I Watch Films: Halloween Kills

 

Halloween Kills

At the end of Halloween (2018) Michael Myers has been trapped in the basement of Laurie Strode’s house by Strode, her daughter and granddaughter, and then they set the house on fire. This film picks up immediately afterwards on Halloween night 2018, as firefighters unfortunately let Myers out, and then he kills them and goes on a rampage.

Laurie and family have gone to the hospital as she was injured in the struggle. But it turns out that contrary to Halloween (2018) she’s not a completely forgotten and despised loner; survivors of Halloween (1978) are gathered in a bar (with a talent show) to toast her memory. When they learn that Myers has escaped and returned to the town, they form a vigilante mob. This does not go as well as they hope.

There are a lot of people in town who have regrets about events in Halloween (1978). The film refuses to show us Myers’ face, out of focus or in shadow or just from behind when unmasked. It suggests something about him, two differing though not-contradictory theories. They don’t add a great deal to the mythos.

This is not the end of the new Halloween trilogy.

Watch This: An efficient slasher film with a little to say about regret and vigilante mobs
Don’t Watch This: They can’t put an end to Michael Myers (Forthcoming in 2023: Halloween Ends)