‘Halloween’ ignores countless sequels to be the best film in the series since the original
For those of us who occasionally enjoy an old-fashioned slasher film which requires no critical thinking at all and makes you jump a few times, the latest in the Halloween series should just what the psychiatrist ordered. Opening October 19th, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is back to face off against the masked Michael Myers once again.
There is only one detail you need to understand going into this film: The story is set 40 years after the original 1978 film.
The plethora of other films that have been released over the years never happened. None of the other story lines where Laurie has changed her name, become headmistress of a private school, had a son, or faced off against Michael fit into this story line at all.
Really…..just forget they ever happened.
In going back to the original, we don’t even know why Michael has it in for Laurie because the brother-sister twist wasn’t introduced until Halloween 2. All we know at the beginning of this film is that he is a psychopath who at the age of 6 murdered his sister and then escaped ~17 years later and went on a killing spree. Laurie happens to be the babysitter that got away from him on that fateful night when he killed 5 of her friends.
Now that you’re in the right frame of mind, let’s jump into this one.
Michael hasn’t spoken a word since killing his sister and the medical community has given up any hope of understanding him so he’s being transferred to another facility where he’ll live out the rest of his days with no more psychiatric attention. Since he’s now in his 60’s, the expectation is that he’ll die in this less-than-desirable facility and those whose lives were impacted by his actions will never have to think about him again. But, of course, something happens during the transport to the other facility (which is somehow scheduled to take place at night on a yellow school bus that has a few interior gates added) and Michael inevitably escapes.
Meanwhile, Laurie has led a very different life than portrayed in those other films (which never really happened in this story line) and has hidden herself away from the world in an armed secret sanctuary of her own. Twice divorced, a recovering alcoholic, and perpetually paranoid, Laurie has a very uncomfortable relationship with her daughter and the rest of the family.
As Michael goes on a murder spree for no apparent rhyme or reason killing every single person he encounters, Laurie is convinced he’s coming for her. It’s hard to say if he really had any plans to find Laurie or if her actions placed her in his path which made her recapture his focus. Either way, the two meet and there are several fight scenes where you think it’s over and one of them must be dead, but then they surprisingly get up and hide only to jump out and attack again.
Until the inevitable end happens…..or is it really the end? Is Michael really dead this time?
Will this killing machine resurface in the future leaving carnage all around him well into his 70’s and 80’s? We’ll probably have an idea after box office numbers are released.
While this is by no means a terrifying film for horror fans who have become desensitized by the genre, it is definitely an entertaining evening especially since it not even 2 hours long. If you’re looking for something new this October to get you into the creepy Halloween mood, this film should be on your list. Obviously, the film earned its R rating due to graphic violence so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger audiences.
Overall, after having binged on all but one of the Michael Myers movies in the franchise, I would definitely say this Halloween is the best of the series and horror fans shouldn’t be disappointed.
Halloween receives 4 out of 5 stars
Author: Debbie Sage
The new film is directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express) and also stars Judy Greer, Will Patton, Andi Matichak, Virginia Gardner and Nick Castle.
Halloween will be distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures. www.HalloweenMovie.com
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