Movie Reviews

Halloween – Blu-ray Movie Review

Michael Myers returns after 40 years to terrorize the town of Haddonfield, Illinois and to hunt down his nemesis from 1978, Laurie Strode.
Synopsis

Michael Myers has been kept safely locked in an institution for forty years since the events of Halloween night in 1978. On Halloween 2018, he escapes from a bus and resumes his killing spree. Looking for Laurie Strode (Curtis), he returns to Haddonfield killing anyone that stands in his way. Laurie manages to save her daughter and granddaughter as she lures Michael to what she hopes will be a final trap. The resulting showdown can only be described as epic.

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Specifications
Universal Studios
2018, Color, Rated R, 1 Hr 46 mins
DTS:X, DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 2.39:1 Aspect Ratio
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak
Directed by: David Gordon Green

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:

Violence: Yes
Sex: Mild
Language: Yes

Commentary

When the original Halloween came out in 1978, it ushered a new era of horror films. Today, it’s referred to as the “Cadillac of slasher flicks” (Bruce Campbell’s words, not mine). Why? Because what followed were a seemingly endless parade of terrible sequels, copycats, and movies shot for next to nothing designed to simply make money at the box office. Thanks to a lot of awful movies, including the 10 previous installments of Halloween, the genre largely died out.

This 2018 version is not a remake nor is it a reboot, it literally takes place 40 years to the day after the events of the original chapter. It checks all the boxes necessary for a successful slasher movie, over-sexed teenagers, an unstoppable killer, foolish cops, clueless doctors; it’s all there. And believe it or not, it’s quite entertaining. I recently watched the 1978 film just for reference and found it completely hokey and not a bit scary. This version is masterfully done with a good sprinkling of boo moments, just enough gore and violence without going over the top, and a high level of suspense. Even though you know what’s going to happen, it manages to surprise. Fans of the franchise will be thrilled with this release and horror enthusiasts tired of a saturated genre will enjoy Halloween 2018 more than they expect.

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Technical

The image takes on the feel of a seventies film with warm natural colors, deep contrast, and an appropriate level of film grain. It isn’t the sharpest picture I’ve seen but it fits the material perfectly.

The audio mix is clean and clear but a bit too polite. Surround and sub effects are too sparingly used. The music is nicely updated while still retaining the familiar elements from 1978. DTS:X was not used to its fullest potential here.

Extras

Bonus features include about 20 minutes of making of short features and 13 minutes of deleted scenes.

Chris Eberle

Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. He retired from the Army in 2013 and is now writing full time and performing as a freelance musician in Central Florida. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. Dissatisfied with the image quality of his new acquisition, Chris trained with the Imaging Science Foundation in 2006 and became a professional display calibrator. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. Chris is extremely fortunate that his need for quality audio and video is shared and supported by his wife of over 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. Chris enjoys bringing his observations and discoveries about every kind of home theater product to as many curious and well-informed readers as possible. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest.

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