Review of Halloween (2018) by Daniel P — 18 Oct 2018

Walked into this film a little hesitant, but darn did I find this to be the best Halloween film since the original.

Although the constant Halloween continuity reboots have gotten a bit draining, having only the first film count and Michael no longer being Laurie's brother returns Michael back to this random, inexplicable force of death. None of the other films, including maybe even the original, have stressed so much the unease of not knowing what makes him tick.

The tight camerawork also may come closest to the original to Michael more of a menacing thing than man. The scares are kept pretty varied as the direction for Michael's appearances and kills shift seamlessly between subtle and in-your-face. In an age when slashers have become predictable, this movie manages to surprise at points in its ferocity.

The film looks good in general with the whole thing having this 70s look that manages to utilize darkness without sacrificing color. The opening sequence is a very effective and weird-little variation on the original into. The classic music theme is back.

The script does a surprisingly good job of delving into the emotional and psychological aftermath of Michael's killings. There is a lot of setup and exposition before Michael escapes, but the dialogue is so smooth, it isn't an issue. There are actually a few funny lines spread throughout.

I really liked Jamie Lee Curtis' performance as Laurie Strode even more than her portrayal in H20, and she was already pretty good in that. Here she is a half-crazed, survivalist grandma suffering from PSTD. Curtis easily switches between tough and tormented. Credit should also be given to Andi Matichak as the granddaughter. She gives a good job of playing the new young heroine, and I kind of wished she had more screentime.

Only big knitpick is that the authorities use movie logic here, and there is some suspension of disbelief in how they handle things.