, who is out to get a new book from the ordeal. On December 24, 2006, Zombie announced that Tyler Mane, who had previously worked with Zombie on
The Devils Rejects, would portray the adult Michael Myers. Mane stated that it was very difficult to act only with his eyes.
Scout Taylor-ComptonScout Taylor-Compton is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in numerous small television roles and in feature films that range from dramas to those in the horror genre...
endured a long audition process, but as director Zombie explains, "Scout was my first choice. There was just something about her; she had a genuine quality. She didn't seem actor-y." She was one of the final people to be cast for a lead role after Faerch, Mane, McDowell, Forsythe and Harris. A contest was held for a walk on role in the film, at the time called
Halloween 9; it was won by Heather Bowen.
Release
Approximately four days before the theatrical release of the film, a
workprintA workprint is a rough version of a motion picture, used by the film editor during the editing process. Such copies generally contain original recorded sound that will later be re-dubbed, stock footage as placeholders for missing shots or special effects, and animation tests for in-production...
version of
Halloween appeared online and was circulated around various BitTorrent sites. Upon hearing of the leaked copy, Zombie stated that whatever version had been leaked was an older version of the film, unlike what was about to be released in theaters. The leak of Zombie's workprint led to speculation that the film's box office success could be damaged the same way director
Eli RothEli Raphael Roth is an American film director, producer, writer and actor. He is part of the group of filmmakers dubbed the Splat Pack, because of their association and their focus on the horror genre...
attributed the financial failure of his film,
Hostel: Part II, to the leaking of a workprint version.
Dark HorizonsDark Horizons is a movie centric website owned and written by Garth Franklin of Sydney, Australia. Dark Horizons is dedicated to news, interviews, rumors, and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects. The focus initially was almost exclusively related to science...
webmaster, Garth Franklin, notes that watching the workprint allows a viewer to see what things were changed after the test screenings in June 2007. One particular scene, the rape of one of the Smith's Grove female inmates, Franklin was glad to see replaced in the final version of the film.
Halloween was officially released on August 31, 2007 to 3,472 theaters in North America, giving it the widest release of any of the previous
Halloween films.
Box office
On its opening day,
Halloween grossed $10,896,610, and immediately surpassed the opening weekend grosses for
Halloween IIHalloween II is a 1981 horror film and the second installment in the Halloween series. Directed by Rick Rosenthal and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, it is a direct sequel to the first film; set on the same night of October 31, 1978, in the fictional American Midwest town of Haddonfield,...
(1981) at $7,446,508,
Halloween III: Season of the WitchHalloween III: Season of the Witch is a 1982 horror film and the third installment in the Halloween series. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace and starring Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin and Dan O'Herlihy...
(1982) at $6,333,259,
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael MyersHalloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers is a 1988 independently-released horror film and the fourth installment in the Halloween series. The film revolves around Michael Myers once more after his absence in Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Directed by Dwight H. Little, the film stars Ellie...
(1988) at $6,831,250,
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael MyersHalloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is the 1989 sequel to the popular horror film, Halloween. It was directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard and starred Donald Pleasence, who again portrayed Dr. Sam Loomis and Danielle Harris, who returned to play Jamie Lloyd. The film takes place exactly one...
(1989) at $5,093,428, and
Halloween: The Curse of Michael MyersHalloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is a 1995 horror film and the sixth installment in the Halloween series. Directed by Joe Chappelle from a screenplay by Daniel Farrands, the plot involves the "Curse of Thorn", a mystical symbol first shown in Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers and...
(1995) at $7,308,529. From September 1 - 2,
Halloween earned $8,554,661 and $6,911,096, respectively, for a 3-day opening weekend total of $26,362,367. The film would earn an additional $4,229,392 on Labor Day for a 4-day holiday weekend gross of $30,591,759. As a result, the 2007 film would immediately surpass the total box office gross for
Halloween II (1981) at $25,533,818,
Halloween III (1982) at $14,400,000,
Halloween 4 (1988) at $17,768,757,
Halloween 5 (1989) at $11,642,254,
The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) at $15,116,634, and
Halloween: ResurrectionHalloween: Resurrection is a 2002 horror film and the eighth installment in the Halloween film series. Directed by Rick Rosenthal, who had also directed Halloween II, the film builds upon the continuity of Halloween H20: 20 Years Later...
