So... I watched this film with Mr B earlier this afternoon. It was a couple of friends hanging out having fun and as such was totally the wrong atmosphere and timing to be watching this (I prefer my horror at night with full attention tbh). Also I was less than enthused or expectant of greatness before putting in the disc. Was I won over? Well frankly no. The first part of the movie is mostly drivel as Mr B will attest I stated, several times, much to his chagrin. I do like the characterisation of Myers' mother here and the creation of her in this world, everything else is completely wrong. Why make the villain character sympathetic or some kind of vigilante at first? The far better stuff comes later for the character, developing the relationship between Michael and his newly adopted "carer" Dr Loomis (a fairly reliable Malcolm McDowell). These two and their connection always intrigued me in Carpenters' series and it was nice to see more of this particular element. While we're on the subject of the good it was immensely cool watching Myers develop and descend whilst in the psychiatric hospital, the development of almost a dual persona and his fixation with masks, whilst not initially seeming necessary, actually coming off really well. These scenes also contain the best dialogue and delivery in the film.
The last section is essentially Zombie re-doing the original, no more, no less. However it is paced to ridiculousness (Mr B pointing this out along with Myers seeming superpowers of teleportation and Bruce Lee style epic speed kills, leading to "punch-stab!!!" becoming the quote of this particular day). Here its impossible to get a handle on any character bar Laurie, it also seems completely unnecessary and adds nothing new to the existing mythos or film.
The ending feels rushed and unsatisfying sadly. The little moments here and throughout this picture which are lifted from the first movie make you feel nostalgic for it and are nice, but remind you how seminal and great that flick was. This one really isn't.
As a whole not bad with real promise for a sequel as Zombie develops his own world here (as I've seen commented elsewhere). Some good acting mixes with some terrible, genre stalwarts appear for a cheer and a pay cheque, dialogue too is both good and bad, direction is visually stunning with some really nice flourishes and framing moments let down by set staging and writing sadly. The experience as a whole wasn't awful but comparable to eating a chocolate bar by one of those weight loss companies, fine but unsatisfying, unfulfilling and ultimately not a meal. Decent snack though...
*** 3/5
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