Halloween Kills is the most recent horror movie on our list. It was released at the beginning of this month just in time for the holiday of its namesake. Much like the previous movie, David Gordon Green is in the director’s chair. It’s also the second movie in a trilogy from Blumhouse Productions that takes place in a new continuity.
It stars Jaime Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney and Anthony Michael Hall.
Halloween Kills takes place straight after the 2018 Halloween. Laurie Strode (Curtis) and her family leave her burning house where Michael Myers is dying. Believing he’s dead, they’re ready to go on with their lives. However, in true slasher fashion, the bogeyman can’t die.
This time around they aren’t alone. Sick of his torment, the people of Haddonfield rise up and take the fight to him. It’s the most brutal and sadistic movie in the franchise yet.
Halloween Kills isn’t the best Halloween movie, but it isn’t the worst either. It serves as the second part of a trilogy. Knowing that I didn’t expect much to happen that pushes the story forward nor was I expecting the death of Michael Myers. To believe the latter makes no sense.
However, I’m happy with what happens. This time around, we see the town gearing up to kill Michael, chanting “evil dies tonight”. The movie explores what happens when mob mentality takes over common sense. It shows what rash judgements do and how easy it is for anyone to stray from the right path.
That’s what I like about Halloween Kills.
Unfortunately, Jamie Lee Curtis isn’t in it as much as she was in the previous. It’s similar to Halloween II where Laurie is resting in hospital. However, unlike that one, it isn’t about Michael coming after Laurie. The similarities to past Halloween movies don’t stop there.
There are a lot of easter eggs from the non-canon movies. My favorite one is the witch, skull and pumpkin masks from Halloween III: Season of the Witch. While it’s not my favorite movie in the franchise, it’s nice to see the creative time acknowledging it.
Surprisingly, a lot happens in the 106 minutes runtime. Fans of the original are also in for a treat but I won’t say why.
Spoilers.
Halloween Kills is a mishmash of ideas that ultimately doesn’t live up to the previous but it sets up Halloween Ends in a terrifying way. Considering the creative team call this the most gruesome Halloween yet, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next year.
Halloween Ends releases in theatres on the 14th of October 2022. Halloween Kills is currently in theatres and streaming on Peacock.
