Inside The Thorn Trilogy: Halloween 6 Producer's Cut

Welcome back everyone. Here we are with the last chapter of The Thorn Trilogy. So far, it's been quite a journey. We had The Return of Michael Myers in 4. It was very much a back to basics approach for the franchise. Then they followed it up with The Revenge of Michael Myers. This was a bit of a mess of a film. I understand that there are people that like it. But my biggest complaint is Tina and the humor in the film. Honestly, it wouldn't feel out of place in a Friday the 13th film. 

As much as I'd like to just forget it, I can't. It has some things that would factor into the next film. But it was because of the disappointment with 5 that led to the franchise being stuck in limbo six years. Akkad wanted 6 to have a good story behind it. One that would be respectful of the franchise and not like 5.  Unfortunately the film would then be made by Miramax and Dimension. And that meant the Weinsteins had a hand in things. 

Now, Halloween 6 is a very interesting film. The film was made and then the studio got to see an early cut of it. They hated it. It didn't fit what they were expecting from a Halloween movie. There was also some test screenings that didn't have much good things to say about that flick. So instead of going with their gut, the studio - well The Weinsteins wanted to double down on their investment with this franchise. Thus, reshots were completed and a different flavor was added to make the theatrical cut of Halloween 6. Got it?

Okay, so here's a note I'd like to make. Here on out when I'm referring to the theatrical cut, it'll be called The Weinstein Cut. I also had a couple moments where I was trying to figure out if I should appeal to one cut or the other. Should I review both of them? Well, ultimately I decided that I would be covering The Producers Cut. I have seen The Weinstein Cut. But it just doesn't sit right with me. The Weinstein Cut also doubles down on the slasher formula. 

The interesting thing about either Halloween 6 is that neither cut gets picked up again in the franchise. After Halloween 6, they chose to make Halloween H20 which ignored the continuity of The Thorn Trilogy. So either ending could be considered an ending for this trilogy. It just depends on the viewer. Personally, I will take the Producers Cut ending over The Weinstein Cut anyday. 

The story of The Curse of Myers goes like this:

Six years ago, Michael Myers terrorized the town of Haddonfield, Illinois. He and his niece, Jamie Lloyd, have disappeared. Jamie was kidnapped by a bunch of evil druids who protect Michael Myers. And now, six years later, Jamie has escaped after giving birth to a child. She runs to Haddonfield to get Dr. Loomis to help her again. Meanwhile, the family that adopted Laurie Strode is living in the Myers house and are being stalked by Myers. It's the curse of thorn that Michael is possessed by that makes him kill his family. And it's up to Tommy Doyle and Dr. Loomis, to stop them all.

How does the film hold up? 

Honestly, I enjoy this film a lot. It's a lot better than Halloween 5 for sure. It does ask us to take some liberties with the lore. Actually, Halloween 6 asks a lot to be done with the lore. Now it may seem like it comes out of nowhere. It actually doesn't come out of nowhere. The whole mythology with the evil of Michael being tied into Samhain. That actually is something that is touched on the original Halloween novelization. In fact, the original Halloween novelization gives us more insight with young Michael and him hearing voices. It ties into there being a history of males in Michael's family having outbursts or fits of violence. That's something that ties in 100 percent to The Producer's Cut. Knowing those things from the original, it helps elevate the material. 

Now, I understand the whole Cult of Thorn is a big hot topic. But come on, we had to explain who the Man in Black is. It makes sense that this whole occultism was a natural evolution of that lingering storyline. 

The Producer's Cut and The Weinstein Cut definitely differ in their handling of the material. The Producer's Cut is a bit more closer to the tone of the original. It feels very much a better continuation than The Weinstein Cut. It's a bit more cerebral. It's a bit more old school horror in a sense. There's a lot of tension as well. There's also a bit of a touch of Rosemary's Baby in it. Whereas The Weinstein Cut is very much doubling down on the 90s horror athestic. The precedent being that less focus on the cult and more on the blood, gore and kills. However, the film kind of loses itself if it's just trying to focus more on the kills. Lots of flash with its style. 

