"One Good Scare": The HALLOWEEN Films

[Mel O'Drama]

While I'm not totally convinced in rehashing the story, I'm definitely in for the ride

Mixed feelings here, too.

When this was first discussed some months ago, I was quite happy to give it a miss on the basis of all the familiar hyperbole about Laurie facing Michael for the final time, which has been said and done more than once before.

And then I saw there was yet more retconning regarding Laurie's history in the series and just had to sigh. So this isn't the Laurie who had a daughter who was presumed dead in a car accident. Nor is it the Laurie who had a son, faked her death and finally got killed by Michael. And of course it's not the Laurie from the reboot films. I have some acceptance that the Halloween series has become a whole big "choose your own adventure", where you can decide which sequel to watch next depending how you want things to go (I, II and H20 being the "official" trilogy in my personal view). But it has diluted the whole series really and investing in yet another take is a lot to ask.

I dislike the concept of the film crew, which was old hat even when they did it in Resurrection. Halloween films work best when they're intimate and personal and have just one or two people who believe the truth. Making Michael a cult within the series has never worked, nor has adding filters like cameras and witnesses.

But...

There was something that really grabbed me about the trailer. It took me a couple of watches to get what it was, and I've realised I'm quite in love with the idea that Laurie has become Loomis... this eccentric, gun-toting elder with a voice that sounds worn out from screaming that nobody quite believes or takes seriously. I mean I really like that.

Some of the nods to other films in the trailer seem promising too - like the boy with the ghetto blaster bumping into Michael. It's a nice acknowledgement of the series' history without being overtly satirical. A few of those could work well.

And yes it will certainly be interesting to see Carpenter revisit the series.

I can't see myself rushing to watch this, but I certainly won't be actively avoiding it as I have the rebooted version.

 

[Ome]

realised I'm quite in love with the idea that Laurie has become Loomis...

That's how it played out to me.

I'm not impressed with the reporters and when I saw then dangling the mask I thought I can't do this, but then when we saw Laurie and the whole eccentric bit I was immediately gripped, throw in the theme and it won me over. My reaction wasn't to jump out and see this as fast as I could,. but it did make me want to see this in the cinema because of the music. Kinda like my last time of watching it on the big screen.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

Tonight I had what used to be my annual viewing of Halloween. Though looking back through this thread it seems I haven't watched in a number of years. Even so, I know it so well it feels like just a few months since I watched it.

It's a little early, perhaps, but I was just in the mood for it tonight and very much enjoyed it. Most of all I enjoyed the simplicity of the story and direction. There are no major gimmicks and it's not trying to be too clever. It's just brisk and efficient. Even the lines that seem more meaningful ("Well kid: I thought you outgrew superstition") feel almost accidental rather than placed there in a bid to be genius.

The cinematography is gorgeous. I was particularly struck by the exterior of the Wallace house when young Tommy Doyle saw Michael standing outside. That really stood out as my favourite shot of the film tonight.

Something else that grabbed me this evening is how linear the film is. Eveything seems to involve lines: the venetian blinds with tape through which Tommy peers; the slatted wood cladding on the house exteriors; the infamous louvred doors of the cupboard in which Laurie hides; the criss crossed Georgian style windows on the French doors through which Michael watches Annie; the washing lines where Laurie spots Michael hiding; the bannisters Laurie falls from; the straight line of hedges and neatly trimmed borders to the long pavements. Even the shadows cast lines.

I found a box set of "making of" type DVDs - still sealed - including Halloween: The Inside Story...

I suspect it will be a lot of talking heads, but that, too, will be worth a peek come late October.

Three years on from finding this in hiding (and even more years since I originally bought it). I still haven't unsealed and watched this. Will 2020 be the year?!

 

[Jason73]

I started my annual re-watch last weekend. I’ve done 1,2 and 4 so far. Last year this was as far as I got because the thought of five is always off putting. But I think I’m going to do five tomorrow. My goal is 1,2,4,5,6,H20,the new one. We’ll see how far I get.

They’re all silly except for the first two but there’s just something I enjoy about putting them on every year as the weather starts to change.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I started my annual re-watch last weekend. I’ve done 1,2 and 4 so far.

