Release Date: October 15th, 2021
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 1H 46M
MPAA: 18A (AND BOY DOES IT EARN IT)
Halloween is an important franchise to myself and many other people. There are some real stinkers in this franchise, theres been a reboot with two films done by Rob Zombie, the first one is okay, nothing special. His sequel Halloween II (2009) is terrible. So the franchise lay dormant for 9 years until viewers got Halloween (2018) which was a seqboot, where they retained the entire franchise and did a direct sequel to John Carpenter’s 1978 original film. My review for the original film:
I thought that the 2018 film was a successful one, it was the first Halloween movie I had the pleasure to see in theatres.
If you’d like to read my thoughts of that film:
http://awmoviespot.com/2018/10/22/halloween-2018-review/
I was really looking forward to the Halloween Kills ever since I saw the 2018 Halloween, but because of Covid they delayed it for a year, which was a bummer, but now its out! In theatres and exclusively on Peacock TV (I’m not sure we have this service in Canada and Halloween deserves to be seen on the big screen). It was also one of my most anticipated films of 2021.
Halloween Kills continues the saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. Like the original Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween Kills (2021) picks up mere minutes after the end of Halloween (2018). You almost feel bad for the characters because this is one LONG night for everyone involved.
The film is once again directed by David Gordon Green. His filmography consists of Pineapple Express (2008), Stronger (2017), and Halloween (2018). Its interesting to me that directors and writers that cut their way into the industry doing comedy, and then switch to doing horror movies. Jordan Peele fits that mold as well, and he’s made two very interesting horror movies and even earned an oscar for screenwriting for one of them. But David Gordon Green is back and it seems like he is back with an absolute VENGEANCE much like the character of Michael Myers is in this movie. I thought he did a great job directing this.
I also liked how there were subtle or not too subtle depending on your admiration for the Halloween franchise as a whole to the entire franchise. I don’t want to ruin any of them, but if you’re a fan of the other films in the franchise, keep your eyes pealed!
Halloween stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, Judy Greer as Karen, Andi Matichak as Allyson, James Jude Courtney and Nick Castle as The Shape, and Will Patton as Officer Hawkins.
Jamie Lee Curtis’ filmography consists of Halloween (1978), Terror Train (1980), The Fog (1980), Escape From New York (1981), Halloween II (1981), True Lies (1994), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), Halloween Resurrection (2002), Freaky Friday (2003), and Scream Queens {TV Series} (2015-2016), Halloween (2018), and Knives Out (2019). Jamie Lee Curtis is a wonderful actor and anything that she is in, is fantastic. Much like the icon that is Michael Myers, theres an absolute icon in Jamie Lee Curtis, that is for sure. And her legacy from the Halloween franchise is still very prevalent to this day. I will never tire of seeing her reprise her role as Laurie Strode.
Judy Greer’s filmography consists of Adaptation. (2002), 13 Going On Thirty (2004), Love & Other Drugs (2010), The Descendants (2011), Carrie (2013), Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014), Tomorrowland (2015), Jurassic World (2015), Ant-Man (2015), and War for The Planet Of The Apes (2017), and Halloween (2018). I’m not too familiar with this actor, but she was great in Halloween (2018) and she remains good in Halloween Kills (2021).
Andi Matichak’s filmography cosnsits of Halloween (2018). I think that she is a strong actor and I would be interested to see what else she does eventually. But she makes a strong performance in Halloween Kills. Much like the young Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978).
Nick Castle’s filmography consists of Halloween (1978). I think its super cool given the legacy of the franchise that they got Nick Castle to once again come back as The Shape. Now i’m not too sure where he and James Jude Courtney’s The Shape are split in the movie or when he pops up, but just knowing he’s there is good enough for me.
James Jude Courtney’s filmography consists of Halloween (2018). I always thought that Courtney played The Shape in more Halloween films but according to his IMDB I was wrong. BOY, Courtney is absolutely menacing as Michael Myers. His stature, head-tilts and his demeanor is just frightening.
Will Patton’s filmography consists of Armageddon (1998), Remember The Titans (2000), Gone In Sixty Seconds (2000), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), The Punisher (2004), Brooklyn’s Finest (2009), and The Fourth Kind (2009) and Halloween (2018). Still great and still a good actor. Theres not much more I can say.
The Shape this time around is absolutely PISSED off in this movie. I mean I would be too if what happened at the end of Halloween (2018) happened to me. But this is an absolutely no holds barred Michael. No one is safe, but we learned that a bit in the last movie; not even kids are safe from The Shape. The film and the kills are a lot more brutal and graphic in this movie. It absolutely earns its 18A rating, theres blood, and gore and pieces everywhere. It also very much earns its name. Halloween Kills… and it kills a lot.
The soundtrack as always deserves special recognition as well. John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel A. Davies are back to do the score. The score in a Halloween movie is pretty much just another character in the franchise. Without the tight score to underlie the film, it doesn’t quite feel like a Halloween movie. The trio brought their A game with this score, and I really liked the subtle dMy ifferences between the two soundtracks. The 2018 Halloween soundtrack was more grounded, I loved that soundtrack so much I purchased the Expanded Edition on Vinyl and its perfect for the spooky season. The Halloween Kills soundtrack is much more ethereal, its more airy, and its different but it still fits the franchise so well. I will definitely be purchasing the Vinyl whenever I can to add to my small but growing John Carpenter vinyl collection. I especially liked the Halloween theme this time around, its the Halloween theme we all know and love but its more ethereal and more holy almost. It’s difficult to explain but boy does it sound good. I love sitting down to write a Halloween review and listen to the soundtrack. It really sets the mood.
My major gripe with the film is the pacing. It seemed a bit sporadic in places. Sometimes it was quick, other times especially in the hospital setting it seemed a bit slow. Slow enough for me to notice it. I actually had to check my watch once just to see how much longer was left. Which is something I don’t usually do.
I think this is a film for the fans of the franchise and it is a suitable sequel to Halloween (2018). Its far from perfect, it definitely feels like the middle “filler” movie because we will be getting Halloween Ends (in 2022 supposedly, its in post-production according to IMDb) and I am very excited for that movie. Halloween Kills was good, but it left me hungry for more and I am in until the End(s)… sorry I’ll see myself out.
I would give Halloween Kills a 4/5 (I’m going back and forth between 3.5 and 4), but I will go see it again, I’m hoping on Halloween itself and will readjust my score if I come away feeling differently.
After a rewatch, my thoughts were correct, this movie stands between a 3 and a 3.5. It’s definitely fine, there’s worse Halloween Sequels out there, but this just didn’t capture the magic for me as much as the 2018 reboot did. I’m cautiously optimistic for Halloween Ends (2022) later this year.
I will also add this entry to my 4K collection whenever it comes out.
Until Next Time!
-Andrew