The Rise and Fall of Halloween Kills: A Controversial Horror Sequel
In a bold move, the creators of Halloween Kills (2021) decided to ignore most of the Halloween franchise and craft a direct sequel to the original, a risky choice that paid off handsomely at the box office. With a whopping $260 million in earnings, it seemed like the creative team, led by David Gordon Green, had struck gold. But little did they know, controversy and creative challenges lay ahead.
The film's journey began with an ambitious plan to shoot back-to-back with Halloween 2018, but the idea of a trilogy soon emerged. Writer Danny McBride urged caution, wanting to gauge audience reception first. Once the 2018 film became a massive hit, the green light was given for the second installment.
Halloween Kills brought back a swath of familiar faces, including Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, who found herself bedridden once again - a familiar trope. But the real surprise was the return of Will Patton's Hawkins, seemingly killed off in the previous film. Green's decision to bring him back, coupled with Michael's escape from the fiery trap, set the stage for the film's controversial narrative.
Originally, the film was intended to be shot consecutively with its sequel, Halloween Ends, but the intense nature of the production led to a change of plans. The crew moved from Charleston, South Carolina, to North Carolina, where they found a suitable studio and recreated iconic sets, including the Myers house and a hospital set from an old TV series.
The film's creative team decided to follow the tradition of Halloween 2 and set the story on the same night as the 2018 film, resulting in a reunion of characters. They even considered bringing back Paul Rudd as Tommy Doyle from Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, but scheduling conflicts with Ghostbusters: Afterlife prevented this. Instead, Anthony Michael Hall stepped into the role, and the filmmakers brought back Kyle Richards as Lindsay Wallace, with the original actress returning to her iconic role.
One of the most surprising returns was that of Dr. Samuel Loomis, played by Tom Jones Jr., who stepped into the role due to his resemblance to the late Donald Pleasance. James Jude Courtney reprised his role as The Shape, and Nick Castle made a special appearance, considered a "good luck charm" by the producers.
The film delved into the aftermath of the original Halloween, with a scene involving the police hunt for Michael Myers. Originally, there were more scenes set in 1978, featuring a young Laurie Strode, but budget constraints and the importance of Curtis' role led to these scenes being cut. Nonetheless, several 1978 scenes were included, requiring the recreation of the Myers house, which was built in a warehouse.
The classic Myers mask was recreated with meticulous attention to detail, and the present-day mask was given a touch of fire damage. Only two masks were used during filming, showcasing the attention to practical effects. Despite his fiery fate in the previous film, Michael Myers escaped relatively unscathed, taking out firefighters in the process. The production had to burn down a different house for this scene, and they even recruited real-life firefighters as extras, eager to be killed by The Shape.
"Evil Dies Tonight" became the rallying cry of the angry mob in the film, a divisive element that took the focus away from the main narrative. Green wanted to explore the impact of Michael Myers on the community and the mob mentality that ensued.
A broadcast shown in the film's local bar listed Michael's victims from '78, including Annie, Lynda, and Bob. In a funny twist, the production couldn't obtain a high school photo of Bob's actor, John Michael Graham, but they did find one of Bob Odenkirk, which served as a strange cameo.
The Silver Shamrock masks made a return, worn by a group of kids and later used in one of Michael's gruesome creations. During the car attack sequence, the production employed an unorthodox filming approach, using two separate units to capture the front and back of the car simultaneously. This allowed for a faster pace but presented its own challenges.
For the hospital surgery scene, the filmmakers hired an actual surgery team to perform a fake operation on Curtis' prosthetic stomach. Taking a documentary approach, Green allowed the medical professionals to shape the scene, adding a layer of authenticity.
The final major sequence, featuring Michael's confrontation with the angry mob, was shot partly on the streets of Wilmington and partly on a sound stage. Performers were placed on a turntable, creating a dreamlike effect.
Night shoots presented their own challenges, leading to the Director of Photography, Michael Simmonds, experiencing vertigo and requiring a wheelchair for a week. Thankfully, camera operator Paul Daley stepped in, maintaining a consistent look until Simmonds' return.
The film's ending underwent changes, with the theatrical version concluding with Laurie in her hospital room and Michael staring at the camera. Green's original ending, featuring Laurie on a mission with a knife, was saved for the Extended Cut, which also included more violent kills.
John Carpenter returned to score the film with his son, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies, creating a familiar yet unique soundtrack.
Halloween Kills was initially scheduled for release on October 16, 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it by a year. The film eventually hit theaters and Peacock simultaneously on October 15, 2021, grossing nearly $50 million in its opening weekend. However, its worldwide earnings of $133 million fell short of its predecessor's success. Critical reception was also less favorable, with a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the 79% Fresh rating of Halloween 2018.
Despite the mixed reception, Halloween Kills remains a fan favorite for its high body count and focus on delivering a bloody good time. The Carpenter score adds an extra layer of enjoyment. And that, my friends, is the story of Halloween Kills, a controversial yet entertaining entry in the Halloween franchise.
