Today issue #265 of Fangoria magazine hit newsstands, with The Shape mask from Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN staring out from the cover with the darkest eyes, the devil's eyes.  Indeed, Ryan Turek's cover story and exclusive on-set reporting during HALLOWEEN production informs a taut, informative article primed to amp up anticipation of the film several notches on the knife handle.

Turek combines interview comments by director Zombie, stars Daeg Faerch, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie and Malcolm McDowell with his own reporting from inside the VA Hospital set in Southern California: the results deliver a promising summer film season ahead for HALLOWEEN.

I'm happy to provide preview images of the Fango article with my commentary below, but not at high enough quality to read it online — go buy a copy, support the magazine, and most importantly read it for yourself as intended.

The issue is well worth the investment, for Turek's feature article and Tyler Mane sidebar interview alone.   Detailed descriptions of a scene give plenty of insight into Rob Zombie's intentions without blasting out a bunch of plot spoilers.  Suffice it to say for the story: fans who fear too much backstory about everyone's favorite slasher need not fear, because Michael Myers will be more terrifying and lethal than ever, as witnessed by the author on the Smith's Grove Sanitarium set.

Restoring and, let's face it, resurrecting the long-lost murderous power of Myers' character is a daring task.    Michael's convincing cinematic menace started to fade even within Carpenter's 1981 sequel, Halloween II; it vanished entirely in III, only to return stumbling forward deeper into failure through the next five films in the series. Turek devotes several paragraphs and comments by Zombie examining precisely that result, juxtaposed with Rob's personal and artistic determination to rebuild a dissembling legend of horror.  The solution: choose key elements from Carpenter's classic original telling, then wipe the slate clean of clotted blood and inane plot twists.  Michael Myers gets a new start, consistent with his first-created persona but made relatable to today's audience who know all the horror film rules and regs the 1978 Halloween began.  Here's a brief quote from director Rob Zombie:

A good (and welcome) portion of the article details the casting choices of young Daeg Faerch and the very fully grown Tyler Mane, two halves of the homicidal coin that was and will be Michael Myers once again.  In the article, Zombie reveals that he was hooked on choosing Faerch from his picture alone.  Similarly, the director insisted an actor fit both the physical and performance requirements of adult Michael, and reportedly wrote the part with Tyler Mane in mind.  Both Faerch and Mane comment insightfully and extensively on their approach to their separate-yet-linked performances under Zombie's storytelling guidance.

More cast commentary adds detail and depth to Fangoria's cover story as Sheri Moon illuminates the new character of Deborah Myers, Michael's single mother who works at the Rabbit in Red Lounge to make ends meet — only to have her life fall apart at the hands of her own son.  With all the bloodshed and bodies piling up on set, the role of class clown (and Dr. Sam Loomis, of course!) fell to veteran actor and Zombie-favorite, Malcolm McDowell.   His descriptions and study of this new-yet-same Loomis are laced with on-set antics and jokes which kept the crew from inhabiting the sanitarium permanently.  Turek's section with McDowell is an entertaining highlight of the cover story.

An excellent sidebar interview with Tyler Mane accompanies the cover story, delving into the performance and philosophical details on exactly how an actor steps behind the mask of Michael Myers after nearly three decades and eight previous film incarnations.  A summation of the piece wouldn't live up to the interview's full effect, but I'll close with this promising and exciting excerpt from Mane on his first viewing of the 2007-edition of The Shape:

Fangoria's feature article closes with Turek's interview of Malek Akkad, keeper of the Myers' flame in the absence of his father and granddaddy of the Halloween franchise, Moustapha Akkad.  Malek, co-producer of Zombie's film with Andy Gould, relates the tale of how Bob Weinstein put Rob's name up for consideration of the new-start story, and how Zombie's pitch convinced them on the spot that indeed a jump-start was necessary.  Better still, Zombie's respect for the characters and original film, harnessed to his artistic enthusiasm for a truly new project, could and would have Michael Myers slicing his way to the top of horror cinema heights once again.

Fangoria's new cover story is truly required reading for all horror fans and followers, and especially so for anyone waiting to see Rob Zombie's take on HALLOWEEN.  Turek's work is a thoughtful piece about thoughtful filmmakers — a far and welcome difference from the cynical and misguided franchise-milking efforts which came and went before it.  Perhaps the most encouraging portent gained from the article is how perfectly clear the director, producer, actors and creative crew are about the film they didn't want to make: a shallow skimming of HALLOWEEN's dramatically terrifying potential.  Instead all involved focused on Rob Zombie's vision to restore this bloody, enduring tale to its rightful place in cinema legend.

I highly recommend reading the Fango article post-haste — as for the final results, you'll have to wait until August 31st when Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN opens in theaters.

Part two of Fangoria's feature story continues next month with Ryan Turek's exclusive interview with director Rob Zombie.   Meanwhile, The Shape of Fear will deliver the latest news and updates on HALLOWEEN all summer.

Visit the Official HALLOWEEN website here: http://halloween-themovie.com