It may be nowhere near October, but there's no bad time to watch a Halloween film, with this one in particular ranking as one of the best sequels from everything that has followed the original 1978 film.
“Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Master of horror John Carpenter joins forces with director David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum (Get Out, Split) for this follow up to Carpenter’s 1978 classic.”
The film opens with Aaron Korey (Jefferson Hall) and Dana Haines (Rhian Rees), two investigative journalists creating a podcast of the events of the Haddonfield murders who have come to visit Michael Meyers who has been in a mental institution for the past 40 years since that fateful night on Halloween in 1978. After speaking with Michael’s current doctor, Dr. Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), they learn that Michael hasn’t spoken a word since his incarceration. Armed with Michael’s original mask from 40 years ago, the pair of journalists unfortunately get no response after dangling the mask in front of him. Learning that Michael is about to be transferred to another institution to be locked away the rest of his life, Aaron and Dana visit Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) to try and convince her to meet with Michael for one last chance to get him to respond in any sort of way. Of course Laurie declines, and we see how her encounter with Michael Meyers has shaped her entire life. Living in the middle of nowhere in a compound with countless defenses and counter measures, we learn that Laurie has a strained relationship with her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak), who have tried to move past Laurie’s paranoia all these decades.
Despite her mother’s warnings, Allyson wants to involve her grandmother in her life. Laurie can barely function in the outside world thanks to that traumatic event, and warns her family of the upcoming danger. When Michael’s transport bus crashes and Michael is nowhere to be found, Laurie goes into overdrive wanting to protect her family and find Michael to finish the job she wanted to finish 40 years previous.
For anyone who doesn’t know, Halloween ignores every other Halloween film except the first, including some of the vital connections as Laurie being Michael’s sister. It’s hard to express my exact feelings on the subject, as this choice definitely has both pros and cons when it comes to story and continuity, but fans of the franchise should have no difficulty in separating things, as the film franchise has led one of the most fragmented ones in history. You could watch it as 1,2,7,8. 1,4,5,6, or Rob Zombie’s 9 & 10. With 3 being all by it’s lonesome. Now, 1 then 11. Regardless of how you want to watch them, cutting out the middle without having to remake the film again was a bold move by the creators, and one that really works. Michael Meyers does lose that supernatural element to his character which in some ways I did miss, but it makes the story and the consequences for both protagonist and the antagonist all the more real.
What’s most interesting about this go-around is how Michael’s character has changed. He doesn’t have that unstoppable desire to track down Laurie or whoever he was focused on at the time in each film, with some weird psychic connection to finding them wherever they are. It’s hard to tell his exact motivations, because he does make it to Haddonfield on Halloween, but his focus seems to be all women, as in one of the most frightening sequences he casually walks the street and enters several homes for one reason alone. Is he looking for someone in particular? It’s never directly said, but I’d like to think no, as the randomness and senselessness of it all is terrifying. This question is posed throughout the film by Dr. Sartain, if he has a drive or if it’s all random. It’s left up to the viewer to make their own determination because honestly it could go either way by what we witness in the events of this film.
Laurie’s character is what makes this sequel work so well, setting it apart from all the other times Jamie Lee Curtis has reprised her role as Laurie Strode. Thinking back to Halloween: H20, Laurie Strode still manages to carve some semblance of a life, moving across the country, having a family and a well-respected job at a private school. In Halloween, Laurie’s life was totally ruined by the event. Staying close to Haddonfield in isolation with a house designed specifically for another encounter with Michael, all her training her entire life, the paranoia she projected on her daughter who was eventually taken away from her by child services and now estranged relationship with her and her granddaughter. Her PTSD from that night has ruined her entire life, and although she’s dreaded the day Michael comes back, she’s also wished for it to happen all her life. Laurie’s not just a scared teen anymore, she’s a survivor, empowered, and out to kill.
David Gordon Green and Danny McBride aren’t the names you think of when you think of people most likely to bring back Halloween to its roots again. Their collaboration has spanned many comedic ventures, but the script that they both came up with is a true testament to the genre and the Halloween legacy. Green’s vision of this film and his style match perfectly and he’s proven himself a very versatile filmmaker, and I’m hoping will tackle, if not another Halloween, then something else in the genre. If it’s hard to do one thing in the horror genre, it’s making unique ways to kill someone. Green and McBride came up with some genuinely unique ways that will bring a smile to the faces of fans of the genre. There are also several homages to the original that only the biggest fans of the film will get, and perhaps many you might miss the first go around: the small hole in the neck of the mask where Laurie stabbed Michael in the neck with a sewing needle, still there 40 years later, the reversal of the balcony scene, the sheet over the head of one of the victims, and several more.
Jamie Lee Curtis hasn’t lost a beat when it comes to Laurie, and although you technically can’t compare her Laurie Strode from H20 to this one, there is a certain bad-ass-ness to her character that she hasn’t lost since then, but also played as tortured and eccentric. Andi Matichak is also a strong presence in the film, providing a solid female lead that will surely be able to hold her own in any future sequels. Will Patton was a good choice as Officer Hawkins, as I’ve always enjoyed his acting and he does a great job in this film. My only complaint when it comes to any aspects of the story was the character of Dr. Sartain. His was such a strange character and his big moment in the third act, without giving anything away, seemed unrealistic and too convenient. Also, I despised the teenage boys and all of their scenes, which were just a waste of time used as filler while we get to the best parts of the film.
As much as I genuinely enjoy some of the Halloween sequels, this film should be all there is. In my opinion, it’s a perfect sequel to the original. It’s more real, visceral, with real consequences.
Video
Halloween is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.39:1. This transfer is exceptional, with the HDR providing the exceptional color range, brilliant brights and deep darks. The first half of the film has a much brighter tone, as well as overall look as we come closer to Halloween night. The film looks very clear and detailed, which highlights all the horrific gore-filled sequences.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS:X. The audio is one of the best parts of the film thanks to a superb mix that is powerful all around. The surrounds are well balanced, used very effectively for some of the scares, with clear and concise dialogue through the center channel. The best part about it all, however, is the score composed by John Carpenter and his son, Cody Carpenter. John Carpenter’s distinct touch is heard throughout the entire film, including variations to the original musical sequences. There are some truly eerie moments that are all heightened thanks to Carpenter’s touch. His music is a large part of what I love about his films, and he puts that dedication back into this one.
Special Features
Some great extras on this set that you can access from either the 4k disc or the Blu-Ray. Although they cover the bases of about every aspect of the making of the film, I was disappointed at how short they were, most coming in around five minutes or less. Still, we get to hear from everyone involved and that’s better than nothing. Here’s what you’ll see:
- Deleted & Extended Scenes
- Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween
- The Original Scream Queen
- The Sound of Fear
- Journey of the Mask
- The Legacy of Halloween
Halloween takes the story of Michael Meyers and Laurie Strode to an entirely different level with this film. It’s a great sequel, a great horror film, and I for one can’t wait to see if there is more in store for these characters.
