Halloween (2018)

The horror character of Michael Meyers has been drilled into our pop culture since his inception in John Carpenter’s classic 1978 Halloween. Since then we’ve had 10 sequels/remakes, the most recent coming in 2009. Director David Gordon Green and famed comedic actor Danny McBride have decided to throw all these continuations away, and make a direct sequel to Carpenter’s original.
Halloween takes place 40 years after the horrible murders that psychiatric fugitive Michael Meyers (played by two actors Nick Castle, James Jude Courtney) committed. Michael is in an asylum, but is about to be transported to a new facility. Nearby, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) who survived Meyers in the first film has spiraled into paranoia ever since her encounter, taking a toll in the relationship with her daughter (Judy Greer) and granddaughter (Andi Matichak).
This sequel is certainly above any of the previous iterations of the character. Given that the original hasn’t aged well, this is as scary and satisfying as the franchise will get (for now, a sequel seems to already be in the works). David Gordon Green and Danny McBride bring about an updated style that suits Meyers and Laurie very well. There’s some experienced holding-back in moments of tension, and truly original twists and scares.
The 1978 version was advanced, in feministic terms, with its portrayal of Laurie being able to defend herself (and not needing a man to do it for her); this 2018 version takes it a step further. Laurie is portrayed as a badass, and her character, along with Greer’s and Matichak’s, is the core resistance to Meyers’ evil. I also noted more black characters in the film (albeit in minor roles), with Jibrail Nantambu, who plays a young kid being babysat, being the funniest and, perhaps, best part of the entire movie.
Even so, Halloween isn’t able to run away from the clichés in its genre. While there are certainly original moments and noble homages to Carpenter’s film, the cheap jump scares and predictable frights (he’s gonna grab her foot!) are all still there. The film does manage to keep things tense up until the final act, where the Meyers encounter with Laurie drags on for what seems to be ages.
Overall, this Halloween sequel is definitely worthy of its original predecessor; however, it doesn’t grow out of being simply an entertainment piece with a bit a flourish. For most, though, that’s simply enough to have a good time.
6.7/10
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