Halloween

Year: 2018
Director: David Gordon Green
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Haluk Bilginer, Will Patton, Rhian Rees, Jefferson Hall, Nick Castle


Plot: Michael Myers escapes during a prison transport and returns to Haddonfield to start his killing spree all over again, leading towards an inevitable confrontation with Laurie Strode, who has waited for 40 years to finish this once and for all.


Review: I had only seen the original Halloween last year, and did not watch any of the sequels that came after, nor Rob Zombie's remake, which is fortunate for me because this reboot by David Gordon Green and co-writer Danny McBride is a direct sequel to the original that ignores all the other films.

The biggest difference between this and the original is not just the time that has passed, but the way Laurie Strode has evolved. Michael is still the same beast he was back then, still as unstoppable and stealthy as ever, but Laurie has borrowed a few elements from Sarah Connor in T2, and is now capable of defending herself. This time, not only has she armed herself to the teeth, she has turned her home into a fortress, all in preparing for Michael's return, much to the chagrin of her estranged daughter Karen, who disliked her upbringing and just wants to forget the way Laurie raised her. Things get complicated when Laurie's granddaughter Allyson becomes a potential victim.

Unlike Shane Black's recent Predator sequel, Green and McBride don't stray too far from the original and delivers a solid slasher flick with a few twists and turns. The body count this time is much higher though, as Michael targets police, guards, hapless neighbors and yeah, a babysitter, just like last time. However, unlike John Carpenter, Green moves the film at a brisk pace. Michael spends very little time stalking here, he just goes on a freaking rampage. While this reduces the suspense somewhat, watching people getting killed one after another is kinda fun.

Of course, the best part is in the third act when Michael and Laurie reach their long awaited showdown, and this is where we get to see three generations of a family fight the boogeyman together. Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer and Andi Matichak (who bears a uncanny resemblance to Kirsten Dunst) all turn in great performances, though Curtis is clearly the star here. Haluk Bilginer plays the new film's version of Dr Loomis and proves to be a rather crazy if not stupid individual himself. Will Patton is also solid as the sheriff, while Nick Castle is back as Michael, with James Jude Courtney doubling for the tougher stunts.

Besides the reduced suspense, I was also not a fan of the typical types of kids that get killed: horny or weird. But hey, this is kinda the horror genre rules that are usually in play, so it's not a big deal. Oh, and I must compliment John Carpenter, working with his son Cody and Daniel A Davies in creating the hew Halloween score. It's a lot like the old one but with some updated sounds, and very cool to listen to.

All in all, this Halloween film is pretty darn good, and I would love to see a sequel to this in the future. (7.5/10)