Halloween (2018)
Director: David Gordon Green
Screenplay: Jeff Fradley, Danny McBride, and David Gordon Green
Minutes: 106
Year: 20187
Score: 7.87
Release: Universal Home Entertainment
Hey, who wants a copy of the new Halloween on Blu-ray for the low price of clicking a link and entering a contest? This LINK RIGHT HERE!
From UPHE.com: (they don’t sell directly from their site, so the link is to amazon.)
Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago. Master of horror John Carpenter joins forces with director David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum (Get Out, Split) for this follow up to Carp
enter’s 1978 classic.
I know I typically lead into these reviews with a stinger, as is my want, but since Halloween is the home of the original (and greatest) stinger I will not compete with that, rather I have been tasked with releasing a free Blu-ray into the wild and that is what I intend to do. There is a link up there, click that and maybe save yourself a couple of bucks, let’s face it, if you are reading this you are already in the market for, and probably leaning towards, picking up a copy of this flick.
I have a problem with some sequels, it isn’t necessarily a detriment, but it is real. There are two camps of sequels, one moves the story along a new and interesting path, the other is a taking the successful template of a first film and forcing the new, or evolved, characters into that original mold. Horror films, often, employ the second. My umbrage is with the second. As I have said before I completely understand that most films are a product created to be sold to the mass market. And there is voluminous evidence that the second model is the preferred method for sales. But, I don’t have to like it. That said, when it works, it works, and it works well here.
Once you accept that this will be a product crafted to fit a certain outline it isn’t very bothersome. In a sense this eases the burden on the filmmakers. We have known since the trailer that this film exists as a direct sequel to John Carpenter’s masterpiece. And that both John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis have blessed the film with their involvement. These two bits of information mean that David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, and Jeff Fradley were afforded a chance to twist couple of cookie cutter acts with a unique and engaging conclusion.
You know that Michael Myers is going to find a way to Haddonfield and that he is going to commit a series of gruesome murders, that is a given. So, the question becomes whether we would get another Halloween, or another H20. I am very pleased that we got another Halloween.
In most cases the instances of repetition play more as a love letter to the 1978 film rather than an arranged marriage. Jamie Lee Curtis plays a character who followed a very logical path of a victim preparing for the inevitable rather than running from horror movie reality. She does it perfectly. In fact, the three Strode women were all perfect.
I am a fan of this movie. I am ready for the next one. But, I am also an easy sell. While growing up I may have felt a brand loyalty to Jason from Friday the 13th I cannot ignore that as an adult the Halloween films are more my style. When this was announced I did have some reservations, through ignorance I wasn’t a fan of David Gordon Green, or Danny McBride, but I knew I could trust Blumhouse and I knew that, producer, Ryan Turek would sooner fall on a sword poisoned with the venom of a thousand snakes than promote and stand by a dud. So, there is a much better than average chance that you will enjoy this film.
Now, in this world of 4ks and Blu-rays and digital releases should you wait for the disc? Always. But are the special features enough to supplement the cost in physical space? I think so. The deleted scenes are fine but understandably deleted. I really enjoyed The Sound of Fear featurette on the crafting of the score, the rest are interesting. I would have liked a commentary but that isn’t a deal breaker. Take care in noticing that there are a lot more supplements than has become the standard for studio releases.
Overall, I highly recommend this movie and this disc for your collection. It looked great, I watched the Blu-ray, so the blacks could be blacker with the 4k, but I am not sure what more that could add. I give this disc a newly made-up (and one time use) score of 5 human jack-o-lanterns.
Oh my god I almost forgot. This release has an embossed slip-case. This is purely decorative but I love, absolutely love, embossed slip-cases.
Special Features:
- Deleted/Extended Scenes
- Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween
- The Original Scream Queen
- The Sound of Fear
- Journey of the Mask
- The Legacy of Halloween
Director: 7 – Cinematography: 7 – Edit: 5 – Parity: 9 – Main performance: 10 – Else performance: 6 – Score: 10 – Sound: 7 – Story: 6 – Script: 7 – Effects: 10 – Design: 8 – Costumes: 6 – Keeps interest: 10 – Lasting: 10