The new HALLOWEEN takes place 40 years after that fateful night when Michael Myers escaped and killed five people in Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween, 1978. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) was traumatized from her encounter when she fought back against Michael. It changed her as she trained to fight back ever since if Michael Myers ever escaped from Smith Grove Mental Hospital again. She had two failed marriages, a daughter she hasn't talked to in years, and a survivalist compound out in the middle of the woods. Laurie wants to kill Michael if she ever gets the chance. On the night of October 30, 2018, Michael does escape when he is being transferred to another facility. He first goes after the true crime podcasters who have his mask- the same podcasters who are researching and recording interviews for a podcast on Michael Myers.

The new HALLOWEEN ignores every sequel since the first HALLOWEEN directed by John Carpenter in 1978. It is a horror classic which really launched the slasher sub-genre of horror movies. This is one of the very best sequels and it does a better job at portraying what happened to Laurie Strode since the first film than HALLOWEEN H20 could ever do. This movie really shines when it focuses on the effects an attack has on a surviving victim and her family since then. Laurie's daughter is traumatized from being trained to survive as a kid and she basically hasn't talked to Laurie much since then while Laurie's granddaughter wants to connect with Laurie.

The rest of the movie is a mixed bag as sometimes the humor nails it and sometimes the odd scene like the cops in the car discussing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches feels out of place. Michael Myers comes off as more of a more violent spree killer than of the HALLOWEEN movies with the exception of the Rob Zombie remakes. The teen-centric scenes work to a point and call back to the original Halloween movie and some of the sequels. There are a few homage and Easter Eggs that calls out to the original movie and the original sequels. The way the new movie subverts callbacks to he original movie really work. The 2018 HALLOWEEN sequel almost is a classic, but some writing misfires with scenes like the two cops talking about what they brought to eat. However, this sequel does hold up on repeat viewings

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Deleted scenes cut for pacing even though it fleshes out some character subplots more
Fetaurettes:
BACK IN HADDONFIELD: MAKING HALLOWEEN- a promotional featurette on the sequel reboot which ignores all previous sequels
THE ORIGINAL SCREAM QUEEN- all about Jamie Curtis and her character
THE SOUND OF FEAR- a behind-the-scenes look at John Carpenter (and his son) creating music for the new Halloween
JOURNEY OF THE MASK- a history of the original and new mask for Michael Myers
THE LEGACY OF HALLOWEEN- - John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis, David Gordon Green, and Jason Blum talk about the new sequel and why HALLOWEEN is a favorite horror movie of many people

Some trailers for other Universal titles including GLASS play before the main menu.

Also included in this combo pack is the movie in standard definition on DVD and a digital movie code.

FINAL ANALYSIS: I do wish there were more in-depth features on making the movie, but Universal seems to almost always gloss over the extras. However, the new HALLOWEEN sequel is the best movie in the series since the original John Carpenter classic horror thriller. I hope they keep it up if a sequel is made to this sequel.

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