By George Haerle

For Grays Harbor News Group

Many revere the original 1978 “Halloween” as one of the greatest horror films of all time. But it spawned a whole lot of lousy sequels, with even the best of them being a bizarre mix of gag-out effects and unintentional laughs (I’m looking at you, “Halloween III”).

So this time around, the great low-budget horror studio Blumhouse decided to tackle Michael Myers one more time in the best way possible: Recruit the original star and director to make the ultimate sequel to the original movie, wiping out every film in between from the storyline.

Set 40 years after the original, Michael Myers has been sitting in maximum security containment in a mental institution. His surviving victim, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, returning to the role that truly started her career), has dealt with psychological trauma and dysfunction since. Estranged from her daughter and granddaughter, Laurie now lives in a fortified compound, preparing for the day when Michael might get out and try to finish the job. Which, considering it’s a “Halloween” movie, he most certainly does.

Though usually known a bit more for his contributions to comedy, David Gordon Green directs and co-writes, along with Danny McBride and Jeff Fadley. This would seem like an absolutely bizarre combination of creators considering their tendency for comedy writing and contributions. Many of you know McBride for his twisted funnyman roles in “Tropic Thunder,” “Pineapple Express” and the like. But rest assured, all three of these guys are just as good at writing for scares and thrills as they are for laughs.

The legendary John Carpenter, who directed and scored the original, contributes heavily as an executive producer, collaborator and composer for this reboot/sequel. His original, spine-tingling score has been brought back to life with just a hint of alteration for freshness’ sake, and it is as glorious as you remember.

So, with an incredible and chilling score set as the backdrop and fresh blood now running the show, just how good of a movie is 2018’s “Halloween”?

It’s a true sequel to the original, in every sense. The creepy, autumnal, foreboding mood is reminiscent of the original, and even the cinematography borrows heavily from Carpenter’s style of wide, backed-off shots showing full frames of terror unfolding. But that’s not to say that Green’s directing is utterly derivative of Carpenter. He has definitely added his own touch of style to scanning and tracking Myers’ killing spree, giving plenty of both old and new that the series needed.

Slasher enthusiasts won’t be disappointed, either, as the death toll Michael Myers leaves in his wake gets pretty terrifying. Even the harsh and violent onscreen deaths of some characters aren’t as frightening compared to the characters you don’t actually see murdered — only for the camera to reveal the worst kind of fate they could meet at the hands of a silent, hulking madman. Except for one significantly gory scene, “Halloween” isn’t about spurting or gushing buckets of blood, nor does it use a ton of it. The horror is the terrible fates each victim meets.

Speaking of characters, this is where the movie shines. The cast is fantastic, and truly makes the film as effective as it does. Curtis delivers a tremendous performance as a hardened and mentally scarred Laurie Strode, and the movie follows her trauma and unhealthy coping of it as much as it follows Michael’s escape. The great Judy Greer plays her estranged daughter, Karen, who has a much more significant role in the film than the trailers would reveal. And Andi Matichak — who plays Allyson, Laurie’s granddaughter — is a great up-and-coming scream queen with plenty of acting range.

“Halloween” successfully does what most of our favorite horror franchises should do: It wipes the slate clean. Considering the series’ track record, “Halloween” ends up being the rare full-size candy bar rather than a trick. It’s an old-school slasher through and through, but also fresh and entertaining as hell.

* * *

“Halloween” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.

George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.