In 1963, a young Michael Myers brutally kills the school bully, his step-father, his sister’s boyfriend and his sister. He shows no reaction to his brutal crimes. When questioned about the murder, he simply smiles. Placed in the care of Dr. Samuel Loomis (Malcom McDowell) at the Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, Michael spends the next 15 years under scrutiny. It has been seven years since he has uttered a word, and Loomis is now a famous psychologist after publishing the new book “The Devil’s Eyes,” based on Myers’ incident.

It is two days before Halloween, and Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) has escaped. Certain that Myers will return to Hanndonfield, Ill., Dr. Loomis pursues his former patient as death arrives in Hanndonfield.

I believe the original “Halloween” is the greatest horror movie ever made. So when I learned a remake by the tactless Rob Zombie was coming out, I was doubtless skeptical. Never have I been so surprised and so pleased to be wrong.

Obviously, this version is not in the same league as the original, but other than “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” it is probably one of the best horror remakes out there. What is needed in a remake? Reason. And there is reason here.

We spend a great deal of time on Michael’s childhood. We see step-by-step his descending journey into becoming a psychopath. In the original he was evil born; here he becomes evil. This take on Myers enriches the story we know and that is definite reason.

There is renewed importance in his mask as well. It’s not by random choice, it’s a necessity for him to perform his acts. Without a mask, he is nothing. The filmmakers have made the classic Myers’ mask even more gruesome and chilling, adding filth, pot holes and cuts along its face (side note: The original mask is a face mold of William Shatner from a “Star Trek” episode, painted white).

Even the imposing figure of Michael Myers is increased here, using former wrestler Tyler Mane (Sabretooth in “X-Men”) as the monstrous murderer machine. The inhuman power of Myers becomes more real – he dwarfs even the tallest men in this movie – and you genuinely believe in the strength of his feats.

Best of all, the deaths are all “Michael-esque.” He doesn’t waste time, they just die very, very quickly. I’m pleased that aspect of the “Halloween” character has been maintained.

Rob Zombie’s single greatest choice was to keep John Carpenter’s original soundtrack and not update or add to it. It’s flawless in its terror and as powerful as John William’s soundtrack to “Jaws.” This makes the movie.

Now I don’t want you to think there are no faults. There are. For starters, the dialogue is horrible. It leaves the audience zero degrees of interpretation, since everything is spelled out for you.

Michael brutally kills one of his wardens who was good to him in the sanitarium to the cries of “I was good to you, Michael, I was your friend.” Completely unnecessary – we know all that, we saw it less than five minutes ago.

There is also a lot of awkwardly unnecessary swearing and gratuitous nudity. I have no time for directors who get their rocks off by having naked women parade around their movies. Go buy a dirty magazine instead!

Best scene: The showdown between Laura Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) and Michael in the abandoned Myers’ house. Very effective, tense and surprisingly beautiful in the visuals. The film has been building to this moment and it was well worth the wait.

Overall: While it cannot hold a candle to the original “Halloween,” this remake is definitely not as bad as it could have been.

Ellis J. Wells is a senior in performing arts from Portishead, England.