(2002) with $30,354,442.
Following its first Friday after its opening weekend,
Halloween saw a 71.6% drop in attendance, earning $3,093,679. The film, which earned the #1 spot at the box office in its opening weekend, earned only $9,513,770 in its second weekend—a 63.9% decrease—but still claimed the #2 spot at the box office just behind
3:10 to Yuma3:10 to Yuma is a 1957 western film starring Glenn Ford and Van Heflin and directed by Delmer Daves. The film was based on the short story by Elmore Leonard. The film was well received on release and is still highly regarded today...
. The film was continue to appear in the weekend top ten going into its third weekend, when it earned $4,867,522 to take sixth place. It was not until the film's fourth weekend that it fell out of the top ten and into twelfth place with $2,189,266.
Halloween would fail to regain a top ten spot at the box office for the remainder of its theatrical run.
Thanks to its opening weekend of $30.5 million, the film broke the box-office record for the
Labor DayLabor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September .The holiday originated in Canada out of labor disputes first in Hamilton, then in Toronto, Canada in the 1870s, which resulted in a Trade Union Act which legalized and protected union activity in 1872 in Canada...
weekend, surpassing the record set in 2005 by
Transporter 2Transporter 2 is a 2005 French action film directed by Louis Leterrier and produced by Luc Besson. It is the sequel to 2002's The Transporter. It is itself followed by Transporter 3....
with $20.1 million. It still currently resides as the top Labor Day weekend grosser.
Halloween was also the 8th highest grossing R-rated film of 2007, and finished out the year in 44th place for domestic box office gross. With its $58 million box office gross,
Halloween is the second highest grossing film among the recent slasher remakes, which consist of
When a Stranger CallsWhen a Stranger Calls is a 2006 remake of the 1979 horror film of the same name. In the film, baby-sitter Jill Johnson receives increasingly threatening calls from a brutal serial killer who she first assumes is simply a juvenile prankster....
(2006) at $47.8 million,
Prom NightProm Night is a horror film from Screen Gems directed by Nelson McCormick and starring Brittany Snow. The film was released on April 10, 2008 in Australia, and on April 11, 2008 in Canada and the United States, followed by a worldwide release in May...
(2008) at $43.8 million,
My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009) with $51.4 million, and
Friday the 13thFriday the 13th is a 2009 American horror film directed by Marcus Nispel, and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, which began in 1980 and previously released the 2003 crossover Freddy vs. Jason...
(2009) leading the group with $60 million.
Halloween is also ranked tenth overall when comparing it to all of the horror remakes, as well as eighth place for all slasher films in general, in unadjusted dollars.
In addition to the film's North American box office, it opened alongside
Michael ClaytonMichael Clayton is a 2007 American dramatic film written and directed by Tony Gilroy and produced by Sydney Pollack. It stars George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, and Sydney Pollack...
and
Mr. WoodcockMr. Woodcock is a 2007 comedy directed by Craig Gillespie, and starring Seann William Scott, Billy Bob Thornton, Susan Sarandon, Amy Poehler, and Ethan Suplee. The film was released on September 14, 2007.-Plot:...
in foreign markets on the weekend of September 29, 2007.
Halloween led the trio with a total of $1.3 million in 372 theaters –
Michael Clayton and
Mr. Woodcock took in $1.2 million from 295 screens and $1 million from 238 screens, respectively. By November 1, 2007,
Halloween had taken in an additional $7 million in foreign markets. Ultimately, the film would earn approximately $21,977,438 overseas. By the end of the film's theatrical run, the film had taken a worldwide total of $80,249,467. Comparing this film to the rest of the films in the
Halloween film series, Zombie's remake is the highest grossing film in unadjusted US dollars. When adjusting for the 2009 inflation, Zombie's
Halloween—which adjusts to $60.4 million domestically—is fourth, behind Carpenter's
Halloween at $166.9 million,
Halloween H20 at $73.8 million, and
Halloween II at $66.7 million.
Critical response
Based on 95 reviews collected by
Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films. The name derives from the historical cliché of throwing tomatoes and other produce at stage performers if a performance was particularly bad.- History :...