The Producer's Cut also had more of Loomis. It was the version that was shot first. And as we all know, Donald Pleasance passed away before there was reshoots. So, they were a bit limited with the footage available. It honestly was a bit of a shame that Pleasance passed. Because I can guarantee that he would have fought tooth and nail with them against the reshoots. He loved his character and embodied it so much. This was his farewell and The Weinstein Cut definitely fumbles it so much. The ending in the Producer's Cut is both a very fitting yet tragic way of having the character go out: becoming Michael's keeper. 

We have The Strodes returning in this film. Well, Laurie's adopted cousins. It's a nice touch that definitely expands the world established in these films. It's interesting seeing that The Strode Realty business was still around. Kara is definitely a very Laurie-like character. Young Danny is also very much familiar as he feels like a young Michael. Honestly the icing on the cake is that they live in the old Myers House. It makes sense that Laurie's adopted father would never be able to sell the house after the events of the original film. 

The Producer's Cut just oozes the feeling of the original film. It's colors are a bit muted and cold. The Weinstein Cut made sure to make things feel warmer. Which that definitely is the anti-Halloween feeling. Just another example of the studio not understanding the franchise. 

The handling of Jamie is something that is much better in The Producer's Cut. In The Weinstein Cut, they were quick to establish Jamie then two seconds later kill her off. It's a big disservice to fans of the franchise to just fridge a beloved character so quickly. I mean she doesn't necessarily survive in The Producer's Cut. But she makes it to the halfway mark before The Man in Black kills her off. It's a bit more tragic. 

Jamie's baby. That's something that could become a large hot topic. In the Weinstein Cut, it's not really established who the father is. She just has a baby because The Thorn Cult was messing with science and such. It's really messy. In the Producer's Cut, there's a flashback to the event where Jamie is impregnated and Michael happens to be there during the ceremony. It's very much a Rosemary's Baby scene. So more of less, it could be suggested that it's Michael's baby. Or it could be one of the random cultists. So again, it's something that could be a massive hot take. 

Honestly, the whole Cult of Thorn is something that is much more fleshed out in The Producer's Cut. It actually has a purpose. It's there to pass the evil of Michael to a new generation. Nothing with science and experimenting crap. Just simple occultism. 

The Man In Black. It was a bit of a throwaway character in Halloween 5. It was there to just be a reason for Michael to escape in the end. This film takes that and establishes so much. It calls back to the original film with its reveal of it being Doctor Wynn. With this revelation, it establishes that the Man In Black is Michael's keeper. It ultimately makes Doctor Wynn the Anti-Loomis. That's something that would be used in Halloween 2018 with the character of Doctor Sartain. 

I know this whole thing may sound a bit all over the place. Halloween 6 is just a film that has a lot going on. It goes even further with there being two versions of it. Personally, I love The Producer's Cut more than the Weinstein Cut. It just hits the right notes more with feeling part of the franchise's established world and lore. Is it the best in the franchise? No. Is it better than 5? Considering that with 5, they wrote themselves into a corner. The Producer's Cut is honestly probably the best way that they could have ended this trilogy of films. Yeah, it was hoping to be able to go on with it's ending. But after this, we got Halloween H20. 

Rating: 3.5 out of 5. (Better than 5, unfortunately best could be done with the circumstances given. Producer's Cut over the Weinstein Cut.)

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Inside The Thorn Trilogy: Halloween 5

After the success of Halloween 4, the studio quickly wanted capitalize on it. It probably helped that Moustapha Akkad was also wanting more Michael Myers on the screen. Akkad is definitely one of the heroes of this franchise. He kept things going for a while and was pretty consistent in his appreciation for the character and franchise. 

