2018's "Halloween" is a brutal, gory, and supsenseful follow-up to John Carpenter's original 1978 thriller. It completely ignores the continuity established in the franchise's previous seven entries featuring Michael Myers. While I welcome a new take on what happened after the Night He Came Home, there's one thing I really miss. I feel like Michael being Laurie Strode's brother added an additional depth and motivation to the storyline that really served a purpose to the old canon. That connection is missing from the new Halloween. It's not the only thing missing, though.
I wanted to share a list of characters the alternate take on a direct sequel to 1978's "Halloween" have removed from existence. Some will be shocked and upset that their favorite characters have been deleted from Halloween history. Others may be happy and celebrate the eliminations of these individuals for whatever personal vendettas they might have against them.
Danielle Harris played Jamie Lloyd in both "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" and "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers." Jame Lloyd was the daughter of the late Laurie Strode, making her the unfortunate neice of the infamous killer. Throughout the two films, she appears to have a psychic connection with her murderous uncle that leads him to her. Harris became a sort of cult hero and scream queen because of her portrayal of Jamie and was even asked to return for a major role in the Rob Zombie "Halloween" remake and its sequel because of her popularity with fans of the franchise. The removal of her character from "Halloween" canon might boil the blood of many enthusiasts.
One of Paul Rudd's first acting jobs was that of the grown-up Tommy Doyle in "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers." Tommy was the little boy Laurie Strode babysat when Michael Myers brutalized Haddonfield in 1978. He might have been socially awkward and sort of creepy at first glance, but he ends up saving Jamie Lloyd's baby and "killing" Michael in the sixth film in the series. Tommy might still be alive in the new "Halloween" continuity, but I doubt he'd be played by Paul Rudd and certainly wouldn't need to save the baby of a character that doesn't even exist.
Laurie Strode's son, John Tate, from "Halloween: H20: 20 Years Later" is another major victim of revision with 2018's reboot. Josh Hartnett brought Private School Headmistress Laurie's only son to life in the 20th anniversary celebration of the franchise in 1998. All the chili-bowl haired kid wanted to do for Halloween was hang out with his girlfriend Michelle Williams and party a little. However, his paranoid mom wouldn't stop worrying about the Boogeyman coming to get him. Of course, she was right in the end.
I know that 2018's "Halloween" doesn't REALLY cause the other sequels in the franchise to physically disappear from the face of the Earth. That's the great thing about movies and fandom. As an individual, you can choose which continuity you want to stick with. Heck, you can even like both if you want (No, you really can). I'm just happy to see a new "Halloween" film in theaters to celebrate the groundbreaking original classic's 40th anniversary and love the direction Jamie Lee Curtis takes Laurie Strode in the new film. However, if you're looking for closure, you won't get any here.
"Halloween" is rated R for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use and nudity. There's also some sexual content and some pretty graphic killings. I say that because the original 1978 version wasn't really graphic, but more suspenseful.
In "Halloween," it's been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from crazed killer Michael Myers. Locked up in an institution, Myers manages to escape when his bus transfer goes horribly wrong. Laurie now faces a terrifying showdown when the masked madman returns to Haddonfield, Ill. -- but this time, she's ready for him.
"Halloween" was directed by David Gordon Green from a screenplay by Green, Danny McBride, and Jeff Fradley. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Haluk Bilginer, and James Jude Courtney. The movie runs 1 hour and 46 minutes.
