HALLOWEEN KILLS (REVIEW)
Dir. David Gordon Green
Reviewer. Martyn Wakefield
The first 15 minutes are an orgasm of pleasure for any horror fan. The flashback scene captures everything that made the 1978 original a suspenseful, yet chilling, horror classic from the clothing, the performances, camera lens and THAT cameo all create a killer opening sequence. It's a brief reminder of a time when Michal Myers was a force to be feared
Fast forward 40 years and we return to the moments after HALLOWEEN (2018) with a fire crew attending the inferno that left Myers fate sealed. Unfortunately, what follows is a swift reminder that this is neither John Carpenter or Rob Zombie, this is David Gordon Green's vision and despite what came before, it's clear that the most brutal and violent depiction of Michael Myers is here. An accolade that says a lot when Rob Zombie held the previous mantle, HALLOWEEN KILLS earns it's 18 rating and makes all previous entries look like child's play.
If HALLOWEEN (2018) was Laurie's story, then HALLOWEEN KILLS is Michael's. A more expressive Michael than any previous entry has given us and one that makes art of his victims. For an evil so pent on killing Laurie Strode, he sure has time to kill. This Michael has a statement to make and as such the mythos of him being pure evil incarnate brings a whole different dimension to his character, a visually entertaining one even if contradictory.
Laurie is still ever present and in a film that builds to another confrontation, Jamie Lee Curtis reminds all who the real star of the series is even though she has the least time of any of her appearances in this film. Carrying the emotional turmoil she bought back in the last entry, every bone of rage and vengeance is felt with her screen presence. Her relationship with Frank is heartfelt and she holds the heart of the film. There's credit that the story is well written as a continuation of the events from 1978 and 2018 with each character arc given interesting perspective specifically that of Tommy (played by Anthony Michael Hall giving a performance that rightly justifies not bringing back Paul Rudd) and Karen (Judy Greer).
Tommy Doyle, Halloween III masks, catchphrases and references to a certain doctor are littered throughout proving that while this is a new timeline, there's love for the other movies that came before. That doesn't take away that, for a franchise that is now 12 movies in, one with more retcons than Michael Jackson's nose, HALLOWEEN KILLS feels so far removed from the HALLOWEEN franchise that is adorned by many. The criticism that was carried throughout Zombie's tenure is ever more present here and the film lacks any suspense, becoming a ticker of kills and bloodshed. The knowledge that HALLOWEEN ENDS is yet to come means the stakes are never raised too high to have a satisfying conclusion.
HALLOWEEN KILLS is the most barbaric, violent and visually pleasing horror film of the series and will have many horror fans screaming in ecstasy at the sheer levels of violence allowed by the BBFC. However, for those who love and cherish the original classic, there's little left of the soul that makes this relatable. Yes, it follows the events but it is a different film with a different heartbeat, and one that will stay in the shadows as a sequel and little more than the goriest entry in the series. Despite anything that came before, HALLOWEEN KILLS firmly cements that Michael Myers is not human, he is pure evil and how do you kill pure evil?