So with the franchise train a-rollin, it made complete sense from a business point to make another film. Plus the fanbase was pretty happy with the fourth film. What could go wrong?

First off, let's take a look at the sypnosis. It's one year later after the events of Halloween 4. Michael survives the shootings and on October 31st he returns with a vengeance. Lurking and stalking, Jamie, Rachel, and Rachel's friends, Michael forms a plan to lure Jamie out of the children's hospital where events lead up to the confrontation at the Myers house. Halloween 5 is a dark, thrill ride that will scare the heck out of you!

That sypnosis sets up a lot of misconceptions with the film. Least the way I look at the film, it feels like a misrepresentation of it. Is it more Michael Myers? Check. Dark thrill ride? Did we watch the same movie? Is Halloween 5 a dark thrill ride? Hell no it's not. And will it scare the heck out of you? Again, no it will not.

Halloween 5 had a lot to do. I mean look at the ending of 4. It literally had Jamie dressed in full clown costume and taking a knife or scissors to her adopted mother. That's a big freaking thing to have to deal with. I mean Friday the 13th had to deal with that thing twice - Part 4 and 5's endings with Tommy Jarvis. That franchise ignored those endings and continued on their way. 

Going back to Halloween 5, what do they do? They wrote it away. Jamie has been staying at a children's hospital after the events of the last film. Oh and Jamie's a mute now. We do have Rachel returning to visit Jamie. However, she brings her friend Tina to visit. When Tina's introduced, I wanted to punch her. She is a character that I very much dislike. She is a complete chariacture of a character. She's goofy and acts zany to make Jamie smile. But for the most part, she's treated as a bit of a humorous character. There's also the two cops. They have a frickin track that follows them round making zany noises and such. That's not dark. That's not thrilling. It's a bit of humor to lighten the film.

At this point, I will say that the film could be considered to be a parody of a Halloween film. Loomis is completely batshot crazy. He uses Jamie as bait to bring Michael out. What the hell Loomis? Why endanger a child? If this film was a bit more of a satire of a Halloween film, then it makes sense why we have Tina and the Looney tunes cops. That would be bit understandable. Is it good? No. It honestly makes it a bit meh. 

The character of Rachel. She is so vastly underused in the film. Quickly, she is basically fridged in order to further the tension for Jamie. Without Rachel, how is Jamie going to protect herself? Well, that's the film you signed up for. It feels like they had a checklist of things that carried over that they were quick to get rid of. I mean yeah, Tina could try to protect Jamie..but she's not exactly competent. The loss of Rachel ultimately hindered this film so much. 

Then we have The Man In Black. There was such a mystery as to who it was. Again, if this would have been done today - they would have known the identity all the way back in Halloween 4 and introduced them too. Largely, they just didn't know what to do with Man in Black. It's just a figure that is shown in brief scenes to establish their presence and then save Michael in the end and kidnap Jamie.

That ending is a bit of a dark ending. Because we don't have Jamie getting away. She is grabbed by that Man In Black. So in a sense, Michael wins as he escapes with the Man in Black. That's just crazy. 

Overall, Part 5 is a bit of a meh in The Thorn Trilogy. It's definitely a product of a rushed production. If they had more time, they may have done a bit better with the writing. The actors do okay with what they are given, which wasn't much. 

Rating: 2 out of 5. 

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Happy Halloween Michael: Rob Zombie's Halloween

Fourteen years. It's been fourteen years since Rob Zombie's Halloween hit theaters. I sit here thinking about it and not sure how to feel about it. 

The first thing is that I feel a bit old. I remember getting up and then driving down to my local theater. I was early and had to wait five minutes for it to open. It was the first screening as they didn't have a midnight release for it. 

I sat in my seat in the theater. I was probably five rows back. It was a good spot because could see the whole screen. I was the only one there. Within another minute, a mother and her son showed up. He didn't look to be more than eight years old. He sounded excited like his mom had let him watch the earlier films. 

