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‘Halloween’ 2018 is the Sequel worth the 4 Decade Wait! (Review)

Occasionally you will hear people say the following things about sequels: ‘The First One was Better’, ‘The Book was Better’, or ‘The plot didn’t make any sense’.

I would say about 68% of the time, I find myself inclined to feel the exact same way in regards to sequels. However, when it comes to Halloween 2018, I would have to say that it falls into a category all on its own. While nothing will ever compare or beat John Carpenter’s original classic 1978 film, this one comes dang near close. Out of all the ‘sequels’ that have been put out for the film, I have to say that this one blows all the others away – and does the series wonderful justice.

The film picks up forty years after the original Halloween, and therefore ignores all of the proceeding sequels. (However, I may interject that true fans of the franchise will find a few Easter Eggs along the way). Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has spent those last 40 years, living with her ghost and traumas of the past. Rather than shelling up and hiding away from the world in fear, she forged herself to be a warrior who continuously trains and prepares herself for her rematch with Michael Myers. Because of this, she was quite an estranged relationship with her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and her granddaughter (Andi Matichak).

During a prison transfer, Michael Myers escapes and finds his way back to Haddonfield on Halloween night – where he sets off to confront Laurie Strode once more, killing anyone who gets in his way.

 

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From the minute the film kicks off, an eerie sense of nostalgia kicks in. Continuing on to meeting Michael Myers again for the first time in 40 years, I was on the edge of my seat. If you thought the trailer was intense, just wait until you see the actual film. Without giving away any spoilers, I will have to agree with words a friend of mine told me before, there is a scene near the beginning of the film that will leave you with your jaw gaping. From that point forward, you know that Jason Blum and David Gordon Green are not messing around – quite similar to IT 2017‘s opening scene with Georgie Denborough.

What I truly enjoyed most about this film, was that it brought back to life the original creepy and eerie touch of The Shape that John Carpenter put out back in 1978 and added a modern day gruesome twist that was hugely enjoyable. It is a true treat to both fans of the original, and new age horror fans today.

My hat is tipped to McBride and Green. They truly honored and paid a respectable homage to John Carpenter in so many ways. Jamie Lee Curtis was also absolutely incredible in this film – I would have to say this has been one of her best performances in years. Throughout the middle, there were some scenes focusing on the trauma among a few other flashback elements that felt a little displaced, but overall – I was very happy with this film. The combination of Jamie Lee and our new Michael Myers, James Jude Courtney, served up for quite the epic showdown between Strode and Myers and I do not believe you will leave the theater disappointed.

In closing, it was a wonderful trip down memory lane and this film certainly laid out the tracks for another incredible sequel going forward. Blumhouse did an incredible justice to the series, and proved that even 40 years later… Michael Myers is hauntingly terrifying.

 

Jules Rating: 8.8/10