Oh nice.

Last year this was as far as I got because the thought of five is always off putting. But I think I’m going to do five tomorrow.

Yes - that's completely understandable. Those comedy cops from five and their "quirky" soundtrack. Shudder. I wish you every strength to get through it this year.

My goal is 1,2,4,5,6,H20,the new one. We’ll see how far I get.

Wow. So that's at least three different continuities.

I still haven't got round to watching (or buying) the 2018 film. I'm a complete wuss when it comes to horror these days, which hasn't helped. I might have to read a parents' guide or something beforehand to prepare myself for the nastiness coming my way.

 

[Jason73]

Those comedy cops from five and their "quirky" soundtrack. Shudder.

Double shudder. Those cops are horrible and their soundtrack are horrible. Plus I hate that the writers kill off Rachel and leave us with her horribly annoying friend, Tina. There are a couple of scenes I enjoy -- the car chase and the laundry chute scenes -- but I'm not sure if it's worth it for those. I think I may have just talked myself into skipping to 6. I actually enjoy 6 and it's 90's grunginess.

Wow. So that's at least three different continuities.

Yes -- I've often considered exploring one continuity all the way through, but I always end just going through all of them and shifting to whatever continuity I happen to be watching.

I still haven't got round to watching (or buying) the 2018 film. I'm a complete wuss when it comes to horror these days, which hasn't helped. I might have to read a parents' guide or something beforehand to prepare myself for the nastiness coming my way.

The older I've gotten the less I can handle scary movies. I can't really do modern horror movies, but I didn't have a problem with the new Halloween. It's been a year since I've seen it, but I don't recall it being overly gory. I can't do films like Saw or Hostel -- but the new Halloween didn't bother me. I think you would be able to get through it without the preparation of a parent's guide.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I hate that the writers kill off Rachel and leave us with her horribly annoying friend, Tina.

Yes. That falls into "what were they thinking" territory. Tina just grates.

I actually enjoy 6 and it's 90's grunginess.

Same here. Curse was a grower for me. I found some of the kills a bit OTT and I hated what happened to Jamie. But it's also got a great deal of tension and suspense. I love the dark, brooding atmosphere and Michael was genuinely creepy again.

And there's Paul Stephen Rudd.

Yes -- I've often considered exploring one continuity all the way through, but I always end just going through all of them and shifting to whatever continuity I happen to be watching.

Maybe I should try watching all of them again one year. I have done that but not for a long time. In recent years I've mostly separated the continuities and watched just a handful of films each year based on which arc I'm in the mood for.

I didn't discover the franchise until the late Nineties, and the first three films I watched were I, II and H20. They've always felt like the perfect trilogy to me and so are my most-watched films.

I forget now as they were very close together, but it's entirely possible H20 was the first entry I watched when I went to the cinema with friends. Which might explain my fondness for it. I remember having I and II on a store-bought VHS which had both films on one tape. The thing I remember most about that is that the widescreen image was squished up to fit the then-standard square TV shape, which added to the weirdness.

My second most-watched sequence is I, II, IV, V and VI, which I've done on a number of years.

Last time I watched I'm fairly sure I started with IV and then did the next two. That was because I was really in the mood for IV and didn't want to get sidetracked into my default trilogy of I, II, H20.

I didn't have a problem with the new Halloween. It's been a year since I've seen it, but I don't recall it being overly gory. I can't do films like Saw or Hostel -- but the new Halloween didn't bother me. I think you would be able to get through it without the preparation of a parent's guide.

Thanks. That's good to know, and it sounds like I'd be approaching it from a similar place that you did in your relationship with horror.

 

[Ome]

I'm going to do the short HALLOWEEN version this year. That will be the first one and then straight through to the last one.


It will be my first time of doing this as I love 2, 4 and H20, so I'm excited about the continuity with the two

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I'm going to do the short HALLOWEEN version this year. That will be the first one and then straight through to the last one.


It will be my first time of doing this as I love 2, 4 and H20, so I'm excited about the continuity with the two

Having enjoyed the simplicity of the original last night I think I could get on board with that. It'll put a very different spin on things to lose the sibling mythos altogether.

 

[Jason73]

But it's also got a great deal of tension and suspense. I love the dark, brooding atmosphere and Michael was genuinely creepy again.

Yes--I know it's a bit of a mess (or maybe quite a bit of a mess) but I love all these things that you've mentioned about it.

Maybe I should try watching all of them again one year. I have done that but not for a long time.

I find I'm able to plop myself into whatever continuity I happen to be watching at the time without any difficulty so I can enjoy them all.

I didn't discover the franchise until the late Nineties, and the first three films I watched were I, II and H20. They've always felt like the perfect trilogy to me and so are my most-watched films.

I forget now as they were very close together, but it's entirely possible H20 was the first entry I watched when I went to the cinema with friends. Which might explain my fondness for it. I remember having I and II on a store-bought VHS which had both films on one tape. The thing I remember most about that is that the widescreen image was squished up to fit the then-standard square TV shape, which added to the weirdness.

I think our similar ages often give us similar experiences with certain pop culture type things. H20 was my entry point to the franchise as well and it's remained my favorite, even though I understand how superior the first one is. Sadly, Resurrection was the second film I saw of the series and the first one I saw in theaters. I haven't seen it since then, though I'm toying with watching this time around out of curiosity. I'm wondering if it's really as bad as I remember. I imagine so.

Last time I watched I'm fairly sure I started with IV and then did the next two. That was because I was really in the mood for IV and didn't want to get sidetracked into my default trilogy of I, II, H20.

I'm going to do the short HALLOWEEN version this year. That will be the first one and then straight through to the last one.

Having enjoyed the simplicity of the original last night I think I could get on board with that. It'll put a very different spin on things to lose the sibling mythos altogether.

I actually really love this continuity. I love that they wiped away all the convoluted stuff from the middle of the trilogy. Although, H20 does this just as effectively. What I love about the H20 continuity is that you feel like you get a definitive ending for the series.

One thing that bothers me is the how they're naming the the new ones. I can never remember which year the new Halloween came out and so I never know how to refer to it to distinguish it from the old one. And what is the next one that's coming out going to be called? It's going to get more and more confusing.


I was feeling annoyed that I have part 5 to watch today and annoyed that it was blocking me from getting to part six and then I came to this wonderful realization that nothing horrible would happen to me if I just skipped five and went right to six* and that I actually had ultimate control over what films I watched. (Sometimes I get so stuck in the "rules" I create in my brain . . .) So, I'm doing 6 today which means I'll get to do H20 next weekend. Now my decision for today will be -directors cut or theatrical cut?


*Wouldn't it be funny if you never heard from me again after this? You'd always be left to wonder if skipping 5 turned out to be a fatal mistake.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I'm going to do the short HALLOWEEN version this year. That will be the first one and then straight through to the last one.

It will be my first time of doing this as I love 2, 4 and H20, so I'm excited about the continuity with the two

Having enjoyed the simplicity of the original last night I think I could get on board with that. It'll put a very different spin on things to lose the sibling mythos altogether.

This afternoon I had a "sod it" moment, purchased the 2018 version on Prime and watched it there and then.

I'm very glad I did.

It followed on from the original perfectly, but I think the little gap between last night and today meant that it wasn't a complete shock to see Laurie morph from a teenager to a pensioner.


I loved the little nods to the original, right down to the style of the opening and closing credits (I'm not so sure about the inflating CGI pumpkin, but the style of the credits was so similar I could easily overlook that). And some similar shots throughout, like the homages to the cupboard with louvred doors. My favourite touch was that huge Sinclair headstone near Judith Myers's grave, just as it was in the original. Only now the graveyard had grown around it.

Try as I might it was hard not to think of the sequels. But this could be by design. A few moments seemed reminiscent of some of the sequels too (stalking older ladies in kitchens was very H2; the bodies in the garage was similar to The Return and the creepy public toilet scene evoked H20). Which was strange in a good kind of way. As though they'd been foreshadowed in some parallel universe.

Michael's look was spot-on (though I'd have liked to see a little less of him). And I liked the themes of family with Laurie and the two younger generations.

A bit of sequilitis with some of the more "creative" kills and Michael's invulnerability amped up. It wasn't as restrained as the original, but very few films are. And I did like that much of the violence was implicit.

