Halloween

THE GIST: Arrested after his killing spree, Michael Myers has a chance to escape after 40 years and heads back to Haddonfield, Illinois. Meanwhile, Laurie Strode, who escaped death at his hands in 1978, has been fearing and preparing for Michael's return all her life, all but certain she will be a prime target.

The latest version of Halloween goes back all the way to the Carpenter's original, disregarding even the sibling bond between Michael and Laurie that has been the cornerstone of every sequel and remake in the four decades since.

Once again, Jamie Lee Curtis is back in the lead and the perfect antagonist to the masked killer. She's given a good role to play here: a strong woman, scarred by events beyond her control, who won't run away anymore; instead, she's been preparing all her life and almost cherishes the opportunity of doling out some overdue payback.

I think that screenplays, as well as direction, reflect not just the time in which they're made, but also an audience's sensibilities; perhaps that's why I find the original Halloween overrated. I say this because I think that this 2018 version of Halloween is probably the best chapter overall in the entire franchise. And the fact that I liked even the 2007 remake more than the original, is probably also due to the evolution in cinematic styles and moods that has occurred over 30 (and now 40) years.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Whatever the case may be, this chapter in the Halloween saga is surely the most well fleshed out, least leaky, and most solid of them all. Watch it.

Grade: 8