Ok… Anybody who knows me, knows I’m a huge horror movie fan. Although Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th is my favorite, my second favorite slasher is Michael Myers from Halloween (1978). Halloween is largely revered as being the movie that ushered in the “slasher” movie phase that ruled the 1980s. At that time, I was already a fan and had eventually owned every “Halloween”-related movie. Even the one with Busta Rhymes in it. The character was so interesting. Like Jason (who came after), Michael Myers let his blade do the talking.
Haddonfield, IL, 1963
The story began as six-year old Michael Myers on Halloween in 1963 decided to stab his sister for no reason in Haddonfield, IL. For 15 years, he had been committed to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis. Once he escaped, he began killing again on Halloween in 1978 in the search for Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). At the time, he was searching for his sister who had been adopted by the Strodes in a mission to eliminate all related to him as siblings. That was the story that continued in 1981’s “Halloween II” when Laurie was carried to the hospital and Michael followed. It ended with Loomis blowing himself and Michael up in a room filled with gas. The series continued after complaints of Halloween 3: Season of the Witch didn’t have Michael. So Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers continued the character. But…erase all of that. Because that’s not THIS “Halloween”.
Continue with the slaughter
Continue with the slaughterRob Zombie even took over the remake error with a really good homage to the original in 2007 and a strange and violent sequel afterwards. This Halloween ignores everything after 1981’s Halloween II and continues 40 years later with Michael Myers captured and still at Smith’s Grove. Still slim, with a grey beard and balding head and dressed in white hospital gear, he’s chained in the middle of an open field with a barrier around him on the ground.
Two podcasters looking into his case have been granted permission to ask him questions regarding “that night” 40 years earlier. They want to get information out of Michael before he’s transferred to a stricter hospital that will lock him up forever. Trying to provoke him with his old mask they acquired from the State’s Attorney General, and at the approval of his doctor (a Loomis prodigy)they yell at him to speak. Enter the title card and introduction!
Halloween 2018
Considering their defeat at Smith’s Grove, the two decide to go to the only other person they believe could get Michael to speak: Laurie Strode. We get a glimpse of Laurie’s life after the events of part II where 40 years earlier, Michael had killed five people in Haddonfield. She’s greyer, a grandmother to a high school student. She’s estranged to her daughter who lies to her own daughter (Laurie’s granddaughter) about her involvement in her mother’s life. Stick with me. She’s twice divorced and has prepared for the one day Michael escapes and comes for her. Halloween is that day.
Everything that happens after that is chaos! Because, of course…Michael escapes and once again dons the mask. The difference between this movie and the original in 1978 is there is much more blood. There are also more bodies. I believe I counted 13 but could be off by one or two. Michael is as maniacal as he was then and hasn’t lost his touch. Nobody knows his mission except to kill Laurie Strode and those related to her. There’s a method to his madness yet, I’m still seeking what the pattern is since his killings seem random but at times, seem extremely calculated.
Violent with funny parts
There’s humor in this movie as it pays homage to the original. The little boy being baby sat is hilarious! He is the true definition of a Black kid in a horror movie. Dave is the typical White dude in the same scene. Michael’s strength is even more than it had been before except in the Rob Zombie versions. He’s superhuman strong yet the heroines in this movie are stronger than he is emotionally. Michael Myers isn’t a joke in this film and Jamie Lee Curtis shines (as usual). She’s played the Laurie Strode character five times and this is the one that shows her true strength as a warrior vs. a monster.
40 Years of Terror
I plan on a second showing since I usually have Halloween on in the background when I sleep more times than I want to admit. But this was a great ride and great to have the original “The Shape” (Nick Castle) back to reprise his role as well as Jamie Lee Curtis. Once on DVD/Digital, I’m sure this will be on repeat as well. Go see it this Halloween and celebrate the 40 year legacy!
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