Welcome back, Michael Myers
The new Halloween is the sequel none of us knew we were waiting for. It takes place as if it is a direct sequel to the original Halloween (1978), making all the other so-called Halloween sequels almost nonexistent in the movie’s universe. It focuses on a very grown-up, grandma-like Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who has to deal with slash horror icon Michael Myers’ return some 40 years after he first terrorized her. The new version focuses a lot on character building, which not enough horror movies do, and Strode’s journey in this film feels rewarding, in that you can see she has been severely affected on an emotional level by the events of the first film. As such, this Halloween feels like a realistic continuation.
Some may complain that the horror is lame. I didn’t jump once through the whole thing. Hardcore horror fans might find this film even boring in that sense, but I choose to think of it not as a horror film but as the continuation of Laurie Strode’s story. One thing original Halloween fans will appreciate is the fan service. There are a lot of really cool references to the first movie that fans will love. There’s recaptured shots, lines referencing past characters, and even some of Michael Myers’ kills resemble some of his old ones from the 1978 version. If you’re a fan of the original, you are going to get a lot out of this film. If you’re a hardcore horror fan but still not a big fan of the original Halloween, there might not be a lot here for you. Story-wise, this version is better than the original, and yet it’s not a better horror movie. This new version didn’t feel like a shameless cash grab, and it’s nice to know that Laurie Strode is still out there, surviving and trying to move on. Halloween is rated R, runs 106 minutes, and is playing at the Regal Santa Fe Stadium 14 and Violet Crown.