It’s Actually About Something
None of us went to see Halloween for something with layered storytelling and interesting themes, but surprisingly, while the film is mostly just the skillfully-made slasher we all want it to be, it works a lot better by feeling like it’s actually about something more than just scares and gore. Essentially, its core aim is to explore the long-term effects of trauma.
The franchise has touched on this before in both H20 and Rob Zombie’s Halloween 2, but 2018’s Halloween handles it with more attention and care. The film examines how Laurie’s untreated and unreformed trauma from Michael’s attack 40 years ago has damaged her relationships with others her whole life and has turned her into a recluse. For perhaps the first time in a genre, we see the cost of living the life of “the final girl.”
However, as things develop, we’re shown how Laurie has also gotten a lot tougher due to what she suffered, with the movie painting what she went through as a strength, too, as she’s promised herself she’ll never be the victim again. In a time when many women are finding the courage to step up and stand against their abusers, the message of the film is surprisingly powerful and cogent.
