Halloween [2018] (4 Stars)

The name of this film is puzzling. In 1978 John Carpenter made a film called "Halloween", which is hailed as the first modern slasher film. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" was made four years earlier, but I think I understand what people mean when they call "Halloween" the first. It was the first film to show a seemingly all-powerful person killing non-stop, some victims planned while others were just unlucky enough to get in the way.

After the original film seven sequels were made from 1981 to 2002. "Halloween 2" was acceptable, but there was a steady drop in quality with each passing sequel. No other director could match the sheer terror of John Carpenter's minimalist classic. In 2007 the film series was rebooted with a second film called "Halloween". That name made sense. When rebooting a film series it's customary to use the first film's name again. The reboot was popular with film-goers, but not with the critics. I haven't seen it, so I'll refrain from commenting here.

Now there's yet another film called "Halloween". Does that mean it's a second reboot? That's what the name would suggest, but it isn't. The new film is a direct sequel to the original 1978 film, ignoring all the other sequels. You can think of it as a reboot of "Halloween 2". "Halloween 2b"? Whatever it should be called, the name adds confusion when you want to order it in a store. Led Zeppelin did something similar with their albums. Their first album was untitled, as are the first albums of many bands, so it was referred to as "Led Zeppelin". The second was called "Led Zeppelin 2". The third was called "Led Zeppelin 3". Then they released an untitled fourth album, so it would have been simply "Led Zeppelin" again. Most fans call it "Led Zeppelin 4", but that wasn't the band's intention. In the same way, the new Halloween film will probably be given a fan name, something like "Halloween 2018".

The premise of the new film is simple. Michael Myers has been in prison for 40 years. The sole survivor of the 1978 massacres, Laurie Strode, has been obsessed with him all this time, expecting him to escape and threaten her again. Now he finally does escape, and he stalks her on October 31st 2018.

What's happened to Jamie Lee Curtis, the actress who plays Laurie Strode? I disliked her in the first film because she looked so unfeminine. I have no problems with a woman looking plain, but if a woman has masculine features it's a total turn off. But somehow her looks have improved over the last 40 years. Even though she's 60 years old, she's the sort of woman who would make me turn my head in the street.

In 1978 I wouldn't have given Jamie Lee Curtis a second glance...

but now I have to stop and stare. Do you see what I mean?

Laurie Strode isn't comfortable sitting back to wait for Michael Myers to come to her. She doesn't even run away, which is what any sane person would do. She stalks him, desperate to get her revenge. She reminds me of Captain Ahab in the film.

Though not up to the quality of the original – which I really ought to watch again soon – this is a very good film, better than any of the other sequels. It doesn't rely on jump scares to terrify the audience. It's a genuinely frightening film.

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Addendum on 1st November 2018

After watching the first Halloween film again yesterday I realised I'd made a mistake in this review. I said that it continues from the first Halloween film, so it's effectively "Halloween 2b". That's incorrect. Michael Myers escaped at the end of the 1978 film, so he couldn't be arrested. He was badly injured (and presumed dead) at the end of "Halloween 2", which also took place in 1978, so that's when he must have been arrested and sent to a psychiatric ward. That makes the new film "Halloween 3b".