Patrick, you ARE the coolest… And also, I am 100% with you on Halloween 78. Partly, I think I never quite bought the idea of Michael Myers as ‘the shape’. Myers has motives and a psychological profile that can be understood - he digs up his mothers grave, he return to his hometown, he wants to go back to his own house. These aren’t the actions of ‘pure, predatory evil’, but of a sick human being. So Loomis always seemed like a crazy person to me, and the conversation around Myers being evil incarnate always bugged me. What I really like about the sequels is how increasingly unhinged and fanatical Loomis becomes - to the point that he ends up pointing a gun at a 10 year old girl, screaming and crying because he believes Myers has somehow transferred his soul into her. Loomis is a delightful nutjob, and I appreciate that the sequels embrace this. I think this is also why Zombie’s Halloween never bothered me, with its retcon of Myers as a distubed child… I just never bought into the idea that Myers is inexplicable.
I think the other thing about Halloween 78, for me, is that it isn’t strange or entertaining enough - it’s filmed beautifully and has an incredible score, and was undeniably groundbreaking, but it lacks the surrealism of Elm Street, the crazy kills of the Friday the 13th movies, or the batshit insanity of Texas Chainsaw. The result is a technically brilliant movie that I really struggle to engage with. To me, Halloween is an important movie in horror history more than a favourite movie.
Halloween 4 rules, so does 2… Zombie’s Halloweens are miserable nightmares. And, on most days, I’m pressing play on those over Carpenter’s.
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the suggestion!!
DeleteNight of the Living Dead (1990), Halloween (2007), and Psycho (1998); Patrick has become the patron saint of the unloved horror remake.
ReplyDeleteWatching Lords of Salem (first time) tonight after listening. This is the show I look forward to most all year long.
ReplyDeletePatrick, you ARE the coolest… And also, I am 100% with you on Halloween 78. Partly, I think I never quite bought the idea of Michael Myers as ‘the shape’. Myers has motives and a psychological profile that can be understood - he digs up his mothers grave, he return to his hometown, he wants to go back to his own house. These aren’t the actions of ‘pure, predatory evil’, but of a sick human being. So Loomis always seemed like a crazy person to me, and the conversation around Myers being evil incarnate always bugged me. What I really like about the sequels is how increasingly unhinged and fanatical Loomis becomes - to the point that he ends up pointing a gun at a 10 year old girl, screaming and crying because he believes Myers has somehow transferred his soul into her. Loomis is a delightful nutjob, and I appreciate that the sequels embrace this. I think this is also why Zombie’s Halloween never bothered me, with its retcon of Myers as a distubed child… I just never bought into the idea that Myers is inexplicable.
ReplyDeleteI think the other thing about Halloween 78, for me, is that it isn’t strange or entertaining enough - it’s filmed beautifully and has an incredible score, and was undeniably groundbreaking, but it lacks the surrealism of Elm Street, the crazy kills of the Friday the 13th movies, or the batshit insanity of Texas Chainsaw. The result is a technically brilliant movie that I really struggle to engage with. To me, Halloween is an important movie in horror history more than a favourite movie.
Halloween 4 rules, so does 2… Zombie’s Halloweens are miserable nightmares. And, on most days, I’m pressing play on those over Carpenter’s.
You are not alone… There are dozens of us!