Director
David Gordon Green
(PINEAPPLE EXPRESS)

Stars
Jamie Lee-Curtis, Judy Greer, Will Patton and Andi Matichak

When Halloween was originally released in 1978, it was a part of the emergence of the golden age of slasher films. Following in the footsteps of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and preceding Friday the 13^th and A Nightmare on Elm Street in the 1980’s, these films and the franchises they created would pave the way for a sub-genre that is still immensely popular today, if not as prevalent. We’ve seen the ‘slasher’ continue to evolve, with a resurgence in the 1990’s thanks mostly to the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer franchises, and more recently with movies like Saw and The Cabin in The Woods, which added new dimensions and deviated slightly from the ‘paint by numbers’ approach of the pioneering films. However in David Gordon Green’s latest Halloween instalment, we’re back to the cheesy, predictable and downright spectacular fare that made us fall in love with the genre some 40 years ago.

From the time the opening credits begin to roll, there is an instant wave of nostalgia that washes over the audience. John Carpenter’s musical composition is instantly recognisable, as are the graphic design elements of the credits themselves. Green is going old school, and we love it.

Acting as a direct sequel to the 1978 film of the same name, Halloween is a retcon of all of the other films in the franchise, including Rob Zombie’s 2007 re-imagining and 1998’s Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. Due to this fact, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee-Curtis) is no longer related to Michael Myers (a fact that was revealed in Halloween II), but is no less traumatised by the events that took place 40 years earlier.

In 1978, Laurie Strode was a babysitter who survived the brutal killing spree of a deranged psychopath (Michael Myers). In 2018 she’s a reclusive Grandmother who has spent the past 40 years preparing to take vengeance on the man who destroyed her life, whereas Michael has spent that time locked up and studied in a psychiatric institution. The combination of these factors was always going to lead to a spectacular showdown.

What’s most enjoyable about the direction of this film is that it’s not afraid to poke fun at itself. Halloween is unapologetically cheesy, and the audience revels in it. It’s authentic to its origins, (which probably has a lot to do with Carpenter’s influence in the writing and music departments) but it’s not going to get caught taking itself too seriously. There is a strong comedic element, best exemplified by Jibrail Nantambu’s turn as Julian; a sass-mouthed but immediately endearing kid, fatefully being babysat on Halloween night.

At nearly 60 years old, Jamie Lee-Curtis shows that she still knows how to kick ass, and generally does it with a hint of satisfaction and good humour about her.  Given the 1978 Halloween was the beginning of her career; I’m hoping that this incarnation sees our screens filled with a bit more Jamie Lee-Curtis awesomeness (I’m still mourning the end of Scream Queens).

If you haven’t seen the original Halloween, I highly recommend doing so before seeing this sequel. It’s not essential to make sense of the plot, but it will make this journey that little bit more special. For fans of the original however; sit back, strap in and enjoy a brilliantly nostalgic ride.

3.5 stars

Trailer
HALLOWEEN

Moviedoc thanks Universal Pictures for the invite to the screening of this film.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter