Over a 43-year run, Michael Myers truly has refused to die. Which is why I was both ecstatic and curious to see if the series’ twelfth installment, Halloween Kills, would finally be the end of the horror heavyweight. Released on October 15th, and directed by David Gordon Green (who also directed 2018’s Halloween), Halloween Kills aims to please. The film features music by horror soundtrack legend John Carpenter, who also did the soundtrack for the original Halloween (1978) and The Thing. Halloween Kills features powerhouse actresses Jamie Lee Curtis and Judy Greer, with other recognizable faces like Anthony Michael Hall and Dylan Arnold. Picking up exactly where the previous movie left off, Michael Myers has escaped death yet again, free to terrorize the citizens of Haddonfield. 

This time, there is a twist. Tommy Doyle, the child Laurie Strode babysat in the original, is now all grown up, and encourages the citizens of Haddonfield to hunt Michael down and put an end to his reign of terror. I won’t lie, hearing this premise is what solidified my decision to watch this movie. Throughout the series, Michael has been presented as this inevitable evil that one can only defend themselves against, or at the least prepare themselves for. However, the idea that the majority of the townsfolk have decided to not only go on the offensive, but to actively hunt Michael down, is extremely enticing. Unfortunately, I found this plot point to be poorly executed — they all end up running around like a bunch of headless chickens.

I watched Halloween Kills three times over the course of opening weekend, and I can genuinely say I was impressed each time. Over the years, Michael Myers and the Halloween series have cultivated a feeling of anxiousness and suspense throughout each movie and I believe this movie conveys those aspects beautifully, particularly through the cinematography and the action scenes. Every time Michael appeared, I jumped. Not because I didn’t anticipate his appearance (trust me, I did), but because the shots were so well done. The lighting in the film is continuously off-colour and ill-lighted, giving the audience the feeling of uneasiness and bleakness, coupled with awesome practical effects by talented special-effects technician Chris Nelson. Despite the wonderful shooting and insane practical effects, the movie would have been nothing without the sound design. John Carpenter made this movie. The small details in the sound design truly brought the horror factor. From Michael’s heavy breathing under the mask, to the soundtrack, to the blaring alarm-like cue that signalled Michael’s presence, Carpenter made sure that audiences felt the anxiousness of the characters and the general heavy feeling of the film.

Luckily, these standout choices made up for an otherwise poor plot execution.  The idea of a unified town putting an end to malevolent evil quickly sours into the negative effects of mob rule and irrationality. The determined and hopeful citizens turned into bloodthirsty, radical monsters almost instantly. It’s clear they act with no logic or reason, just following whatever their self-appointed (and frankly, abysmally chosen) leader Tommy Doyle. It doesn’t help that some of the characters we are meant to root for are so unnecessarily aggressive and senseless that it makes it impossible to sympathize with them. It is plain to see that the standout character in this movie is Michael. This may come as a disappointment to viewers who hoped to see the protagonists, the Strode women, at the forefront finally putting an end to Michael. His behaviour, his sadistic body movements, his generally bloodcurdling demeanor. He doesn’t even speak and yet he is so compelling as a character. I believe he was very well portrayed in this film. Do I think this is the best Halloween installment? No way. Is it a contender for top four? Definitely (anything beats Rob Zombie’s 2007 remake). If you are a Halloween fan, I highly recommend that you see this movie. If you are simply a horror fan, I still recommend you see this movie, though you should probably at least watch Halloween (2018) first if you’re new to the story. The practical effects, the cinematography and the sound design make this movie a great watch for any horror fan or for someone looking for something suspenseful.