[IMG:L]Halloween will arrive early this year when Rob Zombie‘s remake of the 1978 slasher movie hits theaters Aug. 31. Fans at Comic-Con got the ultimate sneak peek when Zombie and the cast made a special panel appearance to share the director’s fresh new take on the film. The movie centers on Michael Myers, a troubled child who is institutionalized from a young age after murdering his older sister. When he escapes years later, he returns to his hometown of Haddonfield on a murderous rampage. Zombie expanded many of the roles, including Michael’s mother Deborah, a single mom just struggling to get by and cast his own wife to play the part.
Hollywood.com caught up with Sheri Moon Zombie to get the scoop on working with her musician-turned director husband and playing the mother of Michael Myers.
Hollywood.com: What are some of the main differences that you can see between the original Halloween and this new remake?
Sheri Moon Zombie: Well, Rob‘s version of Halloween is a lot more fast-paced. I think the original had a very slow, kind of, calm pace to it. A lot happens really quickly. And it’s different, there’s a lot of different characters, there’s a lot of new characters. I mean, it’s a different movie.
HW: Is it an entierely different story?
SMZ: I think there’s certainly aspects that are there from the original. Some may be embellished more or just shown with more flavor. There are a lot of new characters.
HW: What is your character like?
SMZ: Sure. I play Deborah Myers who is Michael Myer’s mom. And she’s down on her luck mom. She tries her hardest, she’s a stripper mom that’s how she makes the money. She has a loser boyfriend who’s abusive and she has a teenage daughter who’s basically a slut and a little murdering child and then a baby. She tries! [laughs]
[IMG:R]HW: Are there any hints as to why Michael Myers is the way he is?
SMZ: I think you can safely assume that he was sort of born that way. I mean, there are certainly factors in the household and the way he’s treated at school that probably contribute to it, but basically people like that are born bad. You know?
HW: Did you ever ask Rob why you had to be the stripper mom?
SMZ: No, you know what? She’s a great character. I know everyone’s like, ‘well, what’s it going to be like? She was just touched on a little bit in the original.’ But it’s a great role. He wouldn’t put me in a nothing role. Are you kidding?
HW: What was the most challenging and fun thing to sink your teeth into as an actress?
SMZ: It was great for me because it was a different character for me to play. I’m normally playing the wild, crazy tough girl characters. Deborah’s really sympathetic. It was really hard to come in and see the aftermath of what young Michael Myer’s had done and react to that. Try to protect the family, you know. Those were difficult aspects. Yeah, it’s – you’ll have to see it. I can’t tell you what was the most difficult because then you’ll know what happens.
HW: Do they age your character? Did you get to work with Tyler Mane as the grown up Michael Myers?
SMZ: I do not have scenes with Tyler. It’s just young Michael. And, of course, they had to age me. I’m really mousy, no makeup, really played down.
HW: Could we perhaps see your character return as part of a new franchise?
SMZ: I would only do it if Rob directed it and there’s no way he’s directing another Halloween so I can safely say no, that I will not be in another Halloween.
[IMG:L]HW: Did you work closely with Rob on this movie, were you giving him input along the way?
SMZ: Well, I don’t give input. He makes his babies on his own. He writes everything himself. He’ll ask me things, we’ll discuss my character and what I think, what he thinks, what he wants. How he feels about things. We discuss that pretty in depth.