,
Halloween received an average 26% overall approval rating; the film had a lower approval rating with the 18 critics in Rotten Tomatoes' "Cream of the Crop", which consists of popular and notable critics from the top newspapers, websites, television and radio programs, receiving a 17% approval rating. By comparison,
MetacriticMetacritic is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
calculated a normalized score of 47 out of 100 from the 18 reviews it collected.
CinemaScoreCinemaScore is a market research firm based in Las Vegas. It surveys film audiences to rate their viewing experiences with letter grades and publishes the results for moviegoers and film companies alike.-Background:...
polls reported that the average grade cinemagoers gave the film was "B-minus" on an A+ to F scale; it also reported that 62% of the audience was male, with 57% being 25 years or older.
Peter Hartlaub, of the
San Francisco Chroniclethumb|right|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireSan Francisco Chronicle is Northern California's largest newspaper, and one of the largest in the United States, serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area, but distributed throughout...
, felt Zombie was successful in both "[putting] his own spin on
Halloween, while at the same time paying tribute to Carpenter's film"; he thought Zombie managed to make Michael Myers almost "sympathetic" as a child, but that the last third of the film felt more like a montage of scenes with
Halloween slipping into "slasher-film logic". Nathan Lee of
The Village VoiceThe Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper in New York City, United States featuring investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts reviews and events listings for New York City...
disagreed in part with Harlaub, feeling that
Halloween may have placed too much emphasis on providing sympathy for Michael Myers, but that it succeeded in "[deeping] Carpenter's vision without rooting out its fear". The
View LondonView London, owned by the 2 View Group Ltd, is an online entertainment guide to London, UK covering restaurants, pubs, bars and nightclubs in London. It also has a "What's On" guide and reviews of current cinema releases by Matthew Turner, its resident film critic.The site allow users to post...
film critic Matthew Turner believed the first half of the film, which featured the prequel elements of Michael as a child, were better played than the remake elements of the second half. In short, Turner stated that performances from the cast were "superb", with Malcolm McDowell being perfectly cast as Dr. Loomis, but that the film lacked the scare value of Carpenter’s original. Jamie Russell from the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
agreed that the first half of the film worked better than the last half; she stated that Zombie’s expanded backstory on Michael was "surprisingly effective"—also agreeing that McDowell was perfectly cast as Loomis—but that Zombie failed to deliver the "supernatural dread" that Carpenter created for Michael in his 1978 original.
New York Daily News critic Jack Matthews believed the film lacked tension, and went more for cheap shocks—focusing more on enhancing the "imagery of violence"—than real attempts to scare the audience; he gave the film one and a half stars out of five. Dennis Harvey, from
VarietyVariety is a weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the Daily...
magazine, echoed Matthew's opinion that the film failed to deliver on the suspense; he also felt that you could not tell one teenage character from the next, whereas in Carpenter's original each teenager had real personalities. In contrast, Rossiter Drake of
The Examiner applauded Michael's backstory, feeling that it was a "compelling take on the mythology" that managed to be "unique" and "shocking" at the same time. In agreement with other critics,
EmpireEmpire is a British film magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. From the first issue in July 1989, the magazine was edited by Barry McIlheney and published by Emap. Bauer purchased Emap Consumer Media in early 2008...
magazine's
Kim NewmanKim Newman is an English journalist, film critic, and fiction writer. Recurring interests visible in his work include film history and horror fiction—both of which he attributes to seeing Tod Browning's Dracula at the age of eleven—and alternate fictional versions of history...
felt that, because Zombie seemed less focused on the teenagers being stalked and killed by Michael, the film "[fell] flat" when it came to delivering suspense or anything "remotely scary"; Newman did praise McDowell for his portrayal of the "dogged psychiatrist". Ben Walter, of
Time Out LondonTime Out is a publishing company based in London, England. The company's best known product is the Time Out weekly listings magazine.The Time Out Group Limited conducts most of its business from London, New York and Paris.-Publications:...
, felt Zombie added "surprising realism" to the development of Michael Myers’ psychopathic actions, but agreed with Newman that the director replaced the original film’s "suspense and playfulness" with a convincing display of "black-blooded brutality".
