{"id":386,"date":"2018-10-20T00:49:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-20T00:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=386"},"modified":"2018-10-20T00:49:51","modified_gmt":"2018-10-20T00:49:51","slug":"halloween-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.granitecitynow.com\/?p=386","title":{"rendered":"Halloween 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo courtesy of Matthew Toumi, the “Toum-raider.”<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t believe in the boogeyman? You should<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a reason I don\u2019t do scary movies; it\u2019s called \u201c\u2018Dark Night of the Scarecrow,\u2019 and I was seven.\u201d<\/p>\n

For real.<\/p>\n

The trauma of that 1981 TV movie has persisted for decades \u2013 almost as long as it\u2019s been since Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) first faced onscreen trauma of her own: a methodical maniac named Michael Myers.<\/p>\n

(Insert that creepy-ass theme music here)<\/p>\n

But this freaky franchise is too iconic to be missed, and \u201cHalloween\u201d by way of Blumhouse Productions simply is a recipe for scary success. Am I right?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been forty years since that Halloween night when Judith Myers was killed, the details of which are recounted here with visual flashbacks as well as narration from investigative journalists Aaron Korey (Jefferson Hall) and Dana Haines (Rhian Rees).<\/p>\n

For their podcast, Aaron and Dana pay a call to Smith\u2019s Grove Rehabilitation Facility to interview \u201ca person who\u2019s spent the last four decades in captivity and never spoken a word.\u201d<\/p>\n

Y\u2019know, because this<\/em> is a good idea. (Sarc!)<\/p>\n

Aaron has a surprise for Michael, hoping to get him to \u201csay something!!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

The confrontation balances jumpy and quick images of and howls from other patients with systematic and intermittent zooms on Michael as he stands in the yard, unflinching and unaffected, each shot of him inching closer in the most disturbing of ways.<\/p>\n

Shudder.<\/p>\n

And that pattern beneath Michael\u2019s feet is no coincidence; this absolutely<\/em> is just the start of a truly demented chess match \u2013 one that began 40 years ago\u2026.<\/p>\n

If by some miracle you haven\u2019t seen 1978\u2019s \u201cHalloween,\u201d its backstory is filled in enough for you to follow along, though you\u2019ll miss the visual nods paying homage to the original film in the series.<\/p>\n

Upholding the expectations of the genre, \u201cHalloween 2018\u201d offers plenty of moments that will have you wincing, shaking your head, and wondering whyyyyyyy?!?!<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re a character in a horror film, you\u2019re supposed<\/em> to make poor choices, the results of which most likely get you killed.\u00a0So, there aren\u2019t any real surprises in that regard, but that doesn\u2019t mean the expectations aren\u2019t intense.<\/p>\n

Director David Gordon Green effectively keeps us on edge, evoking gasps of suspense by setting up scenes in such a way that we see the danger approaching, but these characters do not; using point-of-view restrictions to direct or impede what we\u2019re able to see until just<\/em> the right moment; incorporating silence to build anticipation and pull us into a scene to that point that we\u2019re afraid to look away, make a sound \u2013 or even breathe.<\/p>\n

As the body count increases, so does the audience\u2019s level of anxiety. Bravo, man!<\/p>\n

This newest flick is unexpectedly gorier than the original \u2013 including perhaps the most disgusting thing I\u2019ve seen onscreen since \u201cAmerican History X\u201d \u2013 but the movie counters that heaviness with some humorous dialogue, most of which is courtesy of pint-sized scene-stealer Julian (Jibrail Nantambu).<\/p>\n

The big draw to these movies has always been Michael Myers, the psychopath that refuses to die and has carried the franchise for decades.<\/p>\n

Maybe the most disturbing thing about his killing sprees is that he commits them with zero emotion; that eerie white mask with the hollow eyes erases all humanity and exposes Michael as nothing more than \u201cpure evil.\u201d<\/p>\n

This new installment, though, wisely centers on a trio of feisty females: Laurie; her daughter, Karen (Judy Greer); and granddaughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak). Each is plenty<\/em> capable on her own but becomes stronger yet when forces are combined.<\/p>\n

Your move, Michael.<\/p>\n

\u201cHalloween 2018\u201d is intense and gruesome and funny and frightening.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s everything you\u2019d hope for from a horror flick and a fulfilling chapter in this terrifying and longstanding franchise.<\/p>\n

You have just enjoyed the insights of Movie Addict Mel, a cinema dork and conversational writer. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@movieaddictmel<\/a>, and \u201clike\u201d her Facebook page\u00a0www.facebook.com\/movieaddictmel<\/a><\/em>. You also can email her at movieaddictmel@outlook.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n