Boy were they in for a surprise. The lights came down and the previews started. I forget what they even were. I just know the mom and her son were sitting two aisles ahead of me. Then the movie started...

The family breakfast moment immediately set the tone. It was nothing but pure Rob Zombie. The way the characters acted and talked to one another, it was very in the style of The Devil's Rejects. I sat back and laughed. Immediately I knew this was going to be different. 

For the mother and her son, however, it took them a little longer. After all the Michelle jokes, we had Michael being bullied in the bathroom. I kept thinking no wonder he turned out the way he did - he kept getting crapped on. I had to give some credit that when Michael finally starts pushing back, it was something to behold. And then we were introduced to Michael McDowell's Loomis. Entering stage right, full of himself with his long hippy dippy hair. Donald Pleasance Loomis this was not going to be. 

By this point, I was sold on the film. I was enjoying all the performances. Sheri Moon was doing a really fantastic job as Michael's mom. Her arc was a bit tragic to me. Because she was doing the best she could to keep things together for her family. Literally, Michael was her whole world. I didn't mind Daeg Faerch as young Michael. My only thing was that I felt he talked a little too much. If they would have him say one or two things, maybe just even to mom - it would have made things more powerful. William Forsythe was a whole nother level. The way he was just shouting and acting anyway he well pleased. It was an interesting take. 

Then the big moment happened. Michael blind sided the bully after school. It took me a few minutes before I realized that this was Daryl Sahara from Spy Kids. This was a whole new performance from him. Michael just beats the bully to death with the tree branch. 

It was at this point where I watched the mother and son get up and leave the theater. I'm guessing they were going to get their refund. I sat back in my chair and laughed. I was left watching the remainder of the film by myself. 

The film actually flew by after this. Michael's attack on Judith, Steve and Ronnie were all very powerful. Michael had finally had enough of Ronnie's crap and tied him to the chair before slitting throat. That is very brutal. The way the camera also tends to look right up into Michael's mask so creepy and unnerving. This was Michael in action. I felt a little bad for Steve. He was really in the wrong place in the wrong time. If only he hadn't came over, what would have happened to him. Plus he just really wanted a sandwich. Michael's assault on Judith was a whole nother thing. This is one part where I'd say it hurt the film. 

I understand that these scenes were a good chunk of the first half of the film. But if they would had have Michael shut the front door then we cut to Michael's mom arriving home, I don't think we wouldnt have lost anything. It may have made this whole portion stronger. 

Typically, we are then treated to scenes with Loomis and Michael. The interplay between these two in the beginning was great. We then see Michael just retreating into himself as the years go by. Thus leaving a lasting effect on Loomis. 

Loomis in this film was good. It was different from Donald Pleasance and did its own thing. It never felt like it was overstepping. Plus McDowell gets to show exactly how much of an effect everything had on him - leaving him a little jaded. 

The breakout scene. This was something that was outstanding. Yes, we got to see Bill Moseley as one of the guards transporting Michael. But we got to see Michael's brute strength as he snaps the chains off him. The jack o lantern mask that he wears is my favorite as well. It's a very iconic look. But Michael quickly makes work of the guards as the blood flies. This was everything I was hoping for. 

(Later on, I'd see the Unrated cut. I was expecting to really dig this version of the film. Previously I had kept unrated cuts as my go to versions of films. This one was a pass. I had loved the theatrical cut so much that seeing the unrated cut left a bad feeling. It was all due to a change being the omission of the asylum breakout with the guards to Michael stopping one of the workers from taking advantage of another inmate. It was the one thing that still is just too much. )

After this, then we enter familiar territory. It's a shortened version of the Carpenter film through the Rob Zombie lens. It's definitely a nice modern take. Even if some of the characters were a bit excessive. They took things a little farther. I enjoyed this second half of the film. But it partially plays things safe as events happen how we expect them to. 

