"He's waited for me... I've waited for him." - Laurie Strode.
"I'm watching 'Halloween'". "Which one? The original from 1978? Or the 2007 remake directed by Rob Zombie? OR, do you mean the 2018 film that's a direct sequel to the original but is still simply called 'Halloween'"?! Once you've wrapped your head around that, then you can actually relax and enjoy this latest instalment in one of the most iconic horror franchises ever made. Ignoring the messy plot holes of the many sequels to John Carpenter's original film, this new film hits the reset button and takes the story of serial killer Michael Myers back to its grisly roots. With Jamie Lee Curtis returning as Laurie Strode and the filmmakers intent on showing respect to Carpenter's original, Halloween is a more distinguishable chapter in the series, and one that more than lives up to the masterpiece that preceded it.
Forty years after a terror-filled killing spree on Halloween night, Michael Myers (portrayed by both James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle) remains in custody, refusing to utter a word. Visited by podcast duo Dana (Rhian Rees) and Aaron (Jefferson Hall), Myers remains silent as his latest doctor, Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), informs them that Myers is "pure evil". Meanwhile, Myers survivor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been anticipating an escape from the masked maniac, but in the process is alienating her family. Laurie's wish comes true when Myers escapes and returns to Haddonfield, destined to encounter each other again...
After so many sequels which made the backstory increasingly complicated and bizarre, Halloween makes things much simpler again. Gone is the idea of Michael and Laurie being related, which is referenced in one scene. The idea of Michael Myers being pure evil is focused on once again, and it's done very effectively. Before donning his iconic mask again, we see Michael from the back only, never getting a clear view of his face. The characters around him act with increasing paranoia. At one point, the reveal of the mask is enough to make several inmates and a dog go crazy. There are also several moments of Michael barely being visible in the background, with the camera keeping him out of focus, which builds tension nicely. Finally, he acquires his mask and returns to his murderous ways. Even with the mask on, he is rarely seen in clear detail and we never see his eyes, giving him a more monstrous appearance. I loved the unexpected inclusion of Nick Castle reprising the role for some scenes. It's really cool they included him, as they could of just used James Jude Courtney for the whole film. It's this level of respect for the original cast that makes this entry in the series standout, and they do just as good a job with our protagonist, Laurie.
Never forgetting the life-changing night she first encountered Michael Myers, Laurie Strode has changed drastically from her happy-go-lucky life seen in the first film. Now choosing to isolate herself from her family and booby-trapping her house Home Alone style, Laurie is driven by a desire to kill Michael. She's arguably a more dangerous character than Michael, as she is seen to be increasingly unstable as her obsession grows and grows. Such is the disturbing nature of her obsession, that her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and her husband Ray (Tony Huss) no longer welcome her to family events. This moves her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) to contact her more often, which places her directly on Michael's hit-list. Jamie Lee Curtis slips back into the role with ease, but also brilliantly portrays the new side of the character. Never is her new role as a bad-ass protector unbelievable, and that's largely thanks to Curtis and her commitment to the role.
Whilst the film is intent on paying homage to the original, one drastic departure is the level of violence. The first film was mainly a blood-less affair, relying on suspense. Halloween also has fantastic tension, but this time the resolutions are incredibly violent. The violence is portrayed in a disturbingly realistic manner, with Michael viciously battering, choking, stabbing and bludgeoning his victims. Never is the violence over-the-top (aside from one scene of a head being crushed), and there a no irritating cutaways. The violence is there to shock us and make us fear Michael, and also stacks the odds against our protagonists, making Michael appear unstoppable. Following sequels that made the violence too silly (see 2002's Halloween: Resurrection), Halloween's focus on gritty, heart-pounding violence is certainly a welcome return, creating a much scarier and intense film.
Eagle eyed viewers will find plenty of Easter eggs throughout Halloween, especially when it comes to the brilliant cinematography. There are shots in the film that directly reference the original, but with a unique twist (including the final shot from the first film). I also loved the inclusion of footage from the original to help tie the two together, as well as references to Dr. Samuel Loomis (brilliantly portrayed by Donald Pleasence in several Halloween films). There are some Easter eggs I'm sure I missed, and I look forward to seeing if I can spot more on my next viewing.