Frank Scheck, of the
Hollywood Reporter, believed that even though Zombie's remake of Carpenter's
Halloween was better than getting another sequel in the long running franchise it still was not comparable to the 1978 original. For Scheck, Zombie replaced Carpenter's building suspense, which made it so "brilliant", with graphic violence and extended scenes of nudity; he also criticized McDowell for lacking the intensity that Donald Pleasence brought to the Loomis character. By contrast,
TV GuideTV Guide is a North American weekly magazine about television programming.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews. Some issues have also featured horoscope listings and crossword puzzles.-Annenberg/Triangle era: The...
's Ken Fox felt that Zombie did deliver a "scary horror movie", not by copying Carpenter, but by making the film his own. Fox noted that Zombie seemed to follow more in the footsteps of
Wes CravenWesley Earl "Wes" Craven is an American film director and writer, perhaps best known as the creator of many horror films, including the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street series featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character and the Scream films.-Early life:Craven was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son...
and
Tobe HooperTobe Hooper is an American director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre, including the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation Salem's Lot, the three-time Academy Award-nominated and Steven Spielberg-produced Poltergeist and the cult classic The Texas...
's "savage, greasy-haired '70s" films, which allowed him to bring Michael back to his roots and successfully terrify an audience has grown accustomed to the recent "torture porn" horror films. Bill Gibron, of
PopMattersPopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
, believes that audiences and critics cannot compare Carpenter's film to Zombie's remake; where Carpenter focused more on the citizens of Haddonfield—with Michael acting as a true "boogeyman"—Zombie focuses more on Michael himself, successfully forcing the audience to experience all of the elements that Michael went through that would result in his "desire for death".
Halloween won the
Rondo Hatton Classic Horror AwardThe Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award is an award presented annually by the Classic Horror Film Board to honor the top works in horror in film, television, home video, and publishing.-The award:...
for Best Film of 2007, drawing in 550 votes, the most ever in the history of the award. Halloween recently won the 'Best Remake Award' at the 2008 Spike TV
Scream AwardsThe Spike TV Scream Awards is an award show dedicated to the horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres of feature films. The show was created by executive producers Michael Levitt, Cindy Levitt, and Casey Patterson.-2006 Nominees/Winners:...
.
Dan MathewsDan Mathews is the Senior Vice President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. He is known for heading PETA's most controversial and attention-getting campaigns, including the "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ads, as well as campaigns involving celebrities such as Morrissey, Pamela...
, vice president of
PETAPeta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Hall, a well known Rhodesian-Canadian potter...
, sent Rob Zombie a thank-you letter for what he perceived as Zombie sending a message to audiences when he depicted the young Michael Myers torturing animals, something he felt demonstrated that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are likely to move on to humans. Mathews went on to say, "Hopefully, with the attention focused by your movie on the link between cruelty to animals and human violence, more people will recognize the warning signs among people they know and deal with them more forcefully. We wish you continued success!"
Home media
The film's soundtrack was released on August 21, 2007; it includes 24 tracks, consisting of 12 dialogue tracks and 12 instrumentals. The album contained both new tracks, as well as ones recycled from the original
Halloween and its sequel.
Tyler BatesTyler Bates is a music producer and composer for films. His most known work includes "The Hangman's Song" and various other tracks from the zombie horror film Dawn of the Dead, and 2008's Day of the Dead...
' interpretation of John Carpenter's original
Halloween theme is the first musical track, with "
(Don't Fear) The Reaper" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, and is built around Dharma's guitar riff that opens the song and continues throughout...
," which appeared in
HalloweenHalloween is a 1978 American independent horror film set in the fictional suburban midwestern town of Haddonfield, Illinois, USA on Halloween. The original draft of the screenplay was titled The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter directed the film, which stars Donald Pleasence as Dr...
, and "
Mr. Sandman"Mr. Sandman" is a popular song written by Pat Ballard which was published in 1954 and first recorded in that year by The Chordettes. The song's lyrics convey a request to "Mr...
", which appeared in
Halloween IIHalloween II is a 1981 horror film and the second installment in the Halloween series. Directed by Rick Rosenthal and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, it is a direct sequel to the first film; set on the same night of October 31, 1978, in the fictional American Midwest town of Haddonfield,...
and
Halloween H20: 20 Years LaterHalloween H20: 20 Years Later also known as Halloween: H20 is the 7th film in the Halloween film series. Initially released in the United States on Wednesday, August 5, 1998, it was released in several European countries as well as Singapore, Australia, and Mexico in the months that followed.This...
