Up & Coming Weekly

36 UCW SEPTEMBER 23-29, 2009 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Heather Griffi ths, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com It is the look of the thing that drives Rob Zombie's follow-up to his 2007 remake of Halloween, Halloween II (105 minutes). There is a definite Rob Zombie feel to the whole picture, and it can certainly be enjoyed on that level. Unfortunately, that distinctive look is not enough to carry the entire film forward amidst the shoddy narrative and clunky conclusion. From an artistic standpoint, there is a real grindhouse gloss to this film. For instance, Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) has a sort of post- modern punk thing going on, and ends up looking totally cute. When you see her, you know a lot of money was spent to pull off a look that authen- tic punk rockers achieve for free, which could be said about most of the film. A lot of money spent trying to look as if no money was spent at all. First, an attempt is made to insert deep meaning into your basic slasher flick by discuss- ing the psychology of dreams. This fails miserably and serves to bore the audience. Then, there is an extremely ill advised and ultimately confusing flashback to young Michael (Chase Wright Vanek) visiting with his mother Deborah (Sheri Moon Zombie) at the sanitarium where Michael wound up in the beginning of the first movie. Flash-forward to Laurie Strode limping down the middle of a dark highway traumatized and bleeding, where she is found by Sheriff Brackett (Brad Dourif). Other paramedics are at the scene of the crime, collect- ing a wounded Annie Brackett (Danielle Harris) and Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell). One year later, Laurie is liv- ing with Annie and her father the Sheriff. Pictures of Charles Manson and homages to anar- chy line the walls, as you so often see in the homes of teenage vegans who work in hippy-dippy book stores. Remember the following when you want to rebel, especially when you are rebelling after moving into the house of a police authority figure after your crazy brother tried to kill you: Meat is murder, but Charles Manson is cool. Laurie, understandably flum- moxed after the violent events of the previous year, is now in therapy with Margot Kidder!! She is having visions and nightmares about perform- ing bloody violence on the bodies of her friends, which completely freak her out. Dr. Loomis, on the other hand, is on a book tour with his trusty assis- tant played by Mary Birdsong!! (She was in Reno 911 before it started to suck!). While Michael Myers works on coming back from the dead for the ninth time, Laurie finds out about her previously unknown past from the book Dr. Loomis is promoting, which further freaks her out. She seeks refuge with her friends who are just roommates, even though they would make a totally cute couple, Harley (Angela Trimbur) and Mya (Brea Grant! She was Daphne on Heroes before that show started to suck!). The bloody slaughter really kicks into high gear at this point, but there is nothing really new here. In the final analysis, hard- core Zombie fans will appreciate this, but slasher fiends looking for something innovative will have to keep on looking. Kudos to the Foley Artists, however, who outdo themselves finding new sound effects for breaking noses and peeling fingernails out of fingerflesh. Punk Rock Sensibility, Second Rate Scares, Third Rate Story Halloween II (Rated R) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS %HDXW\‡(OHJDQFH‡'XUDELOLW\ ‡)HDWXULQJRYHUVW\OHVVKDSHV‡ &DSH)HDU 5HJLRQ·V 21/< ORFDOEULFN PDQXIDFWXUHU Karen Holder Lewis O'Boyle 6KRZURRP+RXUV0)‡+Z\(5RVHERUR1&‡ ZZZKDQVRQEULFNFRP DU & )HDU & )HDU Great Products - Great Prices Museum Of Art FAYETTEVILLE SUHVHQWV www.FayettevilleMuseumArt.org $UWDVWLF $UW$QG&XOWXUH RI$IULFD Free Admission & Activities! Saturday, October 3rd 10am-3pm Festival Park Downtown (910) 485-5121 Fayetteville Area New Car and Truck Dealers Association H es! $QDUW)(VWLYDO)RUFKLOGUHQ

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