The Halloween movie series, with its chilling theme music and the relentless killer Michael Myers, has been a cornerstone of the horror genre since John Carpenter introduced it in 1978. Over the years, the series has taken several twists and turns, with some films rebooting or ignoring previous entries entirely. Let’s look at the five reboots and what changed each time.
Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981)
– Directors: John Carpenter and Rick Rosenthal
– Halloween introduces Michael Myers, who murders his sister on Halloween night in 1963 and is institutionalized.
– Fifteen years later, he escapes and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.
– Michael begins stalking Laurie Strode and her friends, leading to a night of terror.
– Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael’s psychiatrist, is on a mission to stop him, believing Michael embodies pure evil.
– Halloween II picks up immediately where the first left off, with Laurie being taken to a hospital.
– Michael Myers, having survived the events of the first film, follows Laurie to the hospital, continuing his murderous spree.
– The second film reveals that Laurie is Michael’s younger sister, providing a motive for his obsession with her.
– Dr. Loomis continues his pursuit of Michael, leading to a fiery confrontation in which both Loomis and Myers are killed in an explosion.
REBOOT #1
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
– Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
– A significant departure from the first two films, “Season of the Witch” does not feature Michael Myers at all (because he died at the end of II).
– Producer John Carpenter and Debra Hill intended the Halloween movie series a to continue as an anthology series, telling a new horror story with every installment.
– The story revolves around Dr. Dan Challis as he investigates a mysterious mask-making company with sinister intentions.
– The film delves into themes of corporate greed, mind control, and ancient rituals.
REBOOT #2
Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
– Director: Dwight H. Little
– Ignoring the ending of “Halloween II,” and also ignoring Season of the Witch, Michael Myers awakens from a coma and learns about his niece, Jamie Lloyd. He wasn’t dead after all! Oh, and Dr. Loomis is also alive, just scarred.
– Michael returns to Haddonfield to find Jamie, leading to another night of terror.
– Jamie’s connection to Michael becomes a central plot point, hinting at a deeper, familial curse.
– This plot continues until Halloween 6, which is horrible.
REBOOT #3
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
– Director: Steve Miner
– The film jumps ahead 20 years after the events of “Halloween II,” ignoring the events of the subsequent sequels.
– Laurie Strode, now living under an assumed name as Keri Tate, is the headmistress of a private school in California. She has a teenage son, John, and is still traumatized by her past encounters with Michael Myers.
– Michael discovers Laurie’s whereabouts and travels to California, leading to a reunion filled with tension and terror.
– The film delves into Laurie’s trauma and her determination to protect her son and confront her past. – The climax offers a seemingly definitive end to Michael’s reign of terror, setting the stage for a final confrontation between Laurie and her brother.
“Halloween H20” was notable for bringing Jamie Lee Curtis back to the series and offering a more psychological exploration of the lasting effects of trauma. It was followed by Halloween: Resurrection, which brought Michael back… AGAIN… And killed Laurie.
REBOOT #4
Halloween (2007) – Rob Zombie’s Remake
– Director: Rob Zombie
– This film offers a reimagined backstory for Michael Myers, delving into his troubled childhood.
– The brutality and psychological aspects of Michael’s character are emphasized.
– The story follows his initial killings, institutionalization, and eventual escape to hunt down his sister, Laurie.
– It spawned a sequel, one that is REALLY bad.
REBOOT #5
Halloween (2018)
– Director: David Gordon Green
– This film serves as a direct sequel to the original 1978 film, ignoring all other sequels, including “Halloween II.”
– 40 years after the events of the first film, Laurie Strode is traumatized and prepared for Michael’s return.
– Michael escapes during a prison transfer and their paths cross once again, leading to a climactic confrontation.
The movie had two sequels, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends, both of which were very divisive amongst the fans of the series. In the final film, Michael is definitively killed.
So that’s it, right? The series is officially done. EXCEPT…
REBOOT #6?
Halloween TV Series Rights Go to Miramax
– Date: October 12, 2023
– Miramax has secured TV rights to the “Halloween” franchise and plans to develop a series based on the long-standing horror saga.
– The deal with rights holder Trancas International Films encompasses not only a TV series but also related projects for international markets. There’s potential for a linked universe spanning both TV and film.
– The acquisition of the TV rights for “Halloween” by Miramax is part of the company’s strategy to develop more projects based on intellectual properties they own.
Here we go again…