It’s been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. Locked up in an institution, Myers manages to escape when his bus transfer goes horribly wrong. Laurie now faces a terrifying showdown when the masked madman returns to Haddonfield, Ill. — but this time, she’s ready for him. (Official Film Synopsis)
This year the horror community was gifted and enriched with the reboot of the Halloween sequel. While it failed to capture the magic of the original, there’s no denying