Halloween Kills

It’s Halloween (again) and the survivors of Michael Myers‘s various attempts at slaughter, dismemberment and death have gathered for a karaoke night in Haddonfield. Yet unbeknownst to them and courtesy of a fifteen-minute flashback, Michael is alive and well. Well, well on the way to doing what he does every Halloween. As in, killing people and generally tormenting his sister Laurie Strode (aka Jamie Lee Curtis) and any of her remaining offspring. However, this time, they’re really, really going to get him. Or possibly not. Again. Let’s see.

Halloween Kills killed me and it might kill you too...

This year’s Halloween Kills is the direct sequel to 2018’s Halloween, which was in itself, a reboot/distillation of the previous nine movies. All the familiar faces are back and similar to the previous Halloween movie, it’s looking to heap intrigue into the backstories of the living and those who previously received dialogue. As per usual Michael Myers says nothing. Only ever appearing in a long shot, jump cut or a loud audio cue, Michael’s main talents are covering large distances in seconds, walking through fire, walls, bullets or whatever else the script calls for.

As a film acting merely as a cocktail for people walking into houses with dim lighting, Halloween Kills does at least try to share the new blood around. An elderly, mixed-race couple gets butchered as does a gay couple, who against all advice, have moved into Michael’s childhood home. There’s also a further sprinkling of backstory when a beloved character ubiquitously bows out on the end of Michael’s kitchen knife. However, the one major casualty not to return is suspense. 

Whereas the first Halloween was all about atmosphere, Halloween Kills has none. If it does clutch at anything new, it is the western genre when the townsfolk decide to take matters into their own hands and hunt Michael down. However, whilst this is an interesting theme that touches on the dangers of mob mentality, like Laurie Strode, Halloween Kills blows it when it should bludgeon a decent point home.

As a result, Halloween Kills killed me and it might kill you too and also interest you might have had in the series. As a white flag that’s clearly run out of red splatter, this really is a sequel without any merit, ideas or coherent characters. So, whilst I don’t think any of these absences will seriously hinder any further adventures in knife sharpening and fire-walking, Halloween is now seemingly lumbering towards unintentional comedy and derision.