Halloween (2018) – 40 Years Later, Evil Returns Home

Directed by: David Gordon Green

Starring:  Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Haluk Bilginer, and Virginia Gardner

Synopsis: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Halloween, the franchise that started the slasher genre. 

The slasher genre has used Michael Myers’ foundation to create a number of successful franchises we know and love today. John Carpenter, the creator and director of Halloween is not referred to as ‘The Master of Horror’ for no reason.

Halloween is a refresh of the franchise, it ignores every Halloween movie before, apart from Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween. In the forty years since we last saw Laurie Strode in 1978, she has suffered a great deal of loss and devastation, as she has been preparing Sarah Connor style for Michael Myers’s return. Jamie Lee Curtis does an excellent job of reprising Laurie as a character that has become an icon of the horror genre. 

The Shape is a force to be reckoned with, you can sense the evil and power he possess throughout, and his killings are on a whole new level of brutality. Likewise to Carpenter’s original vision, the dense suspenseful atmosphere is captured brilliantly in every sequence with supreme camerawork. This is the best portrayal of Myers so far thanks to James Jude Courtney, who perfectly illustrates both the movements as well as the overall demeanour of the character. 

Allyson, Laurie’s granddaughter, and Karen, Laurie’s daughter, are played by Andi Matichak and Judy Greer, respectively. In the movie, they both get some killer Myers moments. Due to Laurie’s raising of Karen, their relationship with Laurie is strained. – watch the movie to find out the whole story – no spoilers here. 

Watching The Shape glide through the suburbs of Haddonfield is truly frightening due to the cinematography. Michael’s one-shot rampage upon his return is brilliant and fills the audience with fear, showing he is still a true killing machine who can stealthily sneak up and incapacitate his prey without a trace.  

The return of Michael Myers is a solid one, and David Gordon Green captures the feel of the first movie while updating it for today’s audience. The performances are all top notch, and Michael has never been scarier than he was in this film. It’s amazing soundtrack and intensity make Halloween one of the best horror movies you will ever see. It features some really intense moments, some shocking kills, a suspenseful conclusion, and some really intense moments as well. 

Be sure to check out our reviews for the sequels Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends.

This is not to be missed.