My most anticipated summer movie

I suppose that since Rob Zombie’s new version of Halloween comes out August 31st, it still counts as a summer movie. Whatever you want to call it though, it comes out at exactly the right time for me. Right as the general public starts getting excited about Halloween, the retail stores start putting out their Halloween items, and tickets to the major Halloween events start going on sale, we’ll be treated to Mr. Zombie’s latest, and hopefully creepiest and best creation yet.

John Carpenter’s Halloween series of films, especially the first one, is a staple of the horror genre. The original Halloween the movie came out in 1978, right at the peak, in my opinion, of the horror genre. Great films like the original The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and the original The Hills Have Eyes (1978) were Halloween’s counterparts in this defining era for horror films. These films all paved the way for their slightly higher budget 1980’s successors like Friday the 13th, A Nightmare of Elm Street and Hellraiser.

To me, you just can’t beat the creepyness of 1970’s horror, though. The sketchy film quality with its overlying yellow dinginess mixed with low budget acting and special effects just makes for such a terrifying movie watching experience that it’s unbeatable. And even though movie making has changed significantly since then, I have faith in Rob Zombie’s ability to harness the original creep factor for the new milennium in his new version of Halloween the movie.

If you haven’t yet seen it, check out the trailer and see for yourself. I for one will be there opening day.