The face of evil

There's been many enduring images in horror movie pop culture from Norman Bates, Freddy Kreuger to Ghostface. However, Michael Myers is the only one that can be considered the personification of pure evil; one who kills without remorse, speaks no mercy, and follows the only instinct that he knows. Michael's image has been through many makeovers (and several horrible sequels) but this iteration of Halloween steers the series in the proper direction, sticking close to the roots of what made the original great to begin with. Taking place 40 years after the events of the first film, Michael has been kept in a sanitarium under observance since he was caught the night he went on a killing spree. Parallel to his time in captivity, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has lived in isolation, dealing with post-traumatic stress and the phobia of possibly confronting Michael again. However, instead of living in fear, Laurie's phobia forges her to prepare for Michael's return after she finds out he's escaped and is tracking her down again. In many ways, Halloween humors the traits of 70s horror cliches while enforcing new ones into the genre. Curtis' character, once the typical sole teenage survivor, is now transformed into an enforced soldier who isn't waiting with arms crossed for the danger; she literally goes after the danger becoming the hunter instead of the hunted. That being said, Halloween doesn't forget that it's a horror movie or the bloody disgusting kills which isn't in short supply. The most important factor though is Michael himself, who remains the mute, faceless, stone cold figure as he was meant to be. You never see his voice or hear him sans for the iconic deep breathing when he has his mask on so long time fans can rest easy. In some ways, this version pays respect to everything it accomplished back then while evolving into something different, not only redeeming the series but setting new standards in horror films and for that matter, reboots as well (because in some ways it does feel like that). It's refreshing to see when a followup to an iconic film does justice while taking risks at trying something new with the results not only paying off but giving some new respect to a genre of horror that was up to this point only known for gore and gratuitous kills. Halloween not only re-establishes its' status as the iconic film that started a genre but also drives the point home that when it comes to the archetype of evil, Michael is second to none. Highly recommended.