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Surgeons of Horror

~ Dissecting horror films

Surgeons of Horror

Category Archives: Halloween franchise

Movie review: Halloween Kills (2021)

03 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise, Movie review

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

andi matichal, anthony michael hall, Halloween, Halloween franchise, halloween kills, Jamie Lee Curtis, judy greer, laurie strode, michael myers, Nick Castle

It seems an age ago when David Gordon Green and Danny McBride did the impossible and reignited a struggling franchise, bringing a much more brutal Michael Myers to the screen in Halloween. 

The main question posed to the creative team here though is, could they repeat the success of its predecessor?

To answer this, I draw on the Surgeons 6 rules to making a good sequel.

1. ​​Identify the ideas, themes & executional elements that make the first film great.  Or at least good.  Or at least worthy of being sequelised.

Part of its appeal alongside the sheer force of The Shape carving his way through Haddonfield once again, juxtaposed by the fragility and strength of Laurie Strode, magnificently portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis, was how the film played to the damaging effects that trauma has on humanity, and how some condition themselves to the impact that this has had on their lives.

Where Halloween 2018 leaned into early stages of trauma through the eyes of the Strode family, who are in complete denial, numbed to the exposure that Laurie’s turmoil has taken, or through the taking on the pain and guilt of surviving such an ordeal, the latest outing needs to take this to the next level, Anger and Bargaining. The only problem with these emotions is that there isn’t a lot on the dial to play with. Each character that embodies these emotions invariably meet their grisly end as a result. Not that this completely squashes the narrative however, as the re-introduced character of Tommy Doyle (Anthony Michael Hall) who leads a vigilante group on a mission to end evil and kill Myers for good. It certainly shines a light on the consequences that a mob mentality can have when confronting trauma. Brute force against brute force will always lead to ruin where there are no winners.

It’s biggest strength is in its central antagonist, Michael, who never holds back, continuing the theme from the 2018 feature. As it should be. He is and will always be the draw card to the franchise, and I’m glad to say that he never disappoints, arguably his portrayal here is one of the finest in the franchise.

It’s other strength from 2018, is with Jamie Lee Curtis.. Every moment she is on screen, you are willing for her to bring the same exhaustive performance. However, she is subjected to a more minor role, still an important one, as between her and the wounded Deputy Frank Hawkins (Will Patton) provide hope through acceptance, through what will be the final step in moving through a traumatic event.


2. Pay homage and do not violate/ignore said ideas and themes and elements                                                  

Here, Green still pays homage to the franchise as a whole, using elements that have played key roles or images that have been instilled from previous films, such as Halloween III: Season of the Witch, with the skeleton, pumpkin, and the witch. The creative team have proven before that they are lovers of the franchise and here is no exception to that rule. So, for this, they continue to immerse the viewer and expand on that sense of nostalgia without causing damage at all.

3. Introduce new/expanded themes, ideas and elements that will NATURALLY ALIGN to your first ideas, themes & elements.
As mentioned, the new elements introduced in this movie expand on the themes of trauma, most notably anger. This feels like a natural cause of action following the 2018 feature. The second part of this trajectory is through bargaining, a trait that is mostly seen through Karen (Judy Greer), in many ways the heart of the movie, pleading with her mother Laurie to listen to reason, desperately trying to save the life of the prison inmate, wrongly identified as Michael. This only makes her actions bittersweet in the face of the movie’s climax, a step that needed to be taken in order for the survivors, whoever they may be, to heal.

4. DO NOT rehash the first film and just give people “more of the same”.

This is where the movie starts to fall down a little.
While it tries to push the story arc along, it fails to resonate a beat and quicken the pulse at all. It is happy to play with the same kind of energy, but in doing so falls flat and starts to feel like it is a filler movie between Halloween and what will ultimately be Halloween Ends.It struggles to shift outside of this and doesn’t deliver as a result.

5. DO NOT-NOT rehash the first film by giving more of the same…. BUT “BIGGER”.

It could be argued here too that they’ve tried to go bigger, and who could blame them, and in part Michael falls into this category. I would counter this though by saying in the very action of attempting to go bigger, they lose sight of the integral components, and the raw energy captured before. It feels a little flat in its execution and disconnects from the viewer.

