Serial Killer of the Cinema Returns

Halloween Movie Review

Halloween+movie+poster

Universal Pictures, promotional

Halloween movie poster

Matthew Lyons, Staff Writer

On Oct. 25, 1978, the world was introduced to a terrifying masked killer. The mere sight of Nick Castle as Michael Myers is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.

The immediate response to this movie spawned many less than stellar sequels, but now nearly 40 years since the original release, the world will once again be introduced to the killer they hate to love, Michael Myers, in the new movie “Halloween.”

“Halloween” takes place 40 years after the original movie, with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) once again taking down the “Boogeyman” Michael Myers (Nick Castle) after he escapes from a mental institution. The film is directed by David Gordon Green and is produced by, director of the original, John Carpenter.

It’s creepy, violent, and surprisingly funny. 

— Matthew Lyons

So how is it? Well, it is definitely better than all of “Halloween’s” sequels, however, it isn’t without its flaws. The plot is somewhat basic, the acting isn’t revolutionary, and it becomes increasingly unrealistic as the movie goes on. But the biggest flaw with this film is a “plot-twist” that takes place at the end of the second act. It just seemed unnecessary and like it was done for shock value. But, that having been said, “Halloween” is still a very entertaining movie.

It’s creepy, violent, and surprisingly funny.  The cinematography is fantastic, cleverly using dreary and dark colors to set the tone. And the soundtrack is great, as it skillfully uses John Carpenters original Halloween theme as well as silence to create a feeling of unease.

I was also very surprised to see that the film seemed to offer commentary on the modern day Halloween, showing how teenagers dress and what they do. The film also reinvents Laurie Strode changing her from the one-dimensional helpless victim into a tough, complex, survivor with PTSD from her last encounter with Michael.

Even though “Halloween” may not be a movie with an original plot, it took the franchise in an interesting direction. If you’re squeamish and do not like gore, this movie may not be for you, as it’s very violent. But if you like horror genre, it’s a great film to watch.