Halloween 2018 Review

After 40 years, audiences finally got a good Halloween sequel.

It’s been 40 years since Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) survived a vicious attack from crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. Locked up in an institution, Myers manages to escape when his bus transfer goes horribly wrong. Laurie now faces a terrifying showdown when the masked madman returns to Haddonfield, Ill. — but this time, she’s ready for him.

John Carpenter’s original Halloween ushered in the modern slasher flick back in 1978, with eight sequels being released. Some of these sequels were good, some were not. One even had Tyra Banks and Busta Rhymes in the cast. Rob Zombie attempted to revitalize the franchise with two decent movies back in 2007 and 2009. Sadly, Halloween just couldn’t find its groove.

But this new Halloween film goes back to its roots. It sees the return of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode since she was last seen in 2002’s Halloween: Resurrection. Nick Castle, the original Michael Myers also returns to wreck mayhem.

But even more so, Halloween redeems the franchise and brings back some respect. It makes us remember what we loved about Carpenter’s original film: It was artistic, original, frightening, and well-acted.

What improves this film, and the story is that you can pretend the last 40 years of sequels never happened. This movie is a direct follow-up to the original, which allows you to skip the other eight films.

The films also turned Laurie from a victim to a freaking badass. Once an innocent teen survivor, Laurie now becomes a force to be wrecking with against Michael Myers.

Director David Gordon Green completely understands this franchise and build the suspense well, earning his many scares. There is more gore in this film than previous installments, but it’s cleverly done. Green makes good use of bright lights, whether it be from cars or flashlights, and the shadowy corner of rooms. There is one shot in particular that calls back to an iconic moment from the original 1978 film, which receives a round of applause.

And of course, Jamie Lee Curtis deserves her own round of applause. She is more badass and intense than ever and acts the hell out of this part.  

This new Halloween captures the magic of the original and brings a much-needed closure to the franchise, with Curtis exhilarating and Michael Myers as pleasing frightening as ever. But, horror gene junkies know that this probably isn’t the last we see of the boogeyman.