, performed by Nan Vernon. Writing about its selection from the 1981 film, one reviewer for the
BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation, usually referred to by its abbreviation as the "BBC", is the longest established and largest broadcaster in the world...
commented that it worked well to "mimic Laurie’s situation (sleeping a lot)", making "the once innocent sounding lyrics seem threatening in a horror film". The album also includes
KissKiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in December 1972. Easily identified by its members' trademark face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
's "
God of ThunderGod of Thunder is a hard rock song by the group Kiss from their album Destroyer. Although not as popular as the rest of Kiss's early material from the standpoint of various critics, the song became a live hit and has been featured prominently on many of Kiss's live albums, including an up-tempo,...
",
Rush'sRush is a Canadian rock band originally formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
"
Tom Sawyer"Tom Sawyer" is a song by Canadian progressive rock band Rush, named for Mark Twain's literary character. The song was released on Mercury Records and PolyGram in 1981 on the Moving Pictures album and numerous compilations thereafter, such as 1990's Chronicles. It has also appeared on several live...
",
Alice Cooper'sAlice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
"
Only Women Bleed"Only Women Bleed" is a song written by the musicians Alice Cooper and Dick Wagner. It is a ballad about a woman in an abusive marriage.It is one of Cooper's biggest hits, reaching #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1975. It is from his album Welcome to My Nightmare...
",
Peter Frampton'sPeter Kenneth Frampton is a British/American musician, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd, among others. In 1982 Frampton tried unsuccessfully to split his ties with A&M Records; however, he re-signed with the label in...
"
Baby, I Love Your Way"Baby, I Love Your Way" is a song written and performed by singer Peter Frampton that was first featured on his 1975 album, Frampton.A live version of the song was later released on his 1976 multi-platinum album Frampton Comes Alive!, where it gained popularity as a hit song, peaking at #12 on the...
",
Nazareth'sNazareth is a Scottish rock band that had several hard rock hits in the mid 1970s, including the Felice and Boudleaux Bryant penned ballad, "Love Hurts".-Career:...
"
Love Hurts"Love Hurts" is the name of a song written and composed by Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant, and first recorded by The Everly Brothers in July 1960. It was released that December on the album A Date with The Everly Brothers, but was never released as a single by the Everlys...
",
Bachman-Turner Overdrive'sBachman–Turner Overdrive was a Canadian rock group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that enjoyed a string of hit albums and singles in the 1970s, selling over 7 million albums in that decade alone. The band has sold an estimated 20 million albums worldwide, and has fans affectionately known as "gearheads"...
"Let It Ride",
Misfits-In film:* The Misfits , a 1961 film starring Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe-In literature:* The Misfits: A Study of Sexual Outsiders, by Colin Henry Wilson* "The Misfits", a novel by James Howe- In music :* Misfits , an American rock band...
' "Halloween II", and a
Iggy PopIggy Pop is a songwriter, and occasional actor. Although he has had only limited mainstream commercial success, Iggy Pop is considered an influential innovator of punk rock, hard rock, and other related styles...
live version of the
The StoogesThe Stooges are an American rock band that were first active from 1967 to 1974, then reformed in 2003. The Stooges sold few records in their original incarnation and often performed for indifferent or hostile audiences...
' "1969" among others.
On December 18, 2007, the film was released on
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
in the United States; both the theatrical and an unrated director's cut were released as two-disc special editions containing identical bonus features. The film was released on DVD in the UK on April 28, 2008, known as the "Uncut" edition. On October 7, 2008, a 3-disc set was released. This Collector's Edition of
Halloween features the same bonus features as the previous unrated edition, but includes Rob Zombie's four-and-a-half hour "
making-ofIn cinema, a making of, also known as behind the scenes, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television show. This is often referred to as the EPK video, due to its main usage as a promotional tool, either concurrent with theatrical release or as a bonus feature for the...
" documentary similar to the "30 Days in Hell" documentary for Zombie's
The Devil's RejectsThe Devil's Rejects is a 2005 horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie. It is the sequel to his 2003 film House of 1000 Corpses. The movie is about the family of psychopathic killers from the previous film now on the run...
.
External links
Official
Databases