When Blumhouse announced that they were going to take on the iconic “Halloween” franchise half of the horror nation cheered while the other half cringed. While films from this production company have thrived financially, critically, they have always received a split audience. To exacerbate the critics angst, the team of Blum, director David Gordon Green and writer Danny McBride, asked fans to re-imagine an alternative timeline to the franchise. Their 2018 installment was a direct sequel to the original. Several times the team announced that the film would be a one off but, “Halloween 2018” smashed the box office, taking in over 250 million dollars off of a 10-million-dollar budget. Although the film lacked depth and deep characterization, the 2018 effort was generally well received and an immediate greenlight was given for two follow up films. “Halloween Kills” unleashes the shape as he goes to battle against the town that wants him, and the legend buried once and for all.
While several survivors celebrate the anniversary of their encounter with Michael Myers, the shape escapes from his fiery tomb and heads home. News quickly spreads through Haddonfield that Michael has returned and spilled new blood. As Myers hacks and slashes his way home, the sheriff’s department, citizens of Haddonfield, and the Strode family all plot to put evil down once and for all while dealing with the emotional repercussions from his reign of terror both old and new. The ultimate stalker creeps his way through town in gory glorious fashion leading to a sinister showdown with the town who has been haunted by his dark legacy for forty years.
If nothing else, “Halloween Kills” will go down as one of the biggest films in history to divide an audience. This resonates within the audience perception. The evil essence of the franchise was perfectly personified in Carpenter’s original. A man, out on Halloween night, roaming free through a suburban neighborhood, who is actually killing people under the guise of a town cloaked in masks and mischief sent shivers through the spine of a country. Those looking for that kind of creepy atmosphere and suspense will not enjoy this installment. Those looking for a thrill ride loaded with action, kills, and a roller coaster riptide of terror will love this take on the immortal classic. The major issue that plagues “Halloween Kills” is the same problem from previous entries. It was rushed. Writer McBride hinted that the team had a glimmer of an idea as to where to take a sequel, but the choppy storyline and unwarranted plot holes suggest otherwise. Having the shape fighting off armies of adversaries and luring the ultimate stalker through a maze of backyards to confront him instead of just showing up where he is are just two of over a dozen major scripted malfunctions. Such as in the rushed productions of “Halloween 5” and Rob Zombie’s “Halloween 2,” after previous installments successes, these quick follow up films attempt to cash in but fade out. The brilliant writing team behind “Halloween 4” had to return to their jobs at the smash T.V. hit “Married With Children.” In response “Halloween 5” became a mish mosh sloppy and uneventful follow up, written on a whim. Rob Zombie’s sequel was strong armed by disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein and fans got a shadow of a film in comparison to his original take on the series. By taking just a bit more time to flesh out a more cohesive script, McBride and Lee could have turned this thrill ride into a new classic instead of a choppy horror sideshow that’s main purpose was to try and fit just about every character from the first two originals into a jumbled scenario.
The ride may be bumpy, filled with pot holes, but it is fun. While horror hounds have barked for more kills and gore in modern horror films, the Blum team has given them a bone they can chew on for years. “Halloween Kills” features not just quantity but quality kills, several of which blow away all previous installments in regard to brutality and originality. The actors have taken a lot of heat, especially Anthony Michael Hall in his portrayal of Tommy Doyle. To be fair, the performers can only work with what they are given and there is not much word play to delve into this fast-paced plot. “Halloween Kills” is best enjoyed for what it is, an overindulgent fan boy production that does not hold back on the horror and pays homage to the series, albeit in tempestuous fashion. The third film in this reimagined series, “Halloween Ends,” will be set four years after “Halloween Kills.” Anticipation will run high to see if the final installment can tie in the three films with cohesion or bleed out the Strode saga like a child that has bitten into a razor blade filled apple. Will Halloween really end? If Blumhouse records indicate anything, another 100 million plus profit will most likely see another film in the series quickly sprint into production. Because evil never dies, and evil makes money.
Scream Score: 7.7/10