“Halloween Kills,” the sequel to the 2018 revival film “Halloween,” is the latest installment in the long running “Halloween” franchise. It premiered on Oct 15, is currently playing in a theater near you, and streaming on Peacock. Directed once again by David Gordon Green, “Halloween Kills” picks up right where the previous entry left off; with the events of this film taking place on the same night as the last.

Michael Myers Makes a Gruesome Comeback

The film stars Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, and Dylan Arnold, returning actors who portrayed survivors of the 2018 film. Additionally, the film makes use of a couple of surprise character returns. Also, it wouldn’t be a true Halloween movie without Jamie Lee Curtis, who reprises her iconic role as Laurie Strode.

I found “Halloween Kills” to be better than the 2018 reboot. While that film was good, it didn’t quite meet my standards as a long-time fan of the franchise. However, this newest addition surpassed my expectations in more ways than one. Firstly, and frankly, the killing. Fans of the Michael Myers character know he isn’t one to be messed with, and rightly so. A killer who seems to be more than human, Myers is deadlier than ever this time around. That much is made very clear from beginning to end.

Myers does not hold anything back in this film, which easily makes this the bloodiest and goriest entry yet. People who enjoy graphic violence and mayhem in films will not be disappointed. Those who are squeamish though, might want to stay away from this one as it may cause extreme levels of discomfort.

Unsettling Darkness

On top of the killing, the film does a great job in presenting a dark and creepy atmosphere in most scenes. Without that feature, I just don’t think the horror would work as good as it does with it. Myers is definitely creepy enough on his own, but the world around him being just as creepy makes it much more of a genuinely tense experience.

The film’s music is just fantastic. To this day, John Carpenter’s chilling theme song is perfect, and the modern twist that he and the other composers have implemented works very well. The eerie tones that can be heard add a strong sense of nervousness. Whereas the more intense tracks with deep piano notes put you directly in the grittier scenes.

Visual effects and sound design have been taken full advantage of. Myers’ mask looks more menacing than ever thanks to the burn marks that were made to it during 2018’s finale. Horrifically, sounds of knives piercing flesh and scenes with little to no sound add unsettling feelings of dread and despair. Blood and gore are extremely realistic throughout and will make even the seasoned horror movie buff uncomfortable. Most impressive however, are the scenes that were filmed to look like a 1970’s movie. This feature added a level of detail that I was not expecting at all.

A Worthy Follow-up

As for the acting, I think most of the cast does a fine job at portraying their respective characters. I also think the actors succeeded in delivering realistic performances. I was able to relate to their fear knowing I would be just as scared as them in face-to-face encounters with Myers.

Curtis takes a backseat for most of the film this time around, which makes sense given what happened to Strode in her previous encounter with Myers. She’s still present for a fair amount of time, but some fans might be disappointed with her character’s role in this one. This film’s main purpose is to shine the spotlight not only on the boogeyman, but on new characters and his many, many, many victims.

It is by no means a masterpiece, but this sequel delivers some of the best atrocities committed by Myers in years (or worst depending on how you look at it). A hardcore slasher film that will make you wince, cringe, and question why you enjoy films of this nature, “Halloween Kills” is a terrific, bloody mess that every fan of the franchise should experience.