Halloween

Last night I checked off another item on my fall bucket list by seeing the new Halloween movie.  It is a direct sequel to the original 1978 Halloween movie and disregards all of the other sequels that have been made over the years (which is a good thing because I haven't seen any of them).  It has been 40 years since Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) survived an attack from Michael Myers (Nick Castle) on Halloween.  She suffers from PTSD and lives in a fortified compound where she has relentlessly prepared herself in case of another attack.  She has a troubled relationship with her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) who both think she should leave the past behind.  Myers, who has been incarcerated at Smith's Grove Sanitarium, escapes when he is being transferred to another institution and begins committing more grisly murders on Halloween, including Allyson's friend Vicky (Virginia Gardner) who is babysitting (in a nod to the original movie).  He is pursued by his psychiatrist Dr. Ranbir Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), who has become obsessed with him, and Frank Hawkins (Will Patton), an officer on the original case forty years ago.  However, Myers ends up at Laurie's compound in an epic final showdown as she tries to protect her daughter and granddaughter.  What I liked most about this movie is the character of Laurie Strode.  I think it is entirely believable that she would be suffering from PTSD and that she can't leave the past behind until she faces Myers again. I also liked the added element of having Laurie fight for her family.  While the killing spree is scary, I think the final confrontation between Laurie and Myers is incredibly suspenseful and terrifying, especially as she stalks him throughout her house.  Jamie Lee Curtis is fantastic in a role where the victim is as psychologically damaged as the killer.  Finally, for fans of the original movie, the same theme music (updated and remixed) is used throughout and the same instantly recognizable orange typography is used in the opening and final credits.  This is not necessarily the best horror movie I have ever seen (I think the original is a lot better) but it is pretty good and I definitely had a lot of fun seeing it at a late night screening with a rowdy crowd.