For some, Halloween lasts all year. The latest entry into the Strode trilogy – Halloween Kills – is nostalgic, brutal, and heartbreaking. I went into this movie not expecting much, I was a bit wrong. It’s much more than just a setup for ‘Halloween Ends’. Critics and fans seem divided. Some loved it, others couldn’t care less.
I personally, as a long-time fan, found it really enjoyable. It offers love letters to its fans but it’s not for everyone. It has a messy premise, missed opportunities, and dead-ends. However, from the incomparable score from John Carpenter, the flashback scenes, to its returning characters. Halloween Kills stands out from a lot of its predecessors. Here’s why it’s effective in the non-spoiler sense.
“Did Michael Kill Again?”
The best moment in the movie for me was the flashback to 1978. The series of scenes clean up the new timeline beautifully, something only briefly touched on in Halloween (2018). The lighting and overall aesthetic transport the audience back to that Halloween night. It’s perfect, credit to all those hard-working people behind the scenes.
As the story goes, it’s a crucial pair of scenes for Frank Hawkins, who was a part of Michael’s apprehension. Including a cameo from someone special. I can’t stress how good and accurate these scenes are. The previous movie only mentioned these events, with not much character depth. Kills, however, explores the trauma the entire town experienced as opposed to just Laurie’s.
Let’s talk about 21-year-old Michael now. The mask was almost spot on to its original, which trust me, no other movie has come close to doing so. With most of Halloween 2 (1981) retconned, the scene shows Myers returning home, instead of chasing Laurie to the hospital. If you think of how the franchise went after the original, I don’t think you’d mind this change.
The Survivors Return
Tommy Doyle, Lindsey Wallace, Lonnie Elam, Marion Chambers and Leigh Brackett. All still living in Haddonfield with the same trauma. While Laurie recuperates, they plan to hunt Michael and kill him. Which is a good plan, if only it wasn’t you know, Michael Myers.
The element of fear is put on full display and seems to be the main theme throughout. These characters have held that fear and represent it. The more we give in, the worse it becomes. A simple plan turns into a chaotic mess the more the word spreads that evil has returned. It turns innocent people into monsters, that’s what fear does. The audience has no choice but to see these people at their worst, slowly being lured into the Boogeyman’s trap. Still, as a fan, it’s nice to see them.
The Verdict
Fan services aside what did this movie try to do? It shows us that vengeance leads to nowhere, sometimes to even worse situations. Here’s where it gets a little super-natural. Towards the ending, we learn that Michael potentially gets his strength the more he endures, meaning trying to hurt him is somewhat useless. It’s a visual representation of the pointless path fear leads us to.
All in all, Halloween Kills was more effective than the previous film but not quite there yet. It’s a bloodbath, life lesson, and fan service all in one fast-paced endeavor. Setting the stage for what’s sure to be a crazy finale in Halloween Ends. Which hits theatres in October, 2022.
