I've seen every Halloween film, excluding the Rob Zombie versions, and each one had some redeeming qualities about them. The first two, imo, still reign supreme in the Myers' universe, as they defined the roles between Laurie Strode and Michael Myers. Both characters needed the other to exist and have meaning. But this latest entry made it abundantly clear to me how needless the other seven films--plus Mr. Zombie's two reboots--really were.
I hate writing spoiler alerts and I won't ruin this film for anyone willing to pay to go to the theatres to see it, so I won't go into any real details. There were plenty of kills--on and off screen--but it just felt like the filmmakers were rushing a dying story along to it's inevitable end, but not doing a good job of taking its audience along for the ride.
A few good jump scares, to me, does not equate to a very good horror movie.
Laurie Strode has been reduced to a binge drinking, neurotic, gun-toting momma with zero people skills. Michael is still...well, Michael. Good old, non-responsive, non-speaking Michael. Both have aged but still can hold their own against the other. And if it had been just the two of them, mano a mano, to the very end--much like Neo and Agent Smith in Matrix Revolution--I would have rooted and cheered them on.
But, instead I found myself squirming in my chair, wondering how did I allow myself to get suckered into yet another senseless slasher film with no strong plot, no strong characters, and no strong ending. Even the plot twist near the end of the film involving Myers' doctor was weak and did nothing to move the story along, seeming out of place and time, much like the rest of this movie.
I went into this wanting to love this newest installment of the franchise. But I can't sit here now and lie--much like I lied to myself in that theatre chair--and say that this is going to get better. Believe me, it's not. I did like the few nods the filmmakers gave to some of the earlier films and John Carpenter's signature score.
Trust me, this is not one of the Halloween movies that has to be viewed on the big screen to be fully enjoyed. I wish I had waited to rent it from Redbox.
