Halloween Kills – 2021 (Horror, Thriller)
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I’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get started! First, I’d like to bring attention to the fact that my Facebook page was deleted (I’m trying to appeal, but I’ve heard the odds aren’t in my favor.) Anyway, make sure to go follow my new page; you should still be able to find it by searching “Overly Honest Movie Reviews.” Make sure to visit my link at the bottom of the page and follow my other social media accounts.

I guess I should start with the fact that “Halloween” (1978) is one of my favorite horror films. It is the quintessential slasher film, but it was done in a way no other before or after was able to duplicate. Horror, suspense, fear, and more, all while not being excessively bloody or gory. This isn’t a knock on blood and gore, but it takes a unique combination to create the levels of shock that the original film did without those elements. While we’re on the topic, I also enjoyed the 2007 “remake” by Rob Zombie; this had a lot of blood, brutality and was a different animal altogether. In 2018, yet a third film in the series simply titled “Halloween” was released. It was somewhat of a reboot and created a fourth timeline in the series by ignoring all the sequels and remakes; it continued the original film. I was very cautious going into it; I was pretty surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

This leads me to “Halloween Kills,” the second film in a new trilogy (technically, it’s a tetralogy since it includes the original.) After the 2018 film, I was again cautiously optimistic, thinking that we would be in relatively safe hands with the director and cast returning. However, something went terribly, terribly wrong along the way. I can’t help but blame this on Scott Teems, the new writer of the film who took over from Jeff Fradley, the writer of the 2018 film.

I’ve read a lot of people saying that you shouldn’t judge the story issues, the writing issues, or the poor characterizations in the film. I have to disagree; just because this is an entry in the “slasher” genre doesn’t mean that the writing and acting aren’t critical. You can look at the 2018 film to see the difference in quality; while it wasn’t flawless, I will say it was far superior.

I think this speaks for itself; there is a real problem with your horror film when Judy Greer (no offense to her) is the best actor in the movie. I love Jamie Lee Curtis, but she doesn’t seem herself here at all. Few others in the film even felt remotely “real,” which took me out of the experience as a whole.

This film offered a much bloodier and gorier film than the last film; again, I don’t necessarily have an issue with that, but I wanted to mention it for anyone who wasn’t ready for it. Much love is being given to the “kills” in the film; I feel like it was 50/50; some were far better than others.

I will always have a love for film and will never judge someone else’s tastes in cinema. My favorite part of film is that two people can watch the same movie and have two entirely different experiences. Please, don’t take my word as the end all be all, watch films for yourself and love what you love. I only give my opinion and guidance; film is subjective, and it would be a pretty dull world if we all loved the same movies.

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