I loved the way the atmosphere built up and saved the chaos for the latter part of the film. There were also some nice jumps. But a combination of watching in the daytime and having a Chamomile tea to hand meant I didn't have to resort to the Parents' Guide.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think our similar ages often give us similar experiences with certain pop culture type things.

They do, and it's fun to have that kind of mirror held up sometimes.

H20 was my entry point to the franchise as well and it's remained my favorite, even though I understand how superior the first one is.

Absolutely. At some point in time, the original has probably surpassed H20 as my favourite of the series (well, certainly my most-watched), but the affection I feel for H20 is quite unique as it was (I think) my first experience with the franchise. And a pretty good one at that. It's the one that gets the most excitement from me when I sit down to watch it.

Sadly, Resurrection was the second film I saw of the series and the first one I saw in theaters. I haven't seen it since then, though I'm toying with watching this time around out of curiosity. I'm wondering if it's really as bad as I remember. I imagine so.

I have it on DVD, but couldn't tell you when I last watched it. Probably a decade or so. I've often wondered the same thing myself, so if you're volunteering for the job I'll be waiting to find out if it really is that bad.

I actually really love this continuity. I love that they wiped away all the convoluted stuff from the middle of the trilogy.

Same here. It feels really lean.

What I love about the H20 continuity is that you feel like you get a definitive ending for the series.

100% yes. It really should have ended there. Though if they're going to reboot the series as they have, I like the "alternative reality" route they've taken now. Far preferable to blatantly undoing the definitive ending the way that Resurrection did.

One thing that bothers me is the how they're naming the the new ones. I can never remember which year the new Halloween came out and so I never know how to refer to it to distinguish it from the old one. And what is the next one that's coming out going to be called? It's going to get more and more confusing.

It is odd - and confusing - that a sequel would have the exact same name. I wonder if the powers that be will ever retrospectively change the title of the 2018 film to make it clearer.

According to the webs, the next two are Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, so at least we'll be able to tell those from the others.

I was feeling annoyed that I have part 5 to watch today and annoyed that it was blocking me from getting to part six and then I came to this wonderful realization that nothing horrible would happen to me if I just skipped five and went right to six* and that I actually had ultimate control over what films I watched. (Sometimes I get so stuck in the "rules" I create in my brain . . .)

Ha ha. I know that feeling.

So, I'm doing 6 today which means I'll get to do H20 next weekend.

Great stuff.

Now my decision for today will be -directors cut or theatrical cut?

I still haven't seen the Director's Cut. My DVD of the film is a very old one, and from before the DC was available. I've heard so many good things about it and would love to see it at some point. Maybe that's next October sorted.

*Wouldn't it be funny if you never heard from me again after this? You'd always be left to wonder if skipping 5 turned out to be a fatal mistake.

I think if I never found out I'd end up end up screaming like Laurie.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I found a box set of "making of" type DVDs - still sealed - including Halloween: The Inside Story...

I suspect it will be a lot of talking heads, but that, too, will be worth a peek come late October.

To round off my Halloween-viewing weekend, I FINALLY cracked this open and watched it tonight.

It was much, much better than I was expecting. Some of the ground covered was familiar from other behind-the-scenes thingys, but was told in a way that felt new and refreshing. Pretty much every living key figure involved in the production of the original film was included, from Jamie Lee right down to the guy who played Bob, the actors who played young Tommy and Lindsey and even the actors who played Michael aged 8 and 23.

There were some terrific insights. I particularly loved the way the filming of the long opening shot of Michael killing Judith was told here. It was fascinating. And Jamie Lee doing her impression of John Carpenter sitting at home and playing the Halloween theme had me creased up.

I also love that it wasn't all neat and tidy, and we were asked to make up our minds about which apocryphal tales to believe. The best example are the cuts between PJ Soles and John Carpenter remembering the same experience in very different ways: PJ said there was nothing about nudity in the contract. John says there was. PJ says John was embarrassed and awkward when asking her to bare her boobs. John says no conversation happened as it was agreed ahead of time. And so it goes on.

The structure of the documentary was great as well, since it went from pre-production through production, then onto release and the legacy. I hadn't realised just how poorly Halloween had performed in its initial release, and how scathing the reviews were until October 1978 when it received two favourable reviews that turned its fortunes around.

