Halloween (2018) (watched October 18, 2018)

FINALLY... the Halloween sequel most fans of the cult classic original have been waiting for. This was my other most anticipated release of the year alongside Venom because I am a Michael Myers FREAK. Let me address the one big elephant in the room off the bat: for Halloween fans who have seen most, if not all, of the original “sequels” and “remakes,” watching this movie might very well be a constant exercise in blocking out everything we came to learn from those aforementioned iterations. From the start of the movie I was constantly forced to remind myself of the premise that this film is supposed to chronologically occur 40 years after the original and basically treats all of the sequels and remakes as though they never existed. However, the film does do a nice job of addressing certain misconceptions about the Halloween series in general, seemingly making a concerted effort to establish the parameters within which this sequel operates for both new and old fans alike.

Once the plot is set in motion and I got over the fact that we wouldn’t be seeing the beloved Dr. Loomis character in this one, I got more and more comfortable with the current state or storytelling affairs. There is something exciting about the introduction of new “interested parties” because we get to see a completely different set of relationships evolve- from the persistent news reporters interested in visiting Michael Myers before he is transported to a higher level security prison, to the doctor that basically “took over” studying Michael for Dr. Loomis. In order to help force the audience to keep up with the current film’s parameters, the writers give us new relationships to focus on. However, they also do a nice job of paying homage to the original film and even some of its original sequels, which I will not spoil for the die-hard fan; but, which are very satisfying upon discovery. Now, to the one thing most of us go see horror movies for: the KILLS.

Once Michael breaks free and again finds himself running rampant, the kills come often and varied. The writers develop a series of kills that almost perfectly depict a duality of kill styles. Some occur with a sort of “old school” feel that shows the victim in an increasingly compromising position, leaves the actual killing to the imagination constructed with cutaways and sound, and then shows the aftermath. Other kills come very sudden, with not even the slightest hint of calculated reason, and with loads of blood and gore. It is in this duality of kill styles where we find the most obvious homage being paid to the older horror movie style for the long-standing fans, and where the modern day appetite for destruction is also well satiated.

The movie’s plot is far from being free of contrived parts that are better overlooked than analyzed; but, most horror movies are. Plus, those spots are so quickly rushed over to further the film’s plot that we aren’t given much time to overthink them. The ending, in my opinion, also works to leave some grey area as to the future of not only Michael and the franchise, but also the new characters introduced. Again, I won’t spoil it for anyone; but, stick around for a small post-credits extra as well. After “A Quiet Place," Halloween (2018) was easily my most enjoyable horror/thriller movie of the year; and, like with “A Quiet Place,” I will most certainly be watching this one a number of times over, especially given the fact that it runs 1 hour and 45 minutes long, while feeling even shorter than that because of how incessant the action is.

If you're looking for a "cheap thrill," then I would most certainly suggest you watch this film as soon as possible; and, preferably on a big screen (whether in theaters or at home). Halloween (2018) easily gets 4 reps out of 5 from me; and, I can only hope that another sequel does not take another 40 years to release.

Did the 2018 Michael Myers make the cut on your list of 2018 villains to face?