I did a comic somewhat similar to this one back in August of 2007 when Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween hit theaters. For me, it makes no sense to release a movie CALLED “Halloween” two months before the holiday. You’d think that it was a marketing no-brainer.
Consider the thought that there are potential ticket buyers who have no idea what Halloween is about or who Michael Myers is. What are the odds that, come October, they might be standing in front of a box office somewhere, see “Halloween” on the marquee and say “Oh, we should see that because Halloween is next week.” You’d think the odds of that occurring would improve, wouldn’t you?
After the first remake of Halloween was released in 2007, it was explained to me later that the studio dropped the movie in August so they didn’t have to compete with Saw IV. They appear to be doing the same thing with Halloween II to stay out of the way of Saw VI being released on October 23. That makes sense. The Saw franchise has basically owned Halloween since 2004.
But why late August? Why not September? There are four horror movies being released in September – Carriers, Sorority Row, Jennifer’s Body and Pandorum. Each one is being released on a week separate from the other and none of them are franchise films and none of them appear to be serious contenders. It stands to reason that Halloween II could wipe the floor with any one of them.
Instead they’re going head-to-head with The Final Destination, the fourth movie of a popular franchise that decided to make their film 3D to boot.
To me it shows a real lack of faith in Zombie’s movie. If the studio had any stones at all, they’d at least slate it in the first week of October. No horror movies until Zombieland the following week (which is really more of a comedy) and maybe you stand a chance of taking the wind out of the sails of Saw VI.
If there’s something I’m missing, please explain it to me. Am I crazy? What about the rest of you guys? Any plans on seeing Halloween II this weekend? If you were forced to choose between Halloween II and The Final Destination (in 3D!!!), what would you pick? Leave your comments below!
Can you explain to me why we're doing it again with his remake of Halloween II by releasing it on August 29?
Kid, when it comes to marketing, you need to have A KILLER INSTINCT!
For example, my instinct tells me this guy is going to kill me if I don't bury Halloween II in late August!
I’d stay home and rearrange my sock drawer. A remake of a classic or a franchise that should have reached the destination a long time ago who relies on the 3D shtick to try and garner interest? Pass on both.
-Dave
I won’t be seeing either of those movies during their tenure in the theaters. Movies like that scream “Wait for it to run on TV”.
I almost would rather give my money to GI Joe than to those (that’s how much I dislike them).
I think I’ll miss them both. Each look equally bad. I can wait a week or so for something good to come out.
I’d pick Halloween II. Final Destination (the original) was enough.
I’d honestly see Haloween II because I enjoyed the first one but I can see the point you are trying to make. Final Destination looks interesting in 3d and I’d be tempted to see it for that reason alone.
Releasing the movie so early is a bad idea, since so many people complained about it last year you’d think they would have learned.
I’m gonna see The Final Destination, cmon its in 3D! plus I enjoyed the other fd films.
Perhaps even worse is the fact that they pushed The Wolf Man back until February! WHY??????
Yeah for my generation and lower (I’m 27) I think Saw is the new Halloween/Horror Franchise. Halloween is probably making the right call since the Saw films come out every year and manage to make in the area of $20M opening weekend.
Honestly… why are Halloween (Mike Myers) movies still coming out? I mean, remake or not, if they keep this sort of stuff up they might as well bring back Freddy and Jason (sadly, that would make some people very excited). Man, all three of those franchises are pure cheese. They had their run back in their day, it’s time for new things. Even though I’m not a fan, at least with Saw they’ve made a new franchise. Myers, Jason, Freddy; they’re of a past generation and it seems that Saw (and maybe Final Destination) is for this one. Although… it may span a couple generations by the time it reaches Saw XVIII.
I’m not a big fan of horror. It’s just a genre for the sake of watching a bunch of people pointlessly die. You got your rare ‘gems’ that actually have a plot other than “crazy killer on the loose… back from the dead… AGAIN!” but the majority of it all is the same ol’ contrived junk. But, even those ‘gems’ usually get tagged with another genre, with horror being more of a sub-genre.
BUT, that’s my opinion. Those that actually like these movies are entitled to enjoy… and from any perspective, the whole Halloween in August doesn’t make sense. I think Tom’s right: they’re certainly missing out on a few bucks.
One last thought… any idea why these types of movies seem to breed a HUGE number of sequels? I mean, they’ve all come back from the dead multiple times, Jason even went to space… SPACE!!
I will be avoiding both of these like the plague. I really disliked the changes that Zombie made to Michael Myers background story. Plus, he said that this is not a remake of the original Halloween II, it’s an entirely new script, which means it will probably be bad.
I thought the first Final Destination movie was a cool concept, but after that it just became, “How many f-ed up ways can we think of to kill people?” I’m not paying $9 for that.
I AM going to see Final Destination this weekend. Only because it’s 3D, or I would have probably waited until it showed on tv.