Scout Taylor Compton delivers a terrific performance as Laurie Strode. It was more believable. It was less of a goody too shoes. She had a small amount of edge to her. Danielle Harris had an outstanding performance as Annie. Yeah, she was a bit similar to the previous incarnation. However, Harris has such a likeability that you can't help but care about her. Kristina Klebe rounds the three girls as Lynda. This is definitely an improvement. She feels less ditzy. She's more believable as well. Another great inclusion to the cast is Brad Dourif as Sheriff Bracket. Seeing the care that he has for Annie, it makes a more relatable performance. He doesn't want to deal with Michael being round, he just wants things to go according to plan. To the point, it's fun seeing him butt heads with McDowell. 

Overall, I love this film. This was a take that felt familiar yet modernized. Michael was a brute force. Nothing would get in his way once he set his sights on something. Plus the showdown with Laurie at the end in the old house. It was tense and memorable. Another of my favorite moments. The way the film ends with a literal bang. It left me wanting to see where the story would go next. I was excited. It was to the point where I saw the film three times that opening weekend.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Inside 'Halloween Inferno': A Chat with Coleman Films

On Wednesday, I took a look at Halloween Inferno: The Boogeyman Cut. Its a solid sequel to Halloween '18. It also does a great job of expanding upon the world of the film. 

I had the opportunity of chatting with Coleman Films about the fan film.

What was your introduction to Horror?

Believe it or not, my earliest memories of horror are Michael Myers. Something about the

look and tone of the original film really affected us when we were kids. The iconic score mixed with the imagery of the character was something so powerful, it stuck immediately.

How did Coleman Films begin?

ColemanFilms began with James and Vince Coleman, Alessandro and Stefano Korlou at 10 and 11 years old. 

As kids James and Vince had an obsession with Michael Myers,

we had the mask and our friends had the camera, so we thought hey let’s make a movie!

It is funny looking back on it , but our first film ever was a Halloween film. Halloween Inferno is almost like a promise we made to ourselves as kids that one day we would make something so awesome people would have to take notice.

Where did the inspiration for Halloween Inferno come from?

The inspiration really came from a love of the character, and what we thought the franchise could be capable of, had it been given the proper care. 

The remake came out when we were young and it was a far cry from what true fans wanted. Our dream was to one day be at the helm of a studio funded Halloween film. 

After 2018 was released, we

thought, “What are we waiting for, lets just do it ourselves”.

This was originally released in three sections. What led to that decision?

To put it simply. We did not know what kind of reception it would get, or if anyone would care at all. 

We did the first part as a fun project to get our old gang of friends together.

After it was released we started getting bombarded with messages and requests for more. A few fans generously donated to help us fund part 2. We attempted to crowd fund

for part 3 but were not as successful as we hoped to be. 

Luckily both James and Vince are thick headed and we pushed onward and made part 3 with what we did raise, we just had to rework some things in the script in order to fit the budget.

The Michael Myers mask at the beginning on Inferno, how did that come about?

We actually took the 2018 mask to our good friend and special fx artist Michael Del Rossa and gave him a basic idea of what we thought it would look like. He began tearing out

hair and painting the mask, along with several other techniques until we had what you see in the film. 

This was far before any imagery or discussion of what Halloween Kills

was planning to do . I think it is cool we got pretty close to their design.

Later on Michael finds the classic mask, what led to the decision to include it?

We thought in the Halloween universe, the Michael Myers mask existed, as we see Myers stole the mask from a store in the original film. Maybe that is a frankenstein type icon in that universe, so it would not be too crazy to think that a trick or treater would have it. 

We wanted to incorporate a steadicam kill and we thought an interesting driving force for him to follow the couple would be spotting that classic mask. Plus, nothing

beats the original mask and we have not seen Michael in it for 40 years.

Inferno expands the world established in Halloween '18. Both in terms of the scope as well as the characters themselves. How did the decision come about to introduce these new characters? 