6. Be a good enough stand-alone film by itself.

And for its final hurdle in our 6 rules for a great sequel, Halloween Kills stumbles.
It fails to be viewed as a stand alone movie as it relies too greatly on its predecessors. It is these movies that allow the feature to stand tall, but take away these crutches, there isn’t a lot left on show.

The Diagnosis:

So, where does that leave things with Halloween Kills?
Well, it manages to execute 3 out of 6 rules successfully, which falls in line with my gut reaction.
I marked it as a little over average and falls short of the previous movie.

Yes, it’s a filler and it might feel more satisfying once Halloween Ends completes that cycle.
Until then, we’re left with a vaguely entertaining movie that tries to satisfy the core fans, some of whom will be content, but others will note the lack of impact that came in 2018.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie review: Halloween (2018)

22 Monday Oct 2018

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise, John Carpenter, Movie review

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

blumhouse, danny mcbride, david gordon green, Halloween, Halloween franchise, Jamie Lee Curtis, jason blum, John Carpenter, michael myers

 

It’s been a long time coming. Since 1978 fans of Michael Myers have endured the ups and downs of their favourite slasher as he carved his way through the residents of Haddonfield, but never has captured the hearts and imagination of John Carpenter’s original vision.

We’ve seen Myers omitted from the franchise only to be brought back to stalk his niece, then inflicted with an ancient curse, played the part of a reality TV series, and then reimagined by director Rob Zombie with conflicting results.
It seemed that Myers was dead and buried, but when ‘hotter than hot right now’, production team Blumhouse started to taut the idea of bring him back to the screens once more, a new-found interest began to surface once again.

There were certain things that began to fall into place, such as the return of Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode (albeit with slight reservation as they had done this before), which was rewarded further with the approval of Carpenter himself, plus part of his agreement was that he would provide the score. Hell yeah!
It might be a small thing but with the casting of Nick Castle to the Shape back to Myers cemented things for their storyline, which would be set 40 years after the original events transpired. The catch, none of the other movies in the franchise would exist. The producers would be picking up the baton without the sequels to muddy the water.

The other slight snag is that director David Gordon Green and his writing collaborator Danny McBride, normally associated with comedy were attached to steer this new direction. The screenplay they presented had the approval of those around them, but could they pull off a horror slasher and one that comes with so much expectation?

As the pre-credits began to roll, you suddenly felt that they had got the tone just right, ranging from the familiar score charging up the emotions and the image of the pumpkin rebuilding itself with a giant metaphor for the franchise. Halloween is back and they’re going to make it as damn good as they can, whilst keeping in tone of the original movie.

As the film unfolds it soon becomes apparent that what Green and McBride are telling isn’t just a typical horror film, but one of the trauma and the suffering that one faces when they have gone through a massive ordeal such as the one Laurie Strode faced all those years ago. What does that do to the psyche? What would happen to someone like Laurie and how would she cope back once faced with the reality of her situation? The choice was to place her as a survivor of sorts who is still fighting her demons, as she has become a modern day doomsday prepper, although in her case, Laurie isn’t preparing for the end of the world, but her inevitable last encounter with Michael Myers.

Jamie Lee Curtis does an amazing job of portraying Laurie and the impact that her character has had on her family. I’m not sure if I can recall her ever showing such raw emotion on screen, but she is able to deliver a full range of vulnerability, compassion, strength, and empowerment and with it she harnesses the other characters with her to produce a well-accomplished, solid movie. Laurie Strode is now a symbol of the effect that trauma has on those who’ve lived it or experienced it. In one scene, Jamie Lee Curtis is so broken in her portrayal that you can see the pain etched across her face as her whole body folds in on itself. It truly is a wonderful performance and a fitting one as we move in a time of change and recognition of the suffering that women have had to endure over the years, forced to bury their emotions in a world that didn’t or refused to understand.

On Laurie’s journey of torment is her daughter, Karen, (who has had to bear the suffering of a childhood trapped in fear) and her Granddaughter, Allyson (a symbol of hope and understanding). Allyson almost represents the overall message here for the Halloween franchise. We have to bypass a whole generation in order to rebuild for the future. Our hands rest in the youth of tomorrow and if anyone is going to tap into that generation, it’s Blumhouse.

