John Carpenter's "Halloween" stands on the mantle of horror cinema's masterworks.

It's No. 1 on my personal best-fright-flicks list; in fact, a section of my living room is devoted to the film.

In 2007, Rob Zombie created an enjoyable remake, but it pales next to Carpenter's flick. That's to be expected. It would be a Herculean task to dethrone it.

Now Zombie returns with "Halloween II," an original film. This isn't a remake of Rick Rosenthal's 1981 "Halloween II." That film was a disappointment. Zombie's is not.

Unlike Rosenthal's sequel, Zombie amps up the confidence and creativity, delivering a highly entertaining descent into despair and unbridled mayhem. We get one brutal flick here!

The film continues where the 2007 remake concluded. Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton), having just shot Michael Myers (Tyler Mane), is found by Sheriff Leigh Brackett (Brad Dourif) and taken to a hospital. Doctor Sam Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) and Annie Brackett (Danielle Harris) are soon admitted for their injuries too.

Meanwhile, Myers' body is located by authorities and sent off to the coroner, but not before the van wrecks and Myers stirs back to life. He leaves the wreck and disappears for a year.

During that time, Laurie and Annie find life offers little enjoyment. They are haunted by Myers' rampage and the fact his body was never found. In fact, Laurie regularly sees a therapist to attempt to rein in her wildly disturbing dreams. She dangles on the precipice of a mental collapse.

Life is better for Loomis. He's enjoying the rewards of penning his book: "The Devil Walks Among Us," which chronicles Myers' Halloween killing spree. Unfortunately for the victims and their families, Loomis handles the material with little tact. He simply seeks fame and a healthy profit.

Living off the land and keeping his distance from the public, Myers has chosen to spend the passing year concealed in the wilderness of a rural community. When Halloween returns, he packs up in full hobo garb and moves unseen back to Haddonfield.

It's not long before the town once again faces chaos as Laurie attempts to escape her past and reclaim some semblance of a life.

What Worked

Zombie's willingness to take the franchise in such an usual direction is fascinating. No character is safe and no role is locked in the expectations of the past. He delivers a brisk pace, unhinged dream sequences and a nice use of color, music and images to paint his twisted vision. In the process, there are points where it's hard to imagine that you're watching a "Halloween" film.

The unlikable and irrelevant Loomis of Zombie's film is a stark contrast to the benevolent character crafted by Carpenter. Seeing him consumed by life as a money-grubbing celebrity is refreshing, especially since it helps elevate Sheriff Brackett to the role of the sequel's key protagonist.

Remember, the original Brackett was a minor role and he disappeared in the 1981 "Halloween II" after a brief cameo early in the film.

Many of the best character moments for Zombie come from Brackett -- chiefly when the sheriff learns the fate of his daughter. Dourif is great here. Really he's the film's standout character. I kept wondering if he and Annie were going to surpass Laurie and become the focus of future films. Now that would have been an interesting "what if" scenario.

I also enjoyed the presence of Danielle Harris, who surprisingly survived the previous film. She brings another solid performance like her "Halloween 4" and "Halloween 5" stints.

Another highlight was the answer to that persistent fan question: "what does Myers do when it's not Halloween?" Well, he's a hobo. He hides out in an abandoned building in the boondocks, living off the land, and probably the occasional stray dog too. Good enough for me. This answer was about what I expected.

The inclusion of the hobo element is just one method Zombie uses to ground his movie with an added dose of realism. Can you imagine Myers shaving? No, instead he sports a massive beard. Does he wear the mask all year? No, only when he's feeling particularly murderous. The rest of the time his hooded "bum" jacket serves to mask him from prying eyes.

Furthermore, his mask progressively disintegrates. That makes sense considering it's a cheap Halloween mask forced to endure filthy environments and numerous vicious murders.

And vicious may be too tame of a term for these killings. Though not a gory as you might expect, Myers' murders often involve numerous raging stabs and blows.

What Didnt Work

The fate of Loomis appeared rushed. Though he was frustrated with his deteriorating public image, the fact he raced to save Laurie with little regard for the lethal presence of Myers seemed unlikely. Loomis nearly lost his life a year before. How can he carelessly stand just inches from Myers and not flinch or soil his pants?

John Carpenter's "Halloween" theme is an iconic part of the franchise that effortlessly elevates tension and builds atmosphere, yet like the other sequels in the franchise's long history, it's not properly utilized here either.

The conclusion of the film suggests we may have another killer to carry on the Myers' legacy. But can anyone successfully slip into his noxious coveralls? That's doubtful.

Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due

"Halloween II," written and directed by Zombie, also stars Sheri Moon Zombie, Daniel Roebuck, Ezra Buzzington and Mark Christopher Lawrence. The film opened in theaters Aug. 28.