Halloween (2007) (R, 2007)

common sense media says

Teen slasher flick remake is brutal and bloody.


parents & educators say
  • 29% say language is an issue
  • 26% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that director Rob Zombie's "re-imagined" slasher flick leaves no blood, gore, or sex to viewers' imagination: It's all here in spades. Savage stabbings and slayings are presented in ugly close-up. Most (though not all) of killer Michael Myers' victims seem to be sexually active teenagers, and viewers see female characters in various forms of undress, including nearly full nudity. Characters -- including kids -- swear robustly ("f--k," "s--t," etc.).

Positive messages: Most of the film's characters range from merely unsympathetic to absolutely loathsome, including creepy and nasty grownups and bullying and promiscuous teenagers (one of whom talks gleefully about manipulating her parents' divorce for her own ends). Some of this is used to illustrate the environment that makes Michael Myers into a vicious killing machine -- i.e. that his victims "deserve" it -- but other characters who are inoffensive (and even gentle) die just as hideously.
Violence: Horrendous up-close beatings, bashings, stabbings, hangings, and strangulation. One victim is left dangling on a door, pinned by the knife; another is drowned as blood fountains out of his mouth. Two people are shot at close range. Viewers see victims' faces in bloody close-up most of the time. Many pets are killed, but viewers only see evidence photos.
Sex: Lots of teenage sex, with near-full female nudity. Another character, an exotic dancer, gyrates in minimal clothing. Kids and adults talk crudely and enthusiastically about masturbation, promiscuity, and stepfather incest. The pages of a pornographic magazine are riffled through, and one victim thinks Michael Myers is looking for a homosexual act in a bathroom stall.
Language: "F--k" and "s--t" are used routinely (even by kids); other language includes "c--t" spelled out (oh good, it's educational).
Consumerism: Plugs for other horror movies admired by the filmmakers, in the form of clips from The Thing and White Zombie. Heavy selection of pop-rock tunes on the soundtrack, KISS T-shirt, one prominent porn magazine title.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: High schoolers smoke and drink beer.

More on Halloween (2007)

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about which types of horror movies are scarier -- ones like this, that show all the gruesome details, or those like the original 1978 Halloween, which left more to the imagination. Why? Why do you think audiences are drawn to gory movies in the first place? Is it fun to be scared at the movies? Why? Families can also discuss whether this movie makes killer Michael Myers sympathetic in any way. Are any of his crimes rationalized or explained? Why is that significant?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Early on, it seems like director Rob Zombie's Halloween is trying to do for Carpenter's blank-faced mass-murderer Michael Myers what Hannibal Rising did for fiendish Hannibal Lecter, showing viewers his upbringing and explaining how he came to be a monster. Michael starts out as an innocent-looking, blond-haired 10-year-old (played by Daeg Faerch) living in a family that includes an exotic dancer, her abusive live-in boyfriend, and a hyper-sexed sister. Bullied at school near Halloween, Michael ambushes and fatally batters a classmate (though that's not his first victim -- he's already killed plenty of small animals as practice). And then, after trick-or-treating on October 31, Michael slices up his stepfather, his sister, and his sister's boyfriend, sparing only baby sister Laurie. Police lock up the maniacal kid, who claims to remember nothing, in an institution. The plot then skips to 15 years later. Michael's mother has killed herself, and his longtime psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) has given up on him as a hopeless, unreachable psychopath. The adult Michael (Tyler Mane) is a hulking, silent figure obsessed with wearing masks. Near the October anniversary of the murders, he escapes, slaughtering several guards and even a gentle orderly who befriended him. Dr. Loomis believes Michael is heading home to kill again on Halloween, and he guesses the target is his surviving sister, Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton). Now a teenager, Laurie was adopted into a stable family years ago -- but she still has plenty of sex-minded girlfriends to hang around with, providing Michael with a plethora of victims as night falls.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Horror fans claim, not without reason, that the original Halloween wasn't just a sicko slasher movie that caught on, but an artfully suspenseful masterpiece that expertly played on viewers' nerves. You barely see any real violence or blood -- you just think you do. Not so much this time around. This graphic HALLOWEEN remake from rock musician-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie is positively drenched in blood and carnage, along with smashed faces, impalings, bashings, strangulation, crude sex, and vile language, all in shaky-camera close-up. In other words, it's full of everything that original director John Carpenter merely hinted at, letting our dread and elemental fear of a lurking marauder in the dark fill in the blanks. There have been worse slasher movies than the original Halloween (the first Friday the 13th, for one): Carpenter's finesse with the film's uncluttered, low-budget plotline made it look so easy that all kinds of hack moviemakers (many lacking even Zombie's level of directorial acumen) filled theaters with knives and butchery throughout the 1980s. The 2007 Halloween, besides pushing the gore to dare-you-to-look extremes, seems to want to cadge some sympathy for the ghastly Michael, making his victims (at first, anyway) foul sadists who deserve no mercy. But then characters who are inoffensive -- and even kind -- to Michael die just as gruesomely, so what's the point? Probably the dollar figures brought in by the combined earnings of some seven or eight (depends how you do the counting) Halloween sequels -- that's the point, and this movie's open ending leaves the door open for further installments. Judging by the movie's record-setting opening weekend, there will be an audience. Ugh.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Weinstein Co.
Director: Rob Zombie
Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon-Zombie, Tyler Mane
Genre: Horror
Run time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release: August 31, 2007
DVD release: December 18, 2007
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: strong brutal bloody violence and terror throughout, sexual content, graphic nudity and language.
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This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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Review Halloween (2007)