I like horror movies. I don’t like slasher movies. I have no desire to see Halloween II, and I think I’ll wait for The Final Destination to come out on DVD. I do want to see Zombieland (I am a huge zombie movie buff). I also want to see Jennifer’s Body, but only because I like Amanda Seyfried and I think Megan Fox is hot.
I’ll be seeing Halloween II sometime because I’m a big fan of the character of Michael Myers. I really don’t mind them releasing it in August because I’m a horror fan and I’m tired of having to wait until October for everything. The people who Halloween is aimed at are those that would see this movie no matter the date. I’m big into Halloween and since stores start bringing out their merch at this time I think it’s perfectly okay to get amped up with a Halloween movie. Besides, Halloween isn’t exactly about the date…it’s about the story(however muddy it may be). Like a Christmas themed movie in November…it’s the next marketable holiday so I think there is a good enough excuse to go to the theaters and watch Mikey kill people. 🙂
I’m just going to avoid both. I have no interest in the Final Destination series (something that actually confuses me a bit, what with my love of gore and outlandishly complex death sequences. On that note, yes, I am a Saw fan), and I won’t be seeing Halloween II since the first one was pretty terrible. I’ll be waiting for October for my good scares, like with Trick ‘r Treat or Zombieland (though if I can find a screening of Grace somewhere around here today…)
honestly, I have no desire to watch a movie named Halloween in August. late september? october? yes, totally for it. but somehow, the idea of Halloween in August just turns me off to the movie. so yeah, the marketing makes no sense to me.
here’s to waiting for Zombieland! 😀
@Steve they did make another Friday the 13th it came out in February. And im pretty sure there is another Nightmare on Elm coming out as well.
As for me I will be seeing FD3D for sure. I am a big fan of the series (i own the trilogy dvd box set) I have never enjoyed the halloween franchise. i found the old ones boring and the new one just meh. slasher movies for me are seeing awesome ways of ppl dying. the halloween movies i find have just been always bland.
I like the Final Destination movies alot, but Halloween II is far more up on my list.
Halloween (the 70s one) had a big impact on me, and got me into horror movies.
Zombie’s movies and music are really good, with a unique style. I can’t wait untill this weekend.
Indeed they are making a new Nightmare on Elm Street. Jackie Earle Haley will be the new Freddy, which might make it worth seeing.
I probably wont see either unless someone pays for my ticket. I swore off new Halloween after Resurrection(I wish I could forget). Final Destination just seems like a movie you would have more fun with a group of friends and I lack friends who will watch horror.
I totally agree with you about the ridiculousness of releasing Halloween II in August, but I think you’re wrong to say Jennifer’s Body isn’t a serious contender. It’s got a good buzz, has Diablo Cody and Megan Fox attached to it, and will probably win it’s weekend.
Jennifer’s Body has buzz, but it’s also an unproven entity. Both Diablo Cody and Megan Fox have their proponents and detractors. To me, compared to Halloween II, it seems like Rob Zombie’s film would be the safer bet at the box office.
Personally, I’m not too big on the whole Halloween-Horror genre to begin with, but releasing it in August?
Come on. If your film cannot compete with others at Halloween, then why did you even bother?
To be completely (sic?) honest I forgot Halloween II was even coming out. Someone mentioned it a while back, but I remember saying I don’t like Rob Zombie movies. He sucks.
I already have plans to see The Final Destination and my buddy wants to see it in 3D so we are. That movie already won in my book.
They both look ridiculous but I guess if I had a free ticket to one or the other I’d see Final Destination 4.
i like this movie because there is the great fact of markiting where me saw a activities of markiting people we don,t like halloween- horror……………
Rob Zombie said in interviews that it’s about the anticipation of Halloween. He compared it to opening a Christmas movie on Christmas, the next day no one cares. It seems like they still could have released it a little closer, but he thought that on November 1st no one would want to go see it. And I totally plan on seeing it, Friday if possible.
That’s a good point about not wanting to see the movie in November. But releasing the movie in August… I dunno, man. I’m still thinking about summer, school starting… that kind of thing.
Why not the first week in October? You’d still have 4 weeks to make money. Does anyone think this movie is going to even be in the Top 10 4 weeks from Friday?
@kit: I guess I’m not surprised… but more remakes is a sad thing to me.
It looks to me that Jennifer’s Body is just an easy way to cash out on Megan Fox’s sex appeal. It might as well be called Megan Fox’s Body… that alone guarantees the producers will be raking in some cash. This movie could be horrible, but I imagine they’d still sell tons of tickets on people’s hopes of seeing as much of ‘Jennifer’s Body’ as they can. Sad, but I’m sure I’m in the minority on that opinion.
Zombieland… I hadn’t heard of that until it was mentioned here. I’ve always thought zombies can make for a great movie/story, but Woody Harrelson and Bill Murray!?! I’m there. Also, I’ve got my eyes n’ ears open for World War Z. I’m curious to how they will adapt it to movie format, but it has the potential to be awesome.