Thrills, chills and kills

HALLOWEEN Cert 18 Running time 106 minutes ★★★★

Afresh-faced Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) first confronted the relentless killer Michael Myers 40 years ago in John Carpenter’s seminal horror film. Since then there have been sequels aplenty, but now it’s time to get back to the original plotline and celebrate some seriously chilling horror entertainment.

Picking up from the 1978 film, this new movie – which rather boldly sports the same name as the original – smartly ignores the plot twists that have gone before and focuses on an older Laurie (still played by Curtis).

In true Sarah Connor style, she has spent the years stockpiling guns and making her home a fortress, preparing for Michael’s arrival back on her doorstop... just so she can kill him.

In the years between, her obsession with Myers has ruined her relationship with her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak).

But, of course, it’s not just paranoia and as the bodies start to fall when an older but still bloody Michael hits town after being locked up for years, her foresight is vindicated.

Unsurprisingly, there is a chunk of movie time dedicated to establishing the dynamic between the three generations of women (they have issues after all), but it turns out that they add up to more resolute heroes than the old-fashioned scream queen.

Director David Gordon Green may not have real horror pedigree (he made films Pineapple Express, Your Highness and Prince Avalanche) but he handles Myers and any accompanying killings with real cleverness – and isn’t afraid to put in some gory moments. And there are more than a few thrills and scares before arriving at Laurie’s booby-trapped home.

In amongst the gore and depravity there is still room for more than a few in-jokes and references, but best of all is Jamie Lee Curtis who has grown from teen victim to belligerent avenger.

She gives the film a real dose of class and her stoical determination as a woman haunted by a terrible evil, and fighting back at all costs, helps elevate this smart horror sequel.

Laurie has spent years stockpiling guns and making her home a fortress as she prepares for Michael to arrive on her doorstep