Movie review: Halloween

LOOK at this film as the direct sequel to the 1978 Halloween film directed by the legendary John Carpenter.
Director David Gordon Green here gives you what you expect, and then some, in this film while Jamie Lee Curtis, who returns to play the iconic Laurie Strode, reminds us why she is one of the most enduring actresses of her generation.
The story begins with two investigative journalists who visit the psychiatric facility where serial killer Michael Myers is currently being housed.
Michael has survived being shot by Dr Loomis (Donald Pleasance from the first movie).
Since Loomis’ death, he has been under the care of Dr Sartain (Haluk Bilginer), who is more fascinated than wary of this monster.
Michael does not react to questions from the journalists, not even when his signature mask is produced.
The journalists then visit Laurie, now a recluse living in a highly-secure home.
We learn that Laurie is still emotionally scarred by her near-escape from being Michael’s victim years before. She also has two failed marriages and has had her daughter Karen (then 12) taken away from her.
Laurie kicks them out when the journalists start asking idiotic questions, but not before taking the money they promise her for the interview.
Laurie gives the money to her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) with whom she shares a warm relationship. The same cannot be said about her relationship with Karen (Judy Greer) who is tired of her mother’s paranoia and resents the military-type training she has had to endure as a child.
When the bus carrying Michael and other inmates to a new secure facility crashes by the side of a road, Michael escapes and begins his killing spree again.
As the cops try to track him down, Laurie tries to get her family ready for battle with the monster she has long waited to kill.
The movie’s pace is good and there are even a few homages to the first film.
I like the parts that remind us that Michael is more monster than man, and that bad decisions always come back to haunt us.