That’s no to say that Halloween doesn’t ignore the people that have had to tolerate each new chapter, if anything the movie wears it on its sleeve with plenty of nods and references along the way. It’s a fine line to tread, but Green manages to keep a perfect balance of old and new, whilst still offering something fresh and serving decent bouts of nostalgia to please all and sundry.

There are some stints of humour along the way though. It’s not all doom and gloom. Green is a comedy director first and foremost but he doesn’t saturate the film with light-hearted moments, instead he delivers when the beats serve it and it lifts the film all the more, especially with the scene in which Julian is being babysat for by Allyson’s friend, Vicky. It’s a great little exchange between the two of them that you know will just go sour as soon as Michael enters the scene.

As for our beloved psychopath, Michael, he hasn’t gone without his own set of changes. Having been incarcerated for 40 years, he too has bottled up his emotions, stifled from a system that refuses to let him indulge in his passion for killing. So when he does break free from prison bus transportation, he unleashes with such brutality that hasn’t been present in the franchise before. This suppressed Michael will stop at nothing to go on his killing rampage, selectively picking his victims at will, before coming face to face with his nemesis Laurie again.

The climax of the movie also hits some great strides and rewards with the choices that the characters take to meet the conclusion and puts you through the wringer whilst leaving you pleasantly satisfied with the result.

 

The Diagnosis:

 

“Welcome back Michael Myers.

David Gordon Green and Danny McBride have successfully resurrected new life into a much-loved franchise and delivered a movie that will delight both old and new generations alike.

Congratulations to the Blumhouse team. You’ve produced the best Halloween film in 40 years.”

 

– Saul Muerte

Podcast: The Halloween franchise: The Return of Laurie Strode

21 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise, John Carpenter

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Tags

American Pie, Busta Rhymes, Halloween, Horror movies, Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Katee Sachoff, Kevin Williamson, LL Cool J, Michelle Williams, podcast

h20   resurrection

OUR PENULTIMATE PODCAST in the Halloween franchise discussions combines both Halloween H20: 20 Years Later and Halloween: Resurrection.

The former picks up the story 20 years after Michael’s killing spree in Haddonfield, 1978.
Laurie is now the head mistress of Hillcrest Academy, a boarding school where her son, John resides.

We learn that she faked her own death in a car accident, a knowing nod to comments made in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.

However, despite the original story treatment involving mention of Laurie’s daughter, Jamie, the writers removed any mention of her in the final treatment, thus rendering parts 4, 5, and 6 as obsolete and not part of the official canon.

A move that would scorn the wrath of certain hardcore fans of the franchise. Apparently this was to allow more room for Laurie’s character to breathe on screen.

The majority of the movie takes place in said school as Myers goes in search of his blood-kind, killing off a couple of teenagers along the way.

Resurrection became something of a mess, which not only sore the demise of a much-loved character, but arguably saw the destruction of the franchise too.

Looking at the film at its lack of success, one can’t but feel inclined to look a the director, Rick Rosenthal, whose film credits seem a little lacklustre, but is he solely to blame?

Another musician would step into the fray for Resurrection to try and draw some interest from the youth, Busta Rhymes and and an unforgettable cast alongside him, Bianca Kajilich, Sean Patrick Thomas (Save The Last Dance, Cruel Intentions, and Dracula 2000), Thomas Ian Nicholas (Kevin Myers in American Pie, and child star in Rookie of the Year) and notably Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck in the new Battlestar Gallactica, Longmire, and Occulus)

So, what do the Surgeons make of the these instalments to the franchise?
Click on the podcast below to find out.

https://surgeonsofhorrordotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/soh-halloween-franchise-the-return-of-laurie-strode.mp3

Podcast: Halloween: The Jamie Lloyd movies

14 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise

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Tags

Horror movie, Horror movies, John Carpenter, podcast

halloween-4
halloween-5
halloween-6

THERE’S A SLIGHT change in this week’s surgery podcast as not one, but three movies go under the knife.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, and Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers.

The reason for combining these three movies from the Halloween franchise together is due to the shift in focus for the movies.

