Movie Review: Halloween (2018)

 
 
The most highly anticipated horror film of the year, Halloween, is now out on digital and of course, I had to see it.
The film opens with two podcasters arriving at Smith’s Grove prison mental asylum where Michael Myers (Nick Castle) has been for the past 40 years. The two arrive on the eve of Michael’s transfer to a more secure hospital. As the two enter the yard where Michael and several other patients are chained. We see that Michael has aged, he is balding and sporting a white beard. One of the podcasters, played by Jefferson Hall, reaches into his bag and pulls out Michael’s mask. While Michael doesn’t turn around the other patients go into hysterics.
During Michael’s imprisonment, Laurie has never stopped training, waiting for her chance to kill him. During that time Laurie had a daughter who has become a mother herself. Unfortunately, Laurie and her family have a strained relationship with many believing she has lost her mind. Laurie lives in a boobytrapped house behind a heavy gate. She’s armed to the teeth and biding her time.
 
 

 
 
When the transfer bus wrecks and the patients escape Micheal sets out to continue his killing spree, and boy does he. Halloween has a huge body count. While Michael only killed 5, according to Officer Hawkins (Will Patton) who was there in the original.  Michael goes all out and takes out 15 in this movie and there are a lot of great kills and some great gore.
The movie pays serious homage to the previous films with several obvious scenes, the sheet ghost, the guy pinned to the wall by Michael’s knife,  a stolen car, we see him lurking amongst sheets on a clothesline and there’s a scene that gives a nod to when Michael attacked Laurie hiding in a closet. The title sequence also pays homage to the original film.
40 years may have gone by since Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode first went head to head with “The Shape”, but she has only grown more badass. She’s ready for him. If anyone could go toe to toe with Michael it’s her. Jamie Lee Curtis has cemented her title as a Scream Queen and shines throughout the movie.
 
 

 
 
Judy Greer, who plays Laurie’s daughter Karen, comes off as a hateful, petty woman who repeatedly belittles her mom in front of people right up until the final scenes of the movie where she realizes she’s been wrong her entire life. After the first time we met Karen I began hoping for her death at Michael’s hands. I don’t care if you think your mom’s a nut or not, you don’t treat your mom like that. Plus Karen’s constant whining is just plain annoying.
Andi Matichak plays the role of Allyson, Laurie’s granddaughter. She’s a likable character and has the same fight her grandmother has. I could absolutely see her taking over the family duty of protecting the world from “The Shape”. Matichak did a fantastic job and makes her character so believable.
Let’s talk about Michael Myers. Nick Castle, who played the original Michael Myers, is back as the face of “The Shape”. While we never completely see his face, we do get a glimpse and he doesn’t look as disfigured as we’ve seen in the past. It’s refreshing to see “The Shape” as a human being, not a supernatural, undying force like we’ve been given the impression he was in past sequels. Castle brings Michael to life without a word. That takes a lot of talent. Once Michael puts on his mask he’s played by James Jude Courtney who has Michael’s moves down pact. He looks, acts, walks, and kills just like the Michael we’ve come to love after all these years.
Director David Gordon Green and writers Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley did an amazing job of capturing the essence of both Michael and the Halloween franchise. It was like going back in time and watching the original for the first time. They brought Micahel into the present day without changing him. We, unfortunately, don’t see that happen a lot, most of the time reboots/sequels end up being disappointing and weird (think the Nightmare on Elm Street reboot (yuck)).
Halloween (2018) is everything a horror film should be, action-packed, bloody, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is hands down one of the best horror movies of the year, maybe the decade. Halloween (2018) has earned a 5 out of 5 score from me. Thank you to the writers, director, cast and crew for reminding why I fell in love with the genre in the first place.
Halloween is now out on digital and arrives on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra on January 15, 2019, from Universal Pictures.