The reviews for Halloween have arrived and critics seem to agree that the latest sequel in the horror franchise is the best installment since the original.
Director David Gordan Green’s Halloween will bring horror icon Michael Myers back to the big screen in a new chapter that ignores all previous entries in the film series, with the exception of John Carpenter’s classic 1978 slasher film. Now, reviews for the film suggest that disregarding the history of the previous Halloween sequels was a wise decision, as critics have commended the film for returning the franchise back to basics with an entertaining new entry.
You can read some of the reviews below!
Variety‘s Peter Debruge:
“That makes this new “Halloween” an act of fan service disguised as a horror movie. The fact it works as both means that Green (who flirted with the idea of directing the “Suspiria” remake) has pulled off what he set out to do, tying up the mythology that Carpenter and company established, while delivering plenty of fresh suspense — and grisly-creative kills — for younger audiences who are buying into the “Halloween” brand without any real investment in Michael and Laurie’s unfinished business.”
Los Angeles Times‘ Justin Chang:
“There is zero originality in all this mimicry, but there is an unusual and highly effective sense of purpose. The single-mindedness with which this “Halloween” ties itself to its landmark predecessor isn’t strictly a matter of fan service, though that commercial imperative is certainly present. It feeds into an overarching narrative ethos that says Michael Myers — an avatar of pure, banal, motiveless evil — will kill and kill again in ways that are not just inevitable but borderline predictable. And if you know this in your bones, the way Laurie does, you have a slightly better chance of turning the tables.”
Associated Press‘ Jake Coyle:
“Foggy nights and gas-station bathrooms turn predictably gory, more so than the original. But the scenes that fall between those foreboding, twinkling piano notes have far more warmth and spirit than you’d expect. You almost wish Green — easily the most talented filmmaker in the franchise since Carpenter — was instead making something original here on the same streets, with the same cast (including the scene-stealing Miles Robbins) and none of the skull crushing.”
New York Post‘s Johnny Oleksinski:
“Director David Gordon Green understands the ’Ween-o-verse and builds suspense well, earning his many scares. There’s a lot of gore, but it’s cleverly done. Green makes particularly cool use of the bright lights of cars and flashlights, and the shadowy corners of rooms.”
Entertainment Weekly‘s Leah Greenblatt:
“The movie mostly works because it’s so fundamental, and funny too: Michael still never speaks; his mask and his slow, deadly, deliberate walk say everything they need to. At 59, Curtis seems to have fully arrived in her role as a midnight-madness queen, and she has a great time in jeans and a grey fright wig, swinging her shotgun around and screaming at everyone to get in the safe room.”
Rolling Stone‘s Peter Travers:
“Playing the naïve Laurie made Curtis a star at 19; now she brings a sense of loss, regret and separation to the role that deepens the character’s humanity without diminishing her resolve. It’s a savage roar of a performance that stays alert to nuance. And it fits in perfectly with Green’s concept of the film as a feminist parable in which three women come together to call #TimesUp on a male predator.”
Us Weekly‘s Mara Reinstein:
“The body count is impressive. But like a true scary movie, the frights are of the old-school variety. Green (The Pineapple Express) and McBride have crafted a clever homage to the kind of flick that Jamie Kennedy geeked out on so memorably in the original 1996 Scream.”
Independent‘s Geoffrey Macnab:
“Green strikes the perfect balance between knowing, tongue-in-cheek nostalgia and untrammeled horror. The film has some very nasty moments indeed. Green takes a sadistic pleasure in showing Myers dragging his victims by their feet or impaling them as if they are trophy kills from some hunting expedition.”
Nerdist‘s Katie Walsh:
“In many ways, Halloween is a horror film in name only. While it features some brutally gory images and violence, it’s not all that scary, with Michael’s plodding yet propulsive walk and perfunctory killing style. The tension doesn’t build until Michael faces a foe who can actually take him on—Laurie. And in that regard, this is a horror film that inspires cheers, not screams.”
Den of Geek‘s David Crow:
“Curtis is fearsome in the role of Laurie Strode. While she’s previously reprised the part after a long absence in H20, it is here that she is given the most room to fully explore the slasher subgenre’s greatest survivor girl and add a layered texture to her horror.”
Are you excited to see the Halloween sequel? Share your thoughts below!
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago
Directed by David Gordan Green from a script co-written by himself, Jeff Fradley and Danny McBride, Halloween stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Virginia Gardner, and Nick Castle.
Halloween will be released in theaters on October 19, 2018.
