Halloween Kills

<<

Haddonfield Reviews

And now we come to this year's long-anticipated (since last year's teaser) sequel to 2018's successful sequel to the original, 1978 movie. This ultimately deleted 'Halloween II' to 'Halloween: Resurrection' from existence, as though the last few decades never happened, and this (along with its predecessor) is a real-time "40 years later" kind of deal. The first of these, I grew to appreciate more than when I initially saw it. But as for this one, I'm not so sure it will have the same effect. I didn't hate it, but I have to say I was somewhat disappointed with its execution.

We start with an intereting enough flashback to Halloween night, 1978, showing us a side-story to the events that took place. I won't go into immediate spoiler territory, but this ultimately leads to a background unfolding that shows us further events of that fateful night. A deputy accidentally kills his partner, trying to save him from Michael (James Jude Courtney/Nick Castle/Airon Armstrong - I'm just gonna credit everyone who wore the mask here), and we even get some hints of Sam Loomis coming onto the scene (Tom Jones Jr./Colin Mahan) for the fans. Said deputy happens to be Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton/Thomas Mann) who, left for dead in the last film, vows vengeance on Michael Myers for everything he's done.

In the meantime, we have what was my biggest problem with the movie; a grown up Tommy Doyle (this time played by Anthony Michael Hall), back in town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his survival, 40 years ago. And he does not let you forget it was 40 years ago. Along with survivors Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens, reprising her original role), Lindsey Wallace (Kyle Richards, reprising her original role) and Lonnie Elam (Robert Longstreet/Tristian Eggerling), they are at a bar, telling the story of the Haddonfield Boogeyman to a captive audience. But thinking everything is behind them, little do they know that this Boogeyman was about to make a comeback.

But what of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), her daughter, Karen (Judy Greer) and her grandaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak); the stars of the previous film? Well, they are taken to the hospital and spend most of the movie there, so events are not entirely unlike 'Halloween II', '78. The rest of the townspeople event end up on a sort of manhunt for Michael. It reminded me a lot of 'Halloween II', actually. Even down to the idea that Laurie is pretty much rendered useless here through no fault of her own. So if you want to see the badass from the last film, I'm afraid you're out of luck. The attitude is there, but so are the somewhat more realistic injuries.

In the end, I didn't find this to be a 'Halloween' movie so much as it was just a movie about mob mentality and the dangers that come with it. It's all about Michael Myers being on the loose and the citizens of Haddonfield out for his blood. And oh yeah, the mob is pretty much lead by Tommy who, if I'm quite honest, ends up being a real asshole in this movie. I get his need to kill Michael Myers and everything based on his childhood trauma, but you often see him as extremely stubborn, selfish and someone who doesn't listen at all. He's so out for blood in this that I'm surprised Michael Myers didn't tell him he needed to calm the hell down. The heart that was put into the last one just doesn't seem to be here at all, and it's just some cautionary tale this time around. Here's hoping 'Halloween Ends' leaves us on a higher note than this.

​Rebooted Body Count: 27
​Rebooted Total: 50 (added to 'Halloween', 1978)

​2/5

---