It touched on the sequels a little, with brutal honesty about the diminishing quality and the poor decisions made. It even acknowledged the two Rob Zombie films (Zombie himself was interviewed, and told about the frosty conversation he got from John Carpenter when he rang to say he was remaking the film).

I found the tributes to the people who had died - Debra Hill, Moustapha Akkad and Donald Pleasance - very touching.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's the best documentary I've watched about the making of the original film. I certainly preferred it to 25 Years Of Terror, which is nice enough and quite thorough but I think is a little overrated and seems aimed more at people who live and breathe the franchise (though it's many years since I've watched, so perhaps my heresy is coming from a faulty memory).

 

[Jason73]

I've often wondered the same thing myself, so if you're volunteering for the job I'll be waiting to find out if it really is that bad.

I think I'm going to do it next weekend. Stay tuned.

According to the webs, the next two are Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, so at least we'll be able to tell those from the others.

Oh I didn't realize that they had names. That's good.

I still haven't seen the Director's Cut. My DVD of the film is a very old one, and from before the DC was available. I've heard so many good things about it and would love to see it at some point. Maybe that's next October sorted.

I watched the director's cut. I thought I had both versions but it turns out I only have the directors cut. I must have rented the theatrical cut when I watched it. Anyways, I enjoyed it a lot. I feel like the writer did the best he could do with the silly plot twists of the previous films to try and tie it all together. It's far, far from perfect but it was fun.

I think if I never found out I'd end up end up screaming like Laurie.

This afternoon I had a "sod it" moment, purchased the 2018 version on Prime and watched it there and then.

I'm very glad I did.

I'm so pleased you ended up liking it.

I loved the little nods to the original, right down to the style of the opening and closing credits (I'm not so sure about the inflating CGI pumpkin, but the style of the credits was so similar I could easily overlook that). And some similar shots throughout, like the homages to the cupboard with louvred doors. My favourite touch was that huge Sinclair headstone near Judith Myers's grave, just as it was in the original. Only now the graveyard had grown around it.

Try as I might it was hard not to think of the sequels. But this could be by design. A few moments seemed reminiscent of some of the sequels too (stalking older ladies in kitchens was very H2; the bodies in the garage was similar to The Return and the creepy public toilet scene evoked H20). Which was strange in a good kind of way. As though they'd been foreshadowed in some parallel universe.

From what I've read and heard, most of those nods were intentional. Did you notice the masks from Halloween 3?

And I liked the themes of family with Laurie and the two younger generations.

I really appreciated that aspect. I felt it really ramped up the stakes.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I think I'm going to do it next weekend. Stay tuned.

Excellent. I like how you're spreading out the viewings over all the weekends through October.

I watched the director's cut. I thought I had both versions but it turns out I only have the directors cut. I must have rented the theatrical cut when I watched it. Anyways, I enjoyed it a lot. I feel like the writer did the best he could do with the silly plot twists of the previous films to try and tie it all together. It's far, far from perfect but it was fun.

I'm glad you enjoyed it (and saved yourself the trauma of re-watching 5).

From what I've read and heard, most of those nods were intentional. Did you notice the masks from Halloween 3?

Yeah, I'd assumed most were intentional by how woven into the story they were. It's clear the writers and director know their Halloween.

I didn't notice the H3 masks, but after reading your comment I remembered I'd seen them in a still image from the film before. Curious about what else I may have missed, I sought out a number of articles online about the references and homages.

A few of the more comprehensive ones (the first article even mentions the nod to the dreaded comedy cops from H5):

Halloween 2018: Every Easter Egg & Reference

David Gordon Green's Halloween doesn't actually forget all the other sequels.

screenrant.com

A Comprehensive List of Halloween 2018 Easter Eggs and References to the Previous Halloween Films. | We Live Entertainment

Demetri Panos offers a comprehensive list of Halloween 2018 Easter Eggs and References to the Previous Halloween Films including the original Halloween.

weliveentertainment.com

The 10 best Halloween Easter eggs and references that pay tribute to the original

These Halloween Easter eggs and references will give you even more appreciation for both films

www.gamesradar.com

I'm glad to say I spotted most of them. Not all though. I missed the references to Lonny, so I'm really glad that was pointed out. And I hadn't noticed the teacher in the schoolroom was voiced by P.J. Soles, which is a really nice touch.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

According to the webs, the next two are Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, so at least we'll be able to tell those from the others.

