Back when it was first announced, I was super excited about Halloween (2018). It had David Gordon Green working along with Jason Blum and Danny McBride. Their pitch was so strong that it was bringing John Carpenter back to the franchise. It had everything going for it.
Then the first trailer dropped. You know the one. Michael stalking the streets of Haddonfield. One continuous take as we witness Michael disappear from the shot and rememerge in brilliant fashion to enact his spree. It was beautiful.
However, when I initially saw the finished film. I will say that I was not thrilled. I was not pleased with it. And it felt a little like it was overrated to me.
But over the years, I have had time to watch the film again. And then I would think on it. Eventually come back to it again. With each new viewing, I began to slowly appreciate the film more.
Now after all this time, I will admit that I was harsh on the film. I went in expecting something akin to what Halloween (1981) presented. Instead what we got was something different and more relevant to today.
David Gordon Green and Danny McBride delivered a fantastic story. It's easy to understand why it was this specific pitch that worked. That it brought Carpenter back. It was because of the fact that it is a different beast entirely. It subverts the audience's expectations so much. And it's a natural evolution of the story from what happened in the original film.
Jamie Lee Curtis also returned as Laurie Strode. I didn't forget to mention it. It's something that did not feel new. The reason being she had returned for H20 and then cast aside in Resurrection. The difference though is her character is vastly different from the H20 incarnation. This is someone that literally turned herself into The Shape knowing one day she would see Michael again. But we are able to witness the cost of that with her interactions between her and her daughter Karen (Judy Greer). It's a very tragic evolution for Laurie.
While we are talking about Karen, Judy Greer delivers an incredible performance. There are many layers to it. With each watch I could see a new layer unfold as the pressure of being trained to be a fighter by her mother was too much. She so desperately wishes for the normal life. And we see glimpses of that life with her husband Ray (Toby Huss) and daughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). Yes, that even includes the embarrassingly infamous peanut butter comment from Ray. But then everything comes crashing down once Michael returns as that unstoppable force.
Andi Matichak also does a great job of making Allyson her own and not just a carbon copy of what Laurie was in the first film. Yeah, we see her be strong with her friends. And she holds her own, especially as she walks away from her boyfriend Cameron (Dylan Arnold).
(Side Note: Arnold does a great job at being a unlikeable douchebag. Karma will hit him at some point.)
Michael Myers. In this film, we are able to see him. Fully see him as a man. James Jude Courtney delivers an incredible performance. He's able to communicate so much in his body language. One thing I wish is that we could have seen Michael's face. I understand that we don't till he gets the original mask - because that is his face. But we've seen the behind the scenes look at the makeup they did for Michael. That's a killer creepy look to it with the milk eye where he was stabbed. But ultimately this is Michael fully unleashed in this film.
Now, there are a few things that I still don't like. It's not the characters. All of the actors and actresses delivered incredible performances. Officer Hawkins (Will Patton), Vicky (Virginia Gardner), Dana (Rhian Rees) and Aaron (Jefferson Hall). Why?
Vicky was a very likeable and awesome babysitter. She had a lot of personality. However, her death felt wrong. Yeah, she could have been injured and then used in the next film. But I chalk it up to the performance of doing a great job at making such a likeable character.
Dana and Aaron. The podcasters. Really, these two characters helped set the film in motion. The trailers even felt like there was going to be more with them. But then David Gordon Green subverts expectations as Michael crosses their paths. Though, I can see where in another story that Aaron could have become the next Loomis.
Maybe that was the point of Aaron's character. Set up a Loomis type then get rid of them. Since fans are going to try to figure out who the next Loomis is. I mean even Laurie asks Dr. Sartain if he's the next Loomis.
Speaking of Sartain, what the hell? His whole schtick is he's nuts? He wants to see what makes Michael tick? Oh, I'm going to just point Michael in Laurie's direction. Let's see what happens. That twist is something that still does not necessarily sit right with me. But again, that's the point. I see and understand it now. Subvert what hour expecting and how you expect it to go. It just happens to come at Officer Hawkins expense.
Officer Hawkins felt like was going to be more involved. I mean it's Will Patton. He's a great actor. He has such a gravitas and physicality to him that you expect him to fight or help somehow. I guess it's taking the tropes of Halloween and then cutting them down. So we as an audience then are left to figure out where it's going to go next.
But returning to the who's the next Loomis? Looking back now, it's evidently clear that Laurie spent time trying to figure out who would be that person. When she should have been looking at herself. She literally becomes the next Loomis in this story.
The gore in this film was intense. It was not over the top. It fit today's modern sensibilities. This is especially evident in the fact that Michael took an officer's head and turned it into a jack o lantern.
The music. Oh, how do I love the music in this film. It's clear to understand why. Carpenter. Well in this case, Carpenters. Hearing that it was John returning to the franchise was awesome. Hearing that he was bringing his son to work with him was something else entirely. The way they work with one another is awesome. It brings the music into today beautifully. My favorite piece of music is when Michael is in the backyard after Allyson's friend. The bowed guitar is beautiful.
Looking back now, I appreciate this film more than ever. It's an effective continuation that evolves the story and subverts any expectations whatsoever.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
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