NEW REVIEW:
HALLOWEEN KILLS ★★½
Having firmly established a new mythology for continuing the franchise, by ignoring all previous sequels and focusing on the aftermath of events from the original 1978 film, the 2018 "Halloween" gave us a worthy return to Haddonfield. As that film closed Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) were battle-bruised but content that they had rid the world of Michael Myers. Or so they thought.
In particularly brutal fashion, Myers escapes his flame-blazing hell-journey by knifing his way through a firefighting rescue team. In response the neighborhood of Haddonfield is led into a frenzied revolt by none other than Tommy Doyle (Anthony Michael Hall, "The Breakfast Club"), one of the kids babysat by Laurie on that fateful 1978 night. As this is going on, bed-ridden Laurie shares a hospital room with a recovering Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton, "Copycat"), who was attacked by crazed Dr. Sartain in the previous film. Both desperately want to help fight against Michael, once they realize that he's not dead, but are rendered virtually useless due to their injuries. This makes Laurie even more frustrated, as her family tries to compensate by finding their own ways to confront the danger.
"Halloween Kills" isn't as organized as the 2018 film was. The ensuing chaos on screen is at times almost as confusing to us as it is to the characters, which breaks up the tension from time to time. But there is some suspense and plenty of gore attacks for fans of the genre. The story does gain forward motion as we reach the dramatic climax that sets up the final chapter, next year's "Halloween Ends." It is a sufficiently executed and well-acted continuation that we do want to know how the saga will conclude. On that level, the movie works even if it's just a notch below the surprisingly effective previous entry.
FLASHBACK REVIEW:
HALLOWEEN (2018) ★★★
John Carpenter's "Halloween" was a milestone moment in independent film making, grossing $70 million worldwide on a budget of $300,000 partly on the strength of good reviews and word of mouth. It also introduced audiences to two iconic horror genre characters, babysitter Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and evil incarnate Michael Myers (Nick Castle). Over the next few decades, numerous sequels attempted to flesh out the story of Myers and his hunt for living family members to kill while destroying anyone else in his path. There was even a remake that diluted much of the character's effect by expounding on what made him into a killer in the first place.
The 1998 anniversary of the series presented a chance to go back to the basics, devoid of druid cults or psychic connections in what became the franchise's most successful sequel "H20," in which Ms. Curtis returned to face Michael (we thought) one last time. The producers had other ideas, particularly the late Moustapha Akkad who had a clause put into the contracts that Michael could never really be killed off. This upset Curtis, who agreed to "H20" on the condition that her character would believe he was gone for good. Then came the nadir of the franchise, "Resurrection" (2002). Now enter director David Gordon Green and Danny McBride with a vision to again wipe the slate clean back to the original concept, ignoring all the entries after the original.
Forty years after the events of the 1978 film, Michael is in an institution where he is visited in the opening moments by a pair of true crime podcasters intent on reopening the old case while taunting him with his mask. The next day, while being transferred to another facility he escapes and makes his way back to Haddonfield, where Laurie has been waiting all this time.
In the prior decades, Laurie has tried to prepare her daughter and granddaughter for the eventuality of Michael's homecoming which has estranged her from them. Her perceived overzealousness and paranoia has made her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) resentful and she refuses to entertain her mother's warnings that danger is on the way. Thus sets up this latest chapter in the storied franchise.
This sequel works surprisingly well as a direct continuation of the first movie. It is smartly written and acted, contains solid suspense and enough kills to please gore fans. Creator John Carpenter has even returned with a good, spooky score. Jamie Lee Curtis infuses Laurie with the same determination she had before, now mixed with a certain bitterness for all the lost years caused by her encounter with Michael Myers years ago. Fans should celebrate this return to Haddonfield.
