In 1978, a small film simply called Halloween directed by John Carpenter starring a then-unknown Jamie Lee Curtis was released. While not the first slasher film, this was the one that became the trendsetter as it became a massive success. Following its success, the film became a full-on franchise even after Carpenter and Curtis left for other projects. Over the years, the franchise went through its ups and downs, but like many others, things started going downhill. After many disappointing sequels, Rob Zombie remade the original film in 2007 to commercial success despite mixed reviews. He followed that up with the 2009 sequel which made money but was universally panned by critics and fans alike. While there were plans for a third film, nothing came of it and the franchise was put to rest. Cut to 2018, 40 years after the original, and Halloween has returned for a new audience.
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40 years after his initial reign of terror on Halloween night, Michael Myers is still held captive at Smith’s Grove. The lone survivor, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has since become a paranoid recluse isolated from the outside world. Ever since her friends were killed, she has been training and preparing herself for his return, fearing for the worst. Unfortunately, because of this, she’s had several failed marriages, and her now adult daughter Karen (Judy Greer) doesn’t acknowledge her. One night, as he’s being transferred to another facility via bus, Michael kills the driver and escapes. After retrieving his familiar suit and mask, Michael is now free to roam the streets of Haddonfield once more. Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) gets caught in the middle as Michael continues his rampage. Now, she, her mother, and Laurie must stick together to survive the night and hopefully take down Michael for good.
Given the legacy of this franchise and especially of the original film, there’s a lot of hype going into this. For years, fans have gotten nothing but lousy sequels and even worse remakes, so things can only go uphill now. And, for the most part, this film definitely succeeds at recapturing what made the original film work in the first place. For one, Jamie Lee Curtis is easily the highlight of this film, showing what her character has gone through. She’s effectively channeling Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, going from a frightened victim to a strong-willed character. At the same time, you see how her PTSD and paranoia has affected her and made her so distant. In addition, David Gordon Green’s direction is on-point, clearly having studied Carpenter’s style while adding his own voice to it. There’s some genuine suspense and tension built up throughout the movie.
While there are some characters that are somewhat annoying, they don’t overstay their welcome or are quickly disposed of. Newcomer Andi Matichak does a good job, and Judy Greer is sympathetic and really shines in the third act. The score, once again composed by John Carpenter, is just as effective as it was years ago. This movie is also filled with homages not just to the original, but also to other films in the franchise. This definitely feels like a film that was made by Halloween fans for Halloween fans. Whereas the Rob Zombie movies tried to make Michael more human, this one makes him more a force of nature. This film reminds us what made The Shape so scary to begin with, just killing without reason or remorse. Overall, the newest Halloween, while not quite as good as the original, is still the best we’ve seen in years.