The bold attempt to turn the franchise away from the Michael Myers storyline and launch it into an anthology series would prove to be way ahead of its time.

Halloween lll: Season of the Witch may have its core fans but ultimately it would fall foul of dumping its much-loved villain.

The people spoke and the producers listened.
Bringing Myers back was the easiest part in resurrecting the franchise.

The tricky part was to encourage its writers John Carpenter and Debra Hill back into production. A task that would be too great as no amount of persuasion could encourage them to do so.

Not only that but their lead protagonist, Laurie Strode aka Jamie Lee Curtis turned down the chance to return, citing other commitments.

Laurie would be written out (at this stage), killed in a car crash.
So what is an antagonist without its protagonist to hunt down and kill?

The writers would have to come up with something fast if the game of cat and mouse was to mount to anything on screen.

The answer was to bring in another Myers relative to continue the bloodline in the form of Laurie Strode’s daughter, Jamie Lloyd played in the next two installments by 8 year old, Danielle Harris.

The only trouble was that being a kid, Jamie Lloyd was no match for Myers.

So another nemesis would be brought back from the ashes, Dr Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance once again taking on the role) to outwit Michael.
The series owes a lot to Pleasance’s gravitas on screen – a legend in his time.

Throw in a cult and Paul Rudd and you have a mixture of twisted storylines to keep the beating heart of the Halloween franchise going.

But what do the Surgeons of Horror make of this round of movies in the franchise.

Does it take too many twists and turns on its journey?

Listen to the podcast to catch our thoughts and opinions.

https://surgeonsofhorrordotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/soh-halloween-franchise-the-jamie-lloyd-movies.mp3

Podcast: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1983)

07 Monday Nov 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise

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Tags

Halloween franchise, John Carpenter, Tom Atkins, Tommy Lee Wallace

ALTOGETHER

“Happy, happy Halloween, Halloween, Halloween.
Happy, happy Halloween, Silver Shamrock!”

And so the ad goes throughout the movie to promote Silver Shamrock Halloween costumes.

But this tune may be the only thing that truly haunts throughout the movie as it struggles to make its mark.

Let’s get the elephant out of the room straight away shall we?

Yes this is a Halloween film, and no, it doesn’t have Michael Myers in it.

Some of you not familiar with the journey that the Halloween franchise took, may be scratching your heads and wonder how that can possibly be.

Can you imagine a Nightmare On Elm Street movie without Freddy Krueger?

Well, apparently writers John Carpenter and Debra Hill wanted to shift the format away from the slasher genre that the franchise had been so closely associated with.
In their mind, the world of Michael Myers had been explored and tried.

So their intention was to turn the franchise into an anthology series, taking on a different theme with each movie.
This has been both its strength and its Achilles heel.

Many fans of the series so this change of direction as a big let down in their expectations, but others have found a new love of the movie and in some cases has been described as a cult and much more appreciated in more recent years.

So, does the movie tarnish the franchise?
Can it really be described as a cult movie?
The Surgeons of Horror team takes on the challenge to answer these questions in our latest podcast, which you can listen to below.

– Saul Muerte

Podcast: Halloween franchise: Halloween II (1981)

31 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by surgeons of horror in Halloween franchise

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Tags

Donald Pleasance, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Carpenter, michael myers

Just three years after the original hit our screens, Michael Myers would return to Haddonfield, transporting him from Horror icon to legendary status.
Along with it, the Halloween franchise was born.

John Carpenter would vacate the director’s chair for Rick Rosenthal, but would still play an active role in the screenwriting and production of the movie, alongside Debra Hill.

Also returning to the franchise would be Donald Pleasance as Dr Sam Loomis and Jamie Lee Curtis as the ever-troubled Laurie Strode.

Interestingly set over the course of the same Hallows Eve of the previous movie as Myers continues on his killing spree.
But does Halloween II fall under the curse of movie sequels, doomed to live in the shadows of its successful predecessor?
Or does it stand out in its own right, a successful addition to the Halloween series?

The team at Surgeons of Horror dissects the movie in question to try and answer these questions and more.

Listen below to our thoughts and opinions in the first of our Halloween franchise discussions.

  • Saul Muerte

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