Is ‘Halloween H20’ the best ‘Halloween’ movie?
Halloween: H20 is certainly one of the more underappreciated films in the Halloween Franchise, which has spanned for over forty years now. It came off the heels of some of the more impressive horror flicks of the 1990s, letting generational newbies such as Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt take the reins of this franchise in the same vein as Scream.
It’s a film that many still talk about to this day, as Halloween: H20 took a ballsy turn in its third act that left many shocked when it first came out, leaving an imprint on this franchise that has still yet to be washed away. Is it campy and a bit dated? Certainly. That being said, you cannot deny the impressive feats Halloween: H20 pulled, as it’s still a special installment of this remarkable franchise. What are the best installments?
Halloween (1978)
John Carpenter’s 1978 horror masterpiece Halloween is deemed by many to be the greatest horror flick of all time, given the film’s incredible performances, clear direction and, most importantly, frightening villain in the now iconic Michael Myers.
The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, P.J. Soles, Kyle Richards, and Nick Castle. But what’s the film about?
On Halloween night in 1963, six year-old Michael Myers brutally murders his older sister, Judith. He was sentenced & locked away for fifteen years. However, on October 30, 1978, while being transferred for a court date, an older Michael Myers steals a car and escapes Smith’s Grove. He returns to his quiet hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, where he looks for his next victims, notably babysitter Laurie Strode (Curtis).
The film spawned seven subsequent sequels, including the fan favorite Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Equally, director Rob Zombie attempted to relaunch this series back in 2007 with his own retelling of Michael Meyers and his origin, even getting his own sequel greenlit in 2009. People just couldn’t get enough of ol’ Michael over the years.
Halloween (2018)
In 2018, director David Gordon Green relaunched the Halloween franchise for the second time, only to much more critical & audience success.
The film was a massive financial hit as well, boasting an impressive $255 million on a mere $10 million dollar budget. The film brings back Jamie Lee Curtis as Strode, retconning all other Halloween properties aside from the original 1978 story.
Because of the film’s success, two immediate sequels were ordered by Universal, Halloween Kills & Halloween Ends. Halloween Kills, which was delayed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally came out in 2021, with the final sequel, Halloween Ends due to come out during the Halloween season of 2022.
While these new films seem to be going over well with audiences, there is one dark horse contender when it comes to the argument of the best Halloween movie of all time.
Halloween: H20 (1998)
Twenty years after surviving a massacre in October of 1978, former babysitter Laurie Strode finds herself hunted by serial killer Michael Myers.
Laurie now lives in Northern California under an assumed name, where she works as the headmistress of a private school. Sadly, it’s not far enough to escape Myers, who soon discovers her location. As Halloween descends upon Laurie’s quiet community, evil lurks just around the corner.
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who was hesitant to return back to the Halloween franchise decided to come back for Halloween: H2O, given that the creative team was willing to execute literally an ending of her dream, where Laurie Strode finally comes out on top. However, it was in her contract that she had to return for Halloween: Resurrection in 2002, a film that she still to this day doesn’t particularly care for. Small price to pay.
