"Halloween II" writer and director Rob Zombie strove to bring a broader vision and an increased emphasis on characters to the sequel of his 2007 remake.

He was at Comic-Con International in San Diego recently to promote the film, which opens in theaters Aug. 28.

"The scope is much bigger," Zombie explained during an interview with Bloody Disgusting. "That was one thing I wanted to do, I wanted to open it up. Because the first one... it gets very confining, its like 'now were trapped in "this" suburban living room, and then we go to "this" suburban living room.' So I wanted to open it up, make it bigger.

"On the first movie, the movie was two movies. It was young Michael, which I felt you got to sink into more, and then it was Haddonfield, which we had to race through, and you really didnt get to know the characters. So this time, I was like 'Lets really overdo it on character stuff, so we have enough.'"



One character that received considerable attention was Sheriff Lee Brackett, played by Brad Dourif. In the original "Halloween II" Brackett made a brief appearance in the beginning of the film, then disappeared. But as Zombie insists, his sequel has nothing to do with that one.



"Brad Dourif is very important to this movie and has a much bigger role," he said. "Brad really invested himself in the role big time. I cant speak for what someones thinking, but you get the feeling sometimes actors come in and are like 'Its a horror movie, I know what this is all about...' But on this movie he really sunk in and took the character he was playing really seriously, and played it like a real drama, not even worrying about the horror.

"Hes this single dad, with a daughter who has survived a murder, and -- I dont know if this came out yet -- but Laurie has moved in with the Bracketts; so hes this one guy trying to protect these two girls."


With Brackett and the girls facing an epically vicious rampage by Michael Myers, clashes with the MPAA were expected. However, Zombie was somewhat mystified by the organization's response to "Halloween II."



"We got our R-rating. Shocking how easy we got it," Zombie said. "They are just not worried about violence right now I guess. It was unbelievable. I also think that because its Michael Myers, that makes it easier. They go 'Oh its one of those Michael Myers monster movie things.' I was shocked.

"As far as the DVD I dont know what the plans are. But I didnt have to trim. I was sitting at the screening and they were like 'You got the R rating.' And it was like 'Are you fucking kidding?' I mean its great, but its still shocking."

Check out more of Zombie's interview at Bloody Disgusting.