Four decades ago, John Carpenter revolutionized the horror genre with Halloween—a tale of a masked, knife-wielding maniac. The film terrified a generation, earned a massive box office haul, and gave birth to the slasher subgenre. Over the years, Halloween has spawned numerous sequels and remakes of varying success. Now, director David Gordon Green and screenwriter Danny McBride have aimed to refresh the franchise, pledging to honor the original while discarding the less beloved sequels. They’ve succeeded in this aim—although whether that’s a good thing remains up for debate.
In the world of the film, forty years have also elapsed. Laurie Strode, once a young survivor of Michael Myers’ killing spree, has morphed into a gun-hoarding, paranoid recluse. She’s estranged from her daughter and grappling with depression. Myers may be incarcerated, but Laurie’s past still haunts her. When a bus accident during Myers’ prison transfer sets him free, he aims to finish the mayhem he started four decades ago.
As a fan of the original Halloween, which remains a timeless favorite, I appreciate the approach taken by Green and McBride. The film captures the ’70s ambiance—not just through costumes and sets, but also in its general direction. Unlike its 1978 counterpart, the new Halloween features a higher body count. Yet Green and McBride wisely refrain from portraying Myers as a mere killing machine, opting instead to depict him as the embodiment of evil. Their pacing is deliberate, allowing even minor characters to gain some depth before meeting their inevitable gruesome end.
What’s particularly intriguing is the sequel’s handling of the lingering impact of Myers’ earlier murders, not just on Laurie but also on her daughter and granddaughter. While Laurie’s life remains consumed by fear, her daughter deals with the aftereffects of her traumatic upbringing, and her granddaughter sees Myers as a dark footnote in family history—that is, until now. Green and McBride give viewers room to piece things together themselves, often merely implying violence or cutting away after building tension. This might alienate younger viewers expecting more overt horror, but the focus here is more on the consequences of violence.
Early in the film, a character dismisses the five murders committed by Myers in the original film as somewhat tame by today’s standards. Yet when the characters encounter the grisly aftermath of Myers’ new spree, the horror hits home. The chilling impact of these scenes often surpasses the straightforward violence of Myers’ acts, and the filmmakers are fully aware of this.
But don’t mistake this as a sign that Halloween lacks scares. The tension escalates naturally, culminating in an uncompromising final showdown between Laurie, her family, and Myers. Here, Green excels in creating suspense, aided by a strong performance from Jamie Lee Curtis. Add to this the occasional echo of Carpenter’s iconic score, and fans of the original will be elated.
The new Halloween is a no-compromise horror film that pays homage to the original in pace, tone, and narrative. It’s a love letter from fans to fans, approached with utter respect for the source material. However, those expecting the faster-paced, bloodier horror spectacle common in modern cinema might be disappointed. This film is old-school; it refuses to take shortcuts or pander to the audience. Be aware of this before you head to the theater.
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