MATTHEW TURNER
Special to The Leader
The wait is now over for a return-to-form sequel in the long-running and controversial “Halloween” franchise.
The series has proved to be something of a wildcard following the release of John Carpenter’s original 1978 “Halloween.”
The movie is often seen as one of the most influential and universally loved horror films of all time with huge box-office returns on a micro-budget.
Naturally, this resulted in sequels, spin-offs and even a remake in 2007 which wiped away the story set in 1978 in favor of a more gruesome and less-than-subtle Rob Zombie film.
Fans that have been waiting years for a more traditional “Halloween” film will no doubt be pleased with this sequel, as well as moviegoers that want a good horror film to watch in October that are unfamiliar with the original.
Carpenter did not return as the director, instead acting as a producer and composer delivering a phenomenal score that only Carpenter could. David Gordon Green as producer, however, does a truly great job at giving fans what they want and more.
Green is currently one of the most surprising directors working with many films under his belt raging from heavy dramas such as “George Washington” and “Stronger” to goofy comedies like “Pineapple Express” and “Your Highness.”
When he came on board with frequent comedy collaborator Danny McBride to write “Halloween,” it could have gone terribly. Thankfully, the laughs that are present in “Halloween” are secondary to thrills and as a result Green and McBride’s admiration for the horror genre truly shine.
One of the highlights of this sequel is Jamie Lee Curtis’s return to the franchise as Laurie Strode.
This time, Strode is prepared and acts as an aggressive protagonist.
This is a great addition to the franchise and only seems logical after 40 years of emotional torment on the character.
For the past few decades, Strode has been distancing herself from family and a potential social life to instead set up her house as an arsenal complete with a mannequin firing range in preparation for Michael Myers’ inevitable return.
Needless to say, he does return in the most powerful way imaginable with the bodycount of the first film being surpassed in the first act alone.
To elaborate more on these kills and the plot would undeniably enter spoiler territory, so I’ll leave on this final statement: Despite being quite different from John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, Green’s sequel is a fun time at the theater and definitely a great flick for the season.
Grade: 8/10