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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 38 parent & educator reviews:
  • 29% say language is an issue
  • 26% say violence is an issue
  • 26% say sexual content is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

movie man 5
teen, 13 years old
 
Finally, we see the man behind the famous mask.
This film is much more violent than the original film, with about 3 times the sexual content. Characters in this film are stabbed, beaten with baseball batts, had their throats slit, etc. Full female nudity is shown, upper nudity is shown, there is basicly lots of sex. However, besides the content, this film is actually (in my oppinion) better than the first, for multiple reasons. For one, we see into Michael's past. We see what led up to his "snap". Two, Michael isn't mindless, he has a soul, and us as an audience get to see it. We see way more than what was shown in the whole series.

 
well made cinema
well made remake, creative and a different take on the story. Its a horror movie, so obviously lots of violence. very well made

Softballgirl31
teen, 13 years old
 
Ok for a slasher movie, tons of blood and murderings are extremely graphic too. Throats are slit, Michael stabs people, beats people, etc. There is one very disturbing point in the movie where Michael tries to kill a woman while she is looking at a picture of her daughter. She then smacks the picture out of his hand and he breaks her neck. You hear the snap and hear her scream. Sexual content is pretty bad tons of nudity and this is also extremely graphic. Overall it is a pretty good movie despite the content The plot line is interesting

nick navarro
teen, 13 years old
 
disappointing
The origianal version was better, this just has more gore and sex.

Hotaru Chan
teen, 14 years old
 
*headdesk*
Insulting to the Halloween name. Instead of the good, smart role model Laurie Strode was in the original, they completely butcher her into the "stereotypical" teen girl (I use that term loosely, since no one acts like that). The backstory on Michael Myers starts right from the beginning, but unlike the original they overexplain everything, so we basicly know everything about the character, making him seem a lot more boring and less scary than ever. Over the top gore and sexual content, to the point where nobody could ever enjoy it. All the suspence is gone, replaced with other crap that no one wants. I can't even really think of any scary parts in the film, with only 2 jump scares that weren't even that scary. STICK TO THE ORIGINAL!!!!!!!!

davidguitar15. ...
teen, 17 years old
 
The current best horror/thriller movie ive seen...not for kids though

 
Scary Movie Not For Kids Or Teenagers!!!!
This Movie Is One Of The Most Violent Movies Then The First One And Micheal In One Scene Trys To Silt His Father's Throut With A Knife Blood Is Seen Coming Out And Then He Kills A Bully Walking In The Woods With A Branch He Hit's Him In The Leg's With It And Of Course Kills Him Right After And Then He Kills The Sanatorium Guards By Strangling Them And Throwing Them Against The Walls Hard And Then Hit's Them Again And Blood Fly's Out Very Violent Micheal Goes To Find His Baby She Isen't There And Then He Kills His Brother By Putting A Knife In His Throut Very Graphic Micheal Also Kills His Grandma And He Breaks Her Back In A Brutal Violent Way No Blood And Then He Strangles A Girl That Is Wearing Nothing And Her Eyes Turn Violently Outside Her Head Violent Content And Micheal Tries To Kill 3 Sanatorium Guards And He Kills One Of Them With The Chains Which He Breaks Quite Disturbing And Then He Comes Home And One Day Kills His Mom She Is Seen Yelling And Screaming And She Is Prusumbed Dead One Day And Micheal Kills His Pet Rat And Other Animals And The Pictures Are Shown To The Police Of Micheal's Animal Murders Scary Also He Kills A Girl By Violently Pulling Her And Hitting Her Head Out Of A Police Car Graphic Also He Kills Laurie By Attacking Her Violent He Also Attacks Dr Samaul Loomis By With A Knife Blood Is Shown Splattring On His Shirt And It Has Sex And Langage And Drugs!!! 18+

gleefreak
teen, 17 years old
 
I watched when I was thirteen and it was okay
It is the best horror movie made out there !!

homealonefan123
teen, 15 years old
 
awesome horror remake. but full of bloody violence and strong sexuality
this movie is awesome. but some strong language, nudity and sexuality. the highest on violence. many murders and injuries. if you are 16-17 this movie if perfect for you.

