By Bryce Wellenreiter
Forty years after Laurie Strode’s traumatizing encounter with Michael Myers, the serial killer escapes a bus transfer and Strode must once again confront Myers head-to-head on Halloween night.
This film is a direct sequel to the original 1978 Halloween, ignoring details from the four other timelines; details like Myers and Strode being related, Myers’s niece, the remake, and the anthology timeline. Halloween (2018) shows the return of John Carpenter, the creator of the original Halloween (1978) movie, and Jamie Lee Curtis back in the role of Laurie Strode.
This film was better than some of the previous films, it is close to being shot like the first film. There are some amazing views, such as a one-take shot following Myers as the camera moves at pace with him. It even introduces the return of the original iconic theme music, as well as new music composed by John Carpenter, which was exciting for viewers.
Curtis gives an amazing performance as Strode once again, showing how the encounter with Myers has affected her and the relationship she has with her family. Halloween (2018) also introduces new characters, such as Strode’s daughter and granddaughter and their actors give some really good performances. Myers is terrifying as ever in this film with his emotionless and soulless personality, and he is even more brutal in this film compared to the first with the deaths not being overly gory, but still shocking.
The 2018 film has a lot of references to other Halloween films, such as the mask from Halloween III: Season of the Witch, and even references to when Myers and Strode were related. The final showdown between Myers and Strode is one of the top moments in this film. Strode and Myers switch places in scenes that mimic the original film, like when Strode falls off the top deck and disappears instead of Myers. Carpenter’s cinematography grabs viewers’ attention, with Strode walking through her house and locking it down while searching for Myers—a very suspenseful scene.
Unfortunately, the film’s ending was anticlimactic. There were a few negative points I had about this film, such as the reporters and Michael’s doctor being so interested in having Michael talk, which felt weird. The obsession Myers’s doctor had with him was poorly written. Even though the original Dr. Loomis was interested in learning about Myers, the new doctor’s obsession was too much, in my opinion, especially when he put on Myers’s mask—that was kind of dumb.
Overall, I think this was one of the best films in the Halloween franchise since the original. It is very fun and rewatchable. It’s highly recommended that you watch it, as I think this timeline is the best in the series.
