HALLOWEEN – Rated R – 1 hr. 46 mins.
DIRECTOR: David Gordon Green
WRITERS: David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Jeff Fradley
STARRING: Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Haluk Bilginer and
HE’S BACK…and so is his sole escapee, as we venture back into the life of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who for the past 40 years has lived in the shadows, anticipating the return of the killer that haunts her dreams, and life, Michael Myers, a.k.a. The Shape (Nick Castle).
When Laurie’s daughter (Judy Greer) and Granddaughter (Andi Matichak) dismiss her safety precautions at every turn, it seems that Grandma knows best this time around, as the fate she has feared for decades, has finally arrived!!!
I give HALLOWEEN a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN and WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON DVD: Okay, so anyone who’s been following Matinee Chat for the last 6 years knows that HORROR MOVIES are not my deal. I usually leave this genre of film for one of our other writers to view, as I really don’t won’t to do the film an injustice by not being able to fully enjoy its horror…blood, guts and gore. But, one of the few Horror films that I did view “back in the day” was the original 1978 film HALLOWEEN, and I am so happy that I decided to step out of my comfort zone to catch Jamie Lee Curtis “back in action” within this film. Believe me, she is totally prepared after 40 years to take on the creeper that totally jacked up her life…on that one fateful Halloween Night! Director and Writer David Gordon Green did a fantastic job too with this film, giving it a total late 70’s Slasher movie feel, which is totally reminiscent of the original. I was excited too, that I didn’t even close my eyes once, as between the terror that was happening on screen, Green managed to add in some much-needed humor, which eases the tension throughout this film, thus making it easier for us scaredy cats to even enjoy this one! I also was so happy to have had the opportunity experience this movie with a full house, as the large audience was responding out loud to what was happening on screen…making it feel as if I had traveled back in time to 1978 ~ as that audience responded the same way to the original terror all the way through. Bottom line, if you have loved this franchise and all of the films prior to this one, then of course, you have to head out to a theater near you this weekend to catch HALLOWEEN on the BIGGEST SCREEN YOU CAN FIND! But, if scary movies aren’t your deal, I suggest that you still go ahead and view this 11th film, but in the comfort of your own home, so you don’t miss out on the “classic slasher movie feel” of this latest installment…
Kathy Kaiser
This humble opinion is brought to by you T. K. Edwards
HALLOWEEN – Rated R – 1 hr. 46 mins
Director by: David Gordon Green
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Will Patton, Andi Matichak, Haluk Bilginer
After 40 years, Laurie Strode must face Michael Myers for one final confrontation before she and her family become part of his killing spree.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW
Let’s start with me saying that you should go see this movie in theaters. It’s a great sequel to a great original film that help set the bar for horror movies to follow. It’s the sequel that HALLOWEEN II deserved and nothing else should have followed.
That being said, I’d like to just take a moment to explain why this movie is confusing as balls to your average movie goer. I have 3 reasons. (Reason #1) – Why is the title of this movie the same title as the original 1978 film? I understand you can’t put a number behind it because there’s already been 10 movies, but what if they make a sequel after this one? What the hell is that one going to be called? Btw, this movie does deserve a sequel and it will get one and this will be my main reason for keeping track of it. I want to know what they decided to come up with to title the sequel to this movie to make this franchise even more confusing than it already is. Which brings me to… (Reason #2) – This franchise is confusing as balls!!! The first two films are classics and awesome. The third one isn’t even about Michael Myers – he’s not even in it. The fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth films are forgettable and weak, but do have continuity. The Rob Zombie films are very good and I do enjoy watching them, but they have nothing to do with the prior films or the latest film. Which circles me back to the seventh film, which brings back Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode to fight Michael Myers aka “her brother”. The original 1981 sequel reveals that Laurie Strode and Michael Myers are in fact brother & sister. The seventh film plays on that fact and the new film doesn’t quite ignore it, but does change the characters relationship. They are no longer brother and sister, which is…once again…confusing because I don’t understand why they did it. Maybe it’s because in this film, the writers wanted to focus on Laurie Strode’s daughter and a granddaughter and that would be too much “family stuff” to explain that they TOO are related to Michael Myers. Which now brings me to…(Reason #3) – Josh Hartnett. Poor Josh Hartnett. First off, where the hell has he been? AUGUST wasn’t that bad…LOL…actually it was…LMAO. In the seventh HALLOWEEN film, Hartnett played Laurie Strode’s son…not daughter…son. This new 2018 HALLOWEEN just completely ignores LUCKY NUMBER SLEVEN aka Josh Hartnett and gives Laurie Strode a daughter instead of her already pre-existing son. I guess they thought if they brought Hartnett back that would complicate the story too much…LOL. Now I could go on & on about all the things this franchise has done wrong and taken so many liberties with, but I won’t because even though this movie franchise is all over the place, forgets things, changes characters storylines, is super confusing, and has a title that will baffle people even more later…I still enjoyed the film. It was definitely a great “Halloween” movie to watch and a perfect film to see in theaters, especially this close to Halloween. Go see the new 2018 HALLOWEEN in theaters and help support this movie get its well deserved sequel because I’m seriously dying to know what they’re going to call it. LOL. Until next time, thanks for reading.
P.S. – “There…is…no…postcreditscene!” – William Shatner (That’s for the TRUE HALLOWEEN fans!)
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 