Horror fans everywhere have received their first official look at Halloween Kills, and the response couldn’t be better!
Delayed from it’s original expected release for last year due to COVID-19, David Gordon Green’s follow-up to his 2018 franchise installment has strayed from many people’s radar. However, this explosive sneak peak has sparked a resurgence of excitement and anticipation while setting the bar of expectations high for diehard fans.
Opening with the Strode women’s escape in a flatbed truck from the burning house with Myers trapped inside, Halloween Kills shows emergency responders rushing to put out the blazing fire. Because we all know you can’t kill the boogeyman, we see a glimpse of the brutal kills to come as Myers walks free from his deathtrap and impales a fireman. Leaving a trail of bodies, the monster is thought to be going to his childhood home. Meanwhile, Laurie seems to have more surprises up her sleeve. Determined now more than ever, this iconic final girl sets out to hunt and kill her worst nightmare.
This gripping trailer promises everything Halloween fans have been waiting for. Holding your attention hostage while keeping you on the edge of your seat, this preview suggests we may get to see a gruesome, suspenseful showdown between the Strode women and Myers that far surpasses Green’s previous attempt. However, this type of hype and hopeful expectations feels all too familiar.
As a refresher, Green’s 2018 Halloween (read our full review here) served as a direct sequel to John Carpenter’s iconic ’78 slasher masterpiece. Taking place 40 years after the original infamous murders, Halloween 2018 ignored the events of all sequels while opening with Michael Myers institutionalized at a prison for the criminally insane. Reprising her role as Laurie Strode was Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis, a character who managed to survive and have a family. Bearing deep-rooted trauma from that fateful All Hallows’ Eve, Laurie’s convinced Myers will one day escape to begin his bloody murder spree anew. When her paranoid predictions come true, terror returns to where it all began: the small Illinois town of Haddonfield.
Possibly one of the most divisive horror films for genre fans in recent memory, Halloween 2018 was praised for its Easter eggs and nostalgia, but missed the mark for many franchise fans. From its disjointed and anti-climactic plot flow to ill-placed comedy, Green’s vision, for many people, just didn’t live up to the hype. To be fair, the bar of expectation may have been set too high with repetitive news updates of Carpenter’s involvement prior to the premiere.
In way of production for the upcoming sequel, nothing much has changed. Green remains in the director’s chair while Carpenter retains credit as executive producer and composer. Curtis returns as Laurie, Judy Greer (Ant-Man 2015) reprises her role as Karen and Andi Matichak is back as Allyson. Also returning is duo Nick Castle (Halloween ’78) and James Jude Courtney (Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series) bringing back “The Shape” aka Michael Myers. However, franchise fans will likely recognize the addition of Tommy Doyle, a familiar character name, listed in the IMDb credits.
Portrayed by Brian Andrews in Halloween ’78 and later by Paul Rudd (Ant-Man 2015) in the sixth franchise installment, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), the character became a reoccurring memory of nostalgia associated with the Halloween series. And, although the character’s significance in Halloween Kills is unknown at this time, the role now passes to Anthony Michael Hall (The Dark Knight 2008).
At the very least, an appearance by Tommy Doyle and a direct nod to Halloween 3 showcased in the new trailer suggests we will likely see many more welcomed Easter eggs in the upcoming film. As for the film itself, I’m wary of getting my expectations too high no matter how enticing the trailer may be. Showcasing a preview of this caliber might be writing a check the film simply can’t cash – but we will soon find out.
Halloween Kills hits theaters on October 15th.
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