“Halloween” (2018) perfectly incorporates three classic horror movie tactics—jump scares, suspense, and gore—to jolt you out of your seat and create an exhilarating movie that petrifies any audience.

The original “Halloween” revolutionized the horror genre, creating new and inventive ways to frighten it’s audience. Some prime example would be the protagonist tripping with each step she takes and struggling to escape from Michael’s kitchen knife. We see tactics like these repeated over and over in modern horror films.

As Michael Myers hunts down the protagonist, it causes ones heart to race and to body tremble, injecting a sense of horror that horror fans all know and crave with numerous jumpscares that make us uncontrollably flounder in our seats. Throughout the movie, gore acted as an amplifier to the other horror movie tactics. After Michael gruesomely murders his victims, the camera will pan to reveal the destruction that has ensued: skulls smashed-in, jaws ripped off, decapitated heads turned into jack-o- lantern; Myers sure is a creative guy.

Viewers who have seen any of the previous “Halloween” films will be able to understand various references, but it is not essential to be familiar with the overarching story. Still, fans of the original will be greeted by the same cast, some recreated scenes, and call backs to famous jokes. The only plot line that will confuse newbies is the connection between Laurie, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michael Myers.

In the original “Halloween,” you learn that Laurie was tormented by Michael one Halloween night when she was a teenager. He murdered all of her friends and attempted to murder her as well. This are important details for valuable information to viewers without any context.

One of the film’s critical flaws is a lack of diversity amongst the cast. All of the main characters are white and most of the secondary characters are as well. There are a few “token” people of color but no one with leading roles in the movie.

Despite the lack of racial diversity, I felt that woman were very well represented in the film. Allyson— Laurie’s granddaughter, played by Andi Matichak—is strong,independent, brave, and has a sense of humor. Her mother and Laurie’s daughter, Karen—played by Judy Greer—shares many of the same characteristics. Laurie, a woman on a mission, wants Michael dead and she is willing to do anything to accomplish that. All three women across the three generations join together to a fight against work together to fight against Michael. The three generations join together to create an unstoppable force against the cold blooded killer.

This movie is not afraid to kill off all your favorite characters. There are a couple different comedic relief characters who you are instantly feel attached to and before you know it then “bam”, one is dead. It is strange how the characters in the movie barely flinch when one of their close friends or even family members are brutally murdered.

Overall, “Halloween” is a great movie to watch this spooky season. It is no cinematic masterpiece, but many of the most entertaining horror films are not either. Plot, character development, and themes are not as crucial in movies like this. Audience members who go to slasher films do not need to judge a film as cinematic art to still enjoy the shivers that run down their spines.

If you love violence and over-the-top-thrills, be sure to pay Michael Myers a visit in a nearby theater.

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