10 Things You Learn Rewatching Halloween II (2009)

In Zombie's first Halloween film, the music was surprisingly stellar. Rather than opting for he and Tyler Bates' own updated versions of the classic John Carpenter themes, the film regularly just used the original's instead. At the time, there were rumors that Zombie wasn't thrilled with this decision and would have preferred to do without the music altogether.

Judging from Halloween II, it appears those rumors were very true.

Despite the fact that it appears on Tyler Bates' soundtrack for the film and in the theatrical cut, the director's cut of Halloween II never once features the iconic Halloween theme. Similarly, no versions of Carpenter's other iconic themes are utilized either.

The Halloween music is definitely iconic and a defining part of the franchise, so to completely throw it all out is a strange choice but not necessarily a bad one. When you're making the tenth film in a franchise, change isn't a bad thing. But if you're going all in on that, then at least replace them with brand new themes.

Instead, Bates' score is almost entirely comprised of feedback, sustained tones, murmuring voices, and the occasional loud blaring sound effects to accompany a jump scare. Which leaves the film sounding like every other horror film made in the late 2000s.

Instead of taking the opportunity to distinguish themselves, Zombie and Bates just conform to the most boring and bland standards of the genre.