Halloween (2018)
(Universal Pictures/Miramax/Blumhouse)
By Lucas Allen
No matter how many times it’s been sequalized and remade, John Carpenter’s original “Halloween” from 1978 still stands tall as one of the quintessential slasher films of the 20th century.
It has been rebooted before, in 1998, with “Halloween: H20,” so it’s no surprise we’re getting a special kind of reboot this year for fans to wipe the bad taste out of the two Rob Zombie films from the late 2000s.
The new “Halloween” is directed by David Gordon Green, who also cowrote the script with actor Danny McBride. As a special bonus, Carpenter himself composed the score, featuring his memorable theme music.
The film opens 40 years after the infamous Babysitter Murders. Michael Myers (Nick Castle) is about to be transferred from the Smith’s Grove institution.
However, the now older Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been preparing herself all those years for the moment he will come back for her. It’s been putting a strain on her relationship with her grown daughter, Karen (Judy Greer), and her family.
During the transfer, Michael crashes the bus and makes his escape back to Haddonfield. Along the way, he adds to his body count of 40 years before. On Halloween night, Karen’s daughter Allyson (newcomer Andy Matichak) is heading to the high school Halloween party with her friends, unaware of the imminent danger heading towards them.
Laurie starts hunting for Michael, while the town’s police chief, Hawkins (Will Patton), and Michael’s doctor, Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), try to locate him. But The Shape is still up to his old tricks, staying behind the shadows and pick off unsuspecting victims one by one. It soon leads to a confrontation between killer and survivor that’s four decades in the making.
The movie can be seen as a bit of a rehash of the original, with The Shape once again unleashed on the poor Haddonfield residents. But for all its intents and purposes, it creates both a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of fresh storytelling. It’s clearly made by people who were fans of the series and wanted to make a movie that pays tribute to Carpenter’s vision. In fact, it’s shot and edited like a Carpenter movie, with seamless strength and intensity. It’s that rare reboot/sequel that recognizes the past as well as the next generation.
On the surface, it’s one of those slasher movies with the usual beats like a masked killer, horny teens and a body count. But underneath, it’s a suspenseful horror film with realistic human drama, including the terrors of PTSD. We sympathize with Laurie, who’s dealing with her trauma and her rocky relationship with her family. The last act battle at her secluded cabin is intense, which will have you exhilarated by the end.
Though the final scene is satisfying, it also leaves it open-ended for a sequel that might be a bit cheap. Curtis plays the older Laurie with courage, fierce and emotional intensity compared to her previous performance in the original. It’s a natural progression that fans will agree is her best performance in the whole series. Castle also returns with a vengeance bringing some stealth moves and heavy breathing to his version of The Shape.
The new actors Greer and Matichak also do a great job adding more to the film’s humanity level.
While it may not convert any new fans of the slasher genre, the new “Halloween” is a near-perfect return to form for the series after years of failed attempts to revive it. It’s also the perfect choice for the adult crowd, while the little ones will settle for light-hearted spooky entertainment. Next time you’re trick-or-treating with the kids, be forewarned that the killer could still be out there somewhere.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use, and nudity)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.75 Stars (Out of Four)