ashowiscool
teen, 14 years old
 
I thought it was a great gory flick, and all I have to say is something i will say TOO many times on this site, kid's have already seen it. I'd say let older more mature teens see it, heres why I say so. Nudity: Sure, plenty of it. But really, by this time their friends have gotten them into porn. Violence: Again, no worse than what six year olds watch now. Language: yep, they've heard it all Really, all I can say is that in this day kids are exposed to alot more and you can't fight it. All you can do is calmly talk about it. Trust me, when I'm talked to about it calmly I actually listen, as to when my mom yells at me where I just retaliate more. Now I'm off topic, bottom line: teens on.

csbfairy
kid, 9 years old
 

ineedhelp4621
parent of 10 year old
 
perfect for all
love it rob zombie has made halloween scary again at first it was just walking killer now it is pop outs and scary

ZombieRocks5321
teen, 15 years old
 
Why hate Rob Zombie? He is amazing!
Well of course this movie is going to be labeled as bad. Everyone bashes Zombie for creating his versions of movies for no reason. I personally think that he is the best film maker ever:)If you don't want kids to see this, than don't let them. It's that simple. But don't miss if your a Halloween fan.

txschnsw2
teen, 16 years old
 
uggggg...
...Another horror movie that commonsensemedia has completely destroyed. Yeah theres nudity, sex, violence, and lots of language, but seriously who cares. You'll kids will hear the language in it in school. Sex will happen eventually, ur kids have been on the internet, so they know what nudity is:P and the violence in this movie isn't as bad as commonsense makes it out to be. It overall was a really good movie, but they did get one thing right. It isn't meant for like 10 year olds. i suggest 13 and up.

SamaraMorgan
teen, 14 years old
 
Lovely.

 
A brilliant film, but not appropriate even for my age (17).
First off, this movie is not at all scary. What it is is a reimagined, rethought, and horrifically violent slasher film remake. Even though this movie is technically a remake, it's not at all like the original. The original was a boring, bland, average 70's slasher. This one is an brutally innovative retelling of not only the story of Michael Myers' killing spree, but also his childhood, humanizing him a bit (but still not portraying him in any sane way). Despite how well-done the movie was, it's not appropriate for minors. The language is awful, especially the first ten minutes, which contains at least 50 obscenities, most of them f-words. The movie also has the most vulgar sexual language you can imagine. The sexual content is very explicit, not only in references but also in actual scenes, which show teens having sex. Sex scenes are pushing even an R rating, with a lot of thrusting and nudity. (The unrated director's cut also has a rape scene, which was cut out of the R-rated version.) Another offensive item is the amount of teen drinking. However, the violence is more shocking than any of the above. In movies such as "Dawn of the Dead", the violence is extremely gory, but could never be interpreted as realistic. The violence in this movie is not as bloody, but is a thousand times more realistic and brutal. The beginning of the movie is all about a young boy going mental and killing four people. The first is a bully at school who he lures out into the woods and beats to death with a tree branch. The second one to go is the child's abusive stepdad, who has his throat slit wide open, gushing blood. The third is his sister's boyfriend, who has his head beaten into pulp with a baseball bat. Finally, his sister dies, being stabbed by her younger brother multiple times with a kitchen knife. All of this is shown in gory detail, and it's just the beginning of the movie! (And all of this covers the R-rated version; the director's cut is even worse.) Do I even need to say more? I would wholeheartedly recommend this movie to mature adults, but never to teens, even myself.

bradley4846
teen, 17 years old
 
Surprisingly Great
I have never seen the original, but i really liked this. For some reason there seems to be a lot of nudity (mainly topless women). (and a shot of a porn magazine) And myabe one or two butts. The language is strong near the begining, but gets less used near the end. And don't see this if you are sqemish, it is very bloody

SAW Fan
adult
 
Bad but Satisfying
Ok, I saw all the originals and liked all of them (mainly because Jamie Lee Curtis starred in them). I saw the Unrated Edition, Usually, I see no difference in a rated and a unrated film, but this time the difference was huge. On the unrated version there is this rape scene where these 2 guys gang rape this girl in Michael Myers' cell. The scene lasts about 30 seconds but it is very graphic. Also, the movie is 2hours long. So it will take while for the real horror scenes to pop in. On the overall, This movie is a great horror film to watch on a gloomy night. Apart from that nasty rape scene, the movie was great.

sDSa
adult
 
SO GOOD
LOVE IT

cerealkiller189
teen, 13 years old
 
The second one makes this looks like a Disney Pixar animation.
This is quite fine ,except for a few bad scenes.There is some violence against women like a part where a couple of men try to rape a woman not long after Michael Myers. Comes and beats them to death slams their bodies against Walls.not for viewers who get easily offended.I have seen this on the unrated and normal version on DVD since I missed it at the movies don't buy the unrated it's totally worse than the theatrical version the theatrical version is probably 13 + the unrated is probably 15+ then if your kids get nightmares this isn't a very good starter horror movie.

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