Like his cultural contemporary Quentin Tarantino, writer/director/rockstar Rob Zombie has fashioned a career and forged a legacy out of his undying love for classic trash cinema.

The platinum-selling shock rock guru (beloved for both his solo work and the long defunct band he fronted, White Zombie) and filmmaker had already amassed a cult following for his ultraviolent, cruel horror pictures like House of 1000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects.

But it was with his 2007 remake of John Carpenter’s seminal 1978 indie slasher Halloween, that he really hit box office gold, and, in turn, was taken seriously as a major Hollywood player.

Though he swore he wouldn’t, Zombie has now revisited that controversial genre redux territory with Halloween 2 — opening next Friday. The supposedly leaner, gorier follow-up is, Zombie insists, a radical departure from his semi-faithful original.

“The difference between this film and the first is the difference between House of 1000 Corpses and The Devils Rejects,” says the director. “I didn’t care what people’s expectations were and I didn’t care about the Halloweens that had come before. I had complete creative control to do whatever what I wanted.”

Halloween 2 continues the sick saga of psychologically damaged Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton), who is still trying to evade the homicidal rampage of her deranged masked serial killer brother Michael Myers (Tyler Mane). 

Outside of his two leads, the director has also reassembled many of his other surviving cast members, including the legendary Malcom McDowell who reprises his turn as the wild eyed Dr. Loomis.

“I think that directors like to work with the same actors all the time, because the performances they give are that much more dynamic.” Zombie says.

“In the first film, working with … Malcom and Scout, we had just met and it was all professional. This time however, we broke through that wall and the results of that relationship are on the screen.”

And even though past Zombie efforts — much like the campy, hillbilly horror persona he’s long employed — have had their tongues firmly wedged in their bloody cheeks, the filmmaker claims that Halloween 2 will be a decidedly grim, oppressive experience.

“There is absolutely no humour in this movie. It’s really, really dark.”

• For Halloween 2 trailer, photos and screen times, or to buy tickets, click here