Happy Anniversary Michael.
106 Mins. Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Virginia Gardner & Nick Castle. Director: David Gordon Green.
Groovy baby! Damn! Sorry. Wrong movie. I've gone and messed up like that con in 'Baby Driver' who got the Austin Powers masks for that botched job robbery when someone told him to pick up some Michael Myers disguises for their heist. They and we mean 'Halloween'. And we ain't talking about Jason. NO! We're talking about a mask and man as iconic as Freddie for a nightmare on the streets of Haddonfield, Illinois. About to take the moustache right off Mercury in a 'Bohemian Rhapsody', killer Queen. All whilst being the king of cosplay and what you're about to get dressed up as for this year's trick or treat season. The Boogeyman is back and it's knife to meet him again. Take a stab at the dark and watch this tonight. Because this is the year everyone is falling in love with the renaissance of horror once again. We're all falling for it like thinking running up the stairs is a good escape plan. Did no one watch the 'Scream' trilogy like the movie after and the Netflix series? Well now you will in-between bingeing the 'Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina' and 'The Haunting Of Hill House's series', which are Netflix's new 'Stranger Things' for the pumpkin season. But what better way to end the best year for horror since that freaky little girls head did a crazy 360 like she just spotted her boyfriend doing that looking at another women meme, then with the iconic reverse rotting Halloween head over John Carpenter's classic titles and that timeless theme? A year that begun without a word in John Krasinski and Emily Blunt's partnership in 'A Quiet Place', that redefined the genre with nere a mere sound. Before ending with a bang and running in the family with the new classic 'Hereditary'. This writer himself a pussycat virgin to this great genre of hallmark horrors. So much so that if he watched one at home he'd hide behind the couch...in his neighbours house. This writer won't even watch 'Mama' with Jessica Chastain (those who know me, know how extreme that is). I literally probably wouldn't even watch it with Jessica Chastain herself. I'd be like, "I'm sorry. I'm washing my hair luv"! That being said get ready for a new chapter as after watching the 'IT' remake I have a new love for the memory of a good scare. So much so on Halloween right now I'm reading Stephen King's 'The Shining' for the first time. Although I have the freezer ready like Joey in 'Friends'. And I haven't even seen the movie yet. Yeah...I know. But what did I just tell you? All work and no horror made me a dull boy. But now it's time to kick in that door with an axe. Because here's Jamie!
'Halloween' just isn't Halloween without Jamie Lee Curtis. The Sigourney Weaver to this franchises 'Alien'. And coming back out of the fog, she's back to dance with her devil in the pale moonlight one more time as Michael is stepping on her toes again. Walking this way from the Aerosmith to the Post Malone generation. And you won't want to miss a thing. As witnessing Curtis unload buckshot on the shooting range in getting ready for the apocalypse that is Michael is the coolest thing since seeing Emily Blunt reload the blunderbuss at the end of 'A Quiet Place'. But in turning her residence into a man-sized mouse trap like 'Home Alone'-only missing the falling iron for your face and the cracked Christmas decorations for your feet-Curtis isn't riding shotgun to this year's best horror movie. Because this 'Halloween' remake/reboot is a legend in its own. The best way to end a 2018, fighting back against all the real life Hollywood horrors who no longer hid under the bed last year. This anniversary is 40 years in the making, discounting all the other 95 'Halloween' sequels that didn't make the classic cut. No matter how much you love Rob Zombie, anniversary sequels being named after water, or Busta Rhymes knowing kung-fu and calling the real Michael Myers a "mother######", wearing his own mask. But as the real Michael Myers stands up and puts back on that classic mask in an iconic scene, you know it's on like not being able to hide under the third toilet cubicle you thought was third bowl of porridge just right as he already saw your feet. And wait! What's that he's dropping over the side? Are those...teeth?! The man in the mask is back and he's still in no hurry four decades later. Looking truly, compellingly chilling in that monotone walk and sinmering boiler-room suit. As he separates people's jaws like a killer shark. Making their mouthpiece look like Ken Kaneki's mask off 'Tokyo Ghoul' in reply. Catching you before you put your blinds down. Slamming you like Shaquille or stomping and turning your head into lasagne as he goes off like Ryan Gosling in 'Drive' without a seatbelt. Leaving victims under a sheet looking like Casey Affleck in 'A Ghost Story'. Don't answer when this walking dread knock, knocks. It's a trap. It's a trick. A Halloween treat. Feast.
'Escape From New York', Carpenter co-writer Nick Castle to be Frank is still the King when it comes to playing Michael. Even if we never see his face no matter how many times we strike fire to a match like Leo in 'Shutter Island'. From the checkerboard chained prison visit reintroduction begining we know it's all his game like chess. His move. We're just playing. Orchestrated by director David Gordon Green who brings a horror great to his big-three headlining, diverse filmography. That includes comedy ('Pineapple Express'...not so much 'Your Highness'), tragedy (the fighting back after the Boston bombing, 'Stronger') and an indie to boot ('Joe'...Nice Cage in a good movie?! Now that's scary. Until you watch 'Mandy'). And he's cut quite the cast that are more than kitchen utensil fodder. From 'Armaggedon' first on the scene, vet beat cop Will Patton who is truly something. To Marvel 'Runaway' Virginia Gardner who babysits the best character in this movie in being stuck with the kid clipping his "nasty a## toenails". Not to mention the best closeted jump scare. But it's the big three generations of Strode women over four decades who are striding against this stalking killer to make sure his horrors no longer run in the family like 'Hereditary'. 'Ant-Man and the Wasp', 'Jurassic World', 'The Village' and 'Carrie' character actress Judy Greer comes into her own as the mother. But it's her daughter played by 'Orange Is The New Black's actress Andi Matichak who really comes of age and may just be the spirit of this franchises future. But payback is a grandmother when it comes to the legendary Curtis. Who far from a curtain call has still got it. Jamie Lee's Laurie may just be the most iconic thing about this 'Halloween' franchise. Crazily more so than even Michael. And she hasn't even been in half of the so-called sequels. But in this true to life one she isn't biting the bullet. Instead arming them up as she goes all Sarah Conner against a real Terminator for its judgement day. And in doing so she leads the 'Me Too' movement to the blockbuster circuit. Flipping the switch and turning the light on to the real horrors that haunt our world that we don't have to be scared of anymore. It's a powerful and poignant stand from a woman who feet planted stood firmly on her own almost a half century ago. Helping pave the way for all we see today. She's a real hero in these dark nights and she's done it all without having to hide behind a mask. Those monsters lurking in the shadows should be real afraid. This is no trick. Happy Halloween everyone. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Halloween (1978)', 'IT (2017)', 'A Quiet Place'.
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