We decided to incorporate new characters for a few reasons. One being we do not have Jamie Lee Curtis and replacing her might come off as comical. That being said, I feel that Michael represents evil and evil can affect anyone. The element that really interested me was the aftermath. 

Introducing Lily and immediately hearing her father was killed is a strong way to bring her into Michael’s world. We wanted to make this film character driven. We wanted people to see Barker accept his negligence and become a hero in the end. 

We wanted to see the devastation that Michael Myers caused on more than just Laurie strode.

How has the response been to Inferno?

The response has been amazing, being an artist is filled with a lot of pain and heart break. 

Chasing a dream, no matter what it is never easy. To hear fans tell me I inspired them or that they loved my work is an incredible feeling. And I could not be more thankful to the people who have supported me.

Is there an interest to return for a Part 4? Or a sequel to Inferno?

Is there an interest for a part 4? I will see this…. you can’t kill the boogeyman.

What's next for Coleman Films?

We are about 85 percent done with an original feature film. Keep a look out for that. It takes all the things you loved from Inferno and incorporates them into something completely new and unique.

Check Out Halloween Inferno The Boogeyman Cut on YouTube.

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Road to Halloween Kills: Halloween Inferno - The Boogeyman Cut

Welcome back to Road to Halloween Kills! When we last left off, we had revisited Halloween (1978) and Halloween (2018). 

When Halloween (2018) ended, we were faced with a whole new world. I mean Laurie and her family got away from Michael. They proved he was just a man. And they were able to lock him in the basement of the house while it was burning. 

That was a great way to end the story. Absolutely iconic. And trying to figure out how Michael could have survived. It would be such a wait for Halloween Kills due to COVID. But the hype and excitement was there. Everyone was waiting to hear what could happen next. 

I found a great way to tide us over till October when Kills is finally unleashed upon the world. Over at Coleman Films, they took the time to give us a good idea of what could happen next. 

This was in the form of a fan film called Halloween Inferno. When this was released, it was released in three parts. Eventually it was pieced together in it's entirety under The Boogeyman Cut. 

I remember catching the first part when it was released. At the end of it, I was sold on seeing how this would turn out.  I am happy to say that it delivers a solid take on continuing the story from Halloween '18. 

One of the best thing that this film does is that it expands the world that was established in the Halloween '18. 

Here, we are given more time with the Sheriff Barker (Issac Thompson Jr.). At first, he's just trying to look the other way. He almost doesn't want to admit that Michael has returned. But slowly as events begin to become more tense, he realizes truly what has come to Haddonfield. Thompson Jr.'s performance is great. We are also introduced to the daughter of Will Patton's character from Halloween '18. This was a welcome addition. It also adds another layer to Will Patton's character by helping flesh out this world. It also illustrates how much of a force Michael is and anyone can get caught up in it.

Now, I don't want to dive too much into spoiler territory with this one. Yeah, it's been out for a little bit now. But it's fun going in blind. 

The kills that happen in this film, they showed more of the Michael we loved in Halloween '18. The more brutal. The more visceral. When Michael strikes, it's quick and precise. 

It's interesting that they show the burnt mask from the ending of Halloween '18. This was released a bit before anything from Halloween Kills released, as far as I know. So, the cool thing is seeing how close they got it. Yes, we end up getting the classic mask. However, to me, Michael was at his strongest with the burnt mask. It's the striking imagery that helped. Plus, it helped add something distinct to the character. Not that I am going to knock the classic mask. It just felt a little off seeing a version of the classic back in a more cleaned up look. I am probably just being a little nitpicky.

Overall, Halloween Inferno works. It works as a solid story that gave us an idea of where things could go next. The Boogeyman Cut is the definitive way to experience this as well. It takes all three parts of the film and edits them into one cohesive beast. If you get the chance, I recommend it. It's great and is a nice way to spend some time till we finally see Halloween Kills.

