Back To Basics
The thing that makes 1978’s Halloween such a masterwork of suspense and horror is its beautifully simple premise: for no known motivation, a crazed masked serial killer comes after the babysitters of a sleepy Illinois town. Naturally, just to keep furthering the story, each subsequent installment muddied the waters by adding in new twists, new characters, new situations, etc., including the vilified decision to reveal that Michael was under a supernatural curse in Halloween 6.
The big idea that necessitated this new Halloween was what if we just pretend that the past 40 years of the franchise had never happened and make a belated sequel to the first movie? Doing away with virtually everything – including the long-held explanation that Michael and Laurie are siblings – initially surprised and upset some fans, but after watching it, it’s hard to argue that this was anything but the right move.
What we get is the same basic set-up as the first movie – with Michael once again going on a rampage in Haddonfield on Halloween night – though naturally, the plot takes some different turns to tell its own story. Returning to the narrative structure of the original, though, is the first thing that instantly puts it above the reams of sequels.
It Feels Like A Celebration Of The Franchise
Given that it only directly follows on from 1978’s Halloween, the 2018 version is naturally mostly a love letter to the first movie, paying homage to many of its most memorable moments. However, what’s perhaps surprising is that it also feels like a celebration of the whole franchise in the way that there are so many callbacks and easter eggs to the events of past sequels.
As we noticed from the trailers, one scene’s practically lifted wholesale – only with a smattering more gore – from Halloween II, while other bits and pieces feel like tips of the hat to the likes of H20 and Resurrection. Even the Michael Myers-less Halloween III: Season of the Witch is referenced via the masks that some trick’r’treating kids are wearing.
No previous entry in the franchise has made such an effort to honor the series’ past in this way. Sure, average moviegoers won’t spot stuff like this, but it means a lot to longtime fans that those making the film are just as invested in the franchise.
