Many people look at the X-Men films for fox and say they don’t care about continuity, but what about the Halloween movies? I mean here you have a timeline where you have 1,2 & 4-6 existing as one story. Then you have 1, 2, H20 & Resurrection existing. While H3 sits out in the outfield with Rob Zombie wildly divisive duology remake. Now, forty years after the original, we have yet another entry making Halloween feel more like a multiverse than a franchise. For the 2018 film, it ignores every sequel after the original and serves a direct sequel to its’ source material. Halloween (2018) picks up forty years after the original film and pits Laurie Strode against the Boogeyman, Michael Myers. Michael has been locked up in smith’s grove until one faithful evening he returns to Haddonfield.
Can we talk about Jamie Lee Curtis though? Curtis’ Laurie Strode has gone through the ringer in the years since her first encounter with Michael. Becoming a survivor and focusing on killing the boogeyman. It’s cost her greatly from divorces and child serves taking her child away. Her home is the equivalent of a doomsday bomb shelter and she has learned her way around guns and passed it onto her children. Curtis turns in an electrically charged and emotional performance Laurie Strode. Balancing brokenness and strength in perfect harmony.
While Curtis steals the light from Myers in this installment, its equally intriguing what's happening behind the camera. Director, David Gordon Green, takes up the mantle from executive producer and creator John Carpenter without flaw. Green manages to not only pay homage to the roots but move the film forward into our generation. Let's not forget about writing partner, Danny McBride. McBride, primarily known for his comedic roots, brings not only fear back to Haddonfield but also manages to throw a couple genuine laughs along the way. One babysitting kid in particular leaves a lasting impression.
While the film delivers something by that most Halloween fans have wanted for a long time, its not without its faults. There are a couple of nods to the original film that are cool to see as a fan but at the same time make the film feel predictable. Then there are a couple characters that revolve around certain Strode generation, Allyson, that are a waste of screen time. They don't move the film forward at all. However, I will say that Allyson actress and newcomer, Andi Matichak, performs above and beyond. Ultimately holding her own against Jamie Lee Curtis.
Overall, Halloween (2018) is a welcome addition to the Halloween lore. A film that ignores its predecessors and does what none of them probably could. Showcase a character both strong and broken in the same breath. However, there a couple of unnecessary characters and a issues with the films final act. Slightly missing the mark of perfection, this is a film that will truly stand out in the genre.
FINAL SCORE: 4.5 / 5
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