With its back-to-basics approach and love for the original on full display, Halloween is a return to form for a franchise that has been running low on energy throughout its history. Having Jamie Lee Curtis back certainly gives the film credibility, and some of the new characters are also very likeable (a rarity for modern horror remakes/reboots). Michael Myers is back to being scary again, and there are plenty of moments of tension and scares. Whilst not the most original film, Halloween is exactly what this series needed, and is a standout amongst a plethora of mediocre/terrible modern re-tellings of horror classics. I just wish the filmmakers added a subtitle underneath, as simply calling it Halloween makes zero sense!
After so many sequels which made the backstory increasingly complicated and bizarre, Halloween makes things much simpler again. Gone is the idea of Michael and Laurie being related, which is referenced in one scene. The idea of Michael Myers being pure evil is focused on once again, and it's done very effectively. Before donning his iconic mask again, we see Michael from the back only, never getting a clear view of his face. The characters around him act with increasing paranoia. At one point, the reveal of the mask is enough to make several inmates and a dog go crazy. There are also several moments of Michael barely being visible in the background, with the camera keeping him out of focus, which builds tension nicely. Finally, he acquires his mask and returns to his murderous ways. Even with the mask on, he is rarely seen in clear detail and we never see his eyes, giving him a more monstrous appearance. I loved the unexpected inclusion of Nick Castle reprising the role for some scenes. It's really cool they included him, as they could of just used James Jude Courtney for the whole film. It's this level of respect for the original cast that makes this entry in the series standout, and they do just as good a job with our protagonist, Laurie.
Never forgetting the life-changing night she first encountered Michael Myers, Laurie Strode has changed drastically from her happy-go-lucky life seen in the first film. Now choosing to isolate herself from her family and booby-trapping her house Home Alone style, Laurie is driven by a desire to kill Michael. She's arguably a more dangerous character than Michael, as she is seen to be increasingly unstable as her obsession grows and grows. Such is the disturbing nature of her obsession, that her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and her husband Ray (Tony Huss) no longer welcome her to family events. This moves her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) to contact her more often, which places her directly on Michael's hit-list. Jamie Lee Curtis slips back into the role with ease, but also brilliantly portrays the new side of the character. Never is her new role as a bad-ass protector unbelievable, and that's largely thanks to Curtis and her commitment to the role.
Whilst the film is intent on paying homage to the original, one drastic departure is the level of violence. The first film was mainly a blood-less affair, relying on suspense. Halloween also has fantastic tension, but this time the resolutions are incredibly violent. The violence is portrayed in a disturbingly realistic manner, with Michael viciously battering, choking, stabbing and bludgeoning his victims. Never is the violence over-the-top (aside from one scene of a head being crushed), and there a no irritating cutaways. The violence is there to shock us and make us fear Michael, and also stacks the odds against our protagonists, making Michael appear unstoppable. Following sequels that made the violence too silly (see 2002's Halloween: Resurrection), Halloween's focus on gritty, heart-pounding violence is certainly a welcome return, creating a much scarier and intense film.
Eagle eyed viewers will find plenty of Easter eggs throughout Halloween, especially when it comes to the brilliant cinematography. There are shots in the film that directly reference the original, but with a unique twist (including the final shot from the first film). I also loved the inclusion of footage from the original to help tie the two together, as well as references to Dr. Samuel Loomis (brilliantly portrayed by Donald Pleasence in several Halloween films). There are some Easter eggs I'm sure I missed, and I look forward to seeing if I can spot more on my next viewing.
With its back-to-basics approach and love for the original on full display, Halloween is a return to form for a franchise that has been running low on energy throughout its history. Having Jamie Lee Curtis back certainly gives the film credibility, and some of the new characters are also very likeable (a rarity for modern horror remakes/reboots). Michael Myers is back to being scary again, and there are plenty of moments of tension and scares. Whilst not the most original film, Halloween is exactly what this series needed, and is a standout amongst a plethora of mediocre/terrible modern re-tellings of horror classics. I just wish the filmmakers added a subtitle underneath, as simply calling it Halloween makes zero sense!