Halloween Inferno can be found on YouTube.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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Road to Kills: Revisiting Halloween (2018)

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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Road to Kills: Halloween (1978)

  John Carpenter's Halloween. The film that started it all. It gave us the wonderful Dr. Loomis, Laurie Strode and defined Evil in the form of The Shape. It hit the world like a freight train and changed it forever. 

  

  Many have talked about the film. I, for one, have seen countless articles about it. What is it about the film that makes it so note worthy? 

  I would say that one of the reasons why it's considered to be such a classic is the story. When you take a minute and think about it, the story is very simple. Dr. Loomis is pursuing The Shape as he returns home to stalk a babysitter and her friends. It's definitely one of the large parts of what makes it work. It's the story of Good vs. Evil. 

  

  I mean sure, there are some other things that happen in the story. But that's the large picture of it. And I would say that it's all thanks to the characters that John Carpenter and Debra Hill created when they crafted this story. They made those characters memorable. Each of them have some thing that defines them. Whether it's Laurie's strong nature or Dr. Loomis' desire to keep pursing The Shape. They are all memorable in some way. And yes, that even includes Bob. 

  Then there is Michael Myers. The terrifying unrelenting force that is The Shape. He is very iconic. Not once during the film does he utter a single word. He's just there. Dr. Loomis does say it best when he talks about Michael, "I met him, 15 years ago; I was told there was nothing left; no reason, no conscience, no understanding in even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong. I met this... six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and... the blackest eyes - the Devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up, because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil.". He is the personification of Evil. 

Now, I know that there is a novelization to the 1978 film. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of reading it. It had a few things that were really eye opening not just for this film but the franchise as a whole. 

In the prologue, it is the dawn of the Celtic race in Ireland. There was a young disfigured boy of 15, Enda. He was madly in love with the King's daughter, Deirdre. Enda is severely humiliated for attempting to win her love. On Halloween, he attacks and murders Deirdre and her fiancee. The villagers kill Enda and curse him to forever wander the earth, recreating these events. 

Then we are thrown into 1963. We see a young Michael and his grandmother. It is very eerie. The grandmother is concerned as Michael has been admitting to hearing voices and having visions and nightmares (of Deirdre and Enda). It is further discussed that Michael admits hearing voices that tell him to say he hates people. And then there's the cherry on top. It is mentioned that Michael's great grandfather had committed some violent act and that Michael was very much like him. This alone added so much to explaining why Michael is the way he is. 

I understand that there was a high chance it was added by the author of the novelization and not John Carpenter or Debra Hill. But it adds a lot of flavor to everything. I hope that makes sense. But if that is true, then there is a force that is trying to influence Michael. And further on in the franchise, we find out about the Cult of Thorn. Personally, in my head canon, I would agree that this all ties into The Thorn Trilogy of films. And honestly, it doesn't make that storyline seem like it comes out of nowhere anymore. 

The music by Carpenter is amazing. It perfectly sets the tone of the film as well as adds tension to it. I remember hearing somewhere that there was a screening of Halloween without the score. And it didn't do so well. Then they went and added and returned, it worked like gang busters. That alone should help illustrate the power of Carpenter's music in the film. And it is a character in the film as well. 

Now, the violence in Halloween. It's not something that I would consider to be super violent. There isn't much gore in the movie at all. So because of that, it allowed the film to hit with a much wider audience in my opinion. Those looking for a horror film, Halloween covers it. Those looking for a tense thriller, Halloween covers it. It allowed a large amount of flexibility. And I also know that because of there being not much gore that there are some parents that will use it as a way to introduce their children to the horror genre. I, for one, don't necessarily see anything wrong with that. 

All of this works to make Halloween a classic. The characters. The setting. The tone. The music. All beautifully work together. It's a film that every spooky season is easy to throw on to watch whenever. Or throw it on the tv for background noise, but be prepared that you'll soon find yourself sitting entranced in the story. 

Rating: 5 out of 5. 

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