Oh I didn't realize that they had names. That's good.

I've been doing a little digging. Not only do they have names, but Halloween Kills already has a teaser trailer. I've just watched it and my heart is pounding with excitement. (I'd advise against watching for anyone who hasn't seen the 2018 film):

Spoiler: Halloween Kills teaser trailer

What's more, the cast and the featured characters has excited me greatly. As well as Laurie, and Michael, there are a further FIVE characters from the original film. Three of them will be played by the original actors. So with Jamie Lee and Nick Castle, we'll have five original actors from 1978.

It's reminded me of the bonus of the rebooted/retconned version, because one of the returnees is

Spoiler

a favourite of mine who was killed off in one of the sequels.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

After my little Halloween double-bill at the weekend, I've been staying quite close to it this week. Listening to the scores for the various films. And I've now got the expanded version of the score to the 2018 film, which sounds amazing. I think I'll be playing that one a fair bit for night driving whenever the world starts up again.

I started looking at some behind-the scenes stuff for the 2018 film, starting with articles (there are heaps of H20 vs. H40 articles out there, with different schools of thought about which is superior), then some videos on YouTube.

This led me on to discovering the retrospective documentaries from the Shout! Factory blu-ray set, which I don't have . The one on HII was great fun.

It's always good to see Lance Guest, after all. I especially enjoyed how blunt Irwin Yablans is about his unhappiness with certain people and situations.

I plan to watch the one on H4 a little later after which I imagine there'll be ones covering 5 and 6. I'm especially excited at the prospect of seeing a new H20 documentary.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

the retrospective documentaries from the Shout! Factory blu-ray set

I plan to watch the one on H4 a little later after which I imagine there'll be ones covering 5 and 6.

I've ended up watching the docs on 3, 4 and 5.

Part of me wondered if the documentary on Season Of The Witch would entice me to watch the film. It didn't.

The doc on 4 was very watchable. And educational, since I discovered a phrase I hadn't heard before: "teeter-totter" (meaning a seesaw).

Unexpectedly, the retrospective on 5 has proved the most enjoyable so far. The frank admissions from pretty much everyone involved in making the film that it's an inferior product compared with 4 almost validates it. Everything is covered: It's admitted that much of the film was made up as they went along, and nobody had any idea for how the man in black arc would pan out by the time filming wrapped (so they really left part 6 holding the baby). The comedy cops and their silly soundtrack are dissed. Nobody thought killing Rachel was a good idea. The actress who plays Tina admits the character is annoying, and it's said that the audience at the premiere cheered when Tina died.

 

[Sarah]

I loved the new Halloween, the only gripes I have with it are that as mentioned, Laurie doesn't have the son we saw in H20, and that she has a daughter that she has apparently raised to lie in wait for Michael.

And the ending - I would have preferred it to have been just Laurie. Won't say anymore incase I'm spoiling it but the ending wasn't right for me.

I'm glad there are others on here who wait for this perfect time of year to start watching again

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I loved the new Halloween, the only gripes I have with it are that as mentioned, Laurie doesn't have the son we saw in H20, and that she has a daughter that she has apparently raised to lie in wait for Michael.

Because I knew going in that this followed on from the original film, I was OK with that change. In a way, it would have been stranger to have John as her son and then have to keep reminding myself that Michael's no longer his uncle.

I would have preferred it to have been just Laurie.

Absolutely. Laurie alone would have increased the intensity and elevated the stakes greatly.

I know they'd kind of covered that Laurie vs. Michael face off in H20, and so had to go in a different direction, but there is a whiff of Charmed to the ending. I could buy it, though.

The main aspect of the film that didn't work for me was the twist with

Spoiler

Dr Sartain. It felt a bit too much like Dr Wynn in the sixth film.

By the way, it's only in the last couple of days that I've realised that Dr Sartain was played by Mehmet from EastEnders.