Halloween
"There's a reason we're supposed to be afraid of this night." - Sheriff Hawkins
release year: 2018
genre: horror
viewing setting: theater 10/19/18 (opening night)
synopsis: Forty years after his original killing spree, Michael Myers is scheduled for a transfer, the night before Halloween. Predictably, something goes wrong and he's on the loose, headed back to Haddonfield to stalk his old victim again...but this time, she's ready for him.
impressions: This one ignored all of the sequels, including two previous different continuity breaks away from movies 2-6; it was a direct sequel to the first movie. As such, it was free from the constraints established in all of those, which was both good and bad...good because it didn't have to carry past mistakes, and bad because it makes you wish some of those sequels hadn't had the mistakes at all. Anyway. This feels more like the original movie than any of the past sequels, and basically re-does what they tried in Halloween: H20, probably better this time. Laurie is a basket case, leading a crazy life of paranoia and isolation...until everyone finds out that Michael escaped and that Laurie was right all along. There are a number of really creepy moments, and also a lot of homages to both the first movie and most of its sequels. There's also a higher body count, including some weird and/or gory ones. Michael the killer is all business this time; one example happens in a gas station, in broad daylight with people around; you'd think you'd be safe in such a place, but...no.
confirmed body count: 15 by Michael Myers (8 on-screen, 7 off-screen) and 1 by someone else
acting: This is Jamie Lee Curtis' movie, and she turns in a really strong performance as a traumatized victim who's made sacrifices and spent the last forty years getting ready to fight back when the time comes - and now gets her chance. Judy Greer is her daughter, who doesn't buy into her paranoia until it's too late. Andi Matichak is Laurie's granddaughter, who's closer to her than others but still doesn't understand the paranoia. Will Patton is the sheriff, who does take the whole thing seriously once Michael escapes. Haluk Bilginer is the psychiatrist who's a bit obsessed with what makes Michael tick. Jibrail Nantambu is a little kid who has some funny lines. Jefferson Hall and Rhian Rees are British podcasters who put their story first and common sense second, and eventually pay the price.
final word: Great sequel. If they're smart, they'll let the series end here, on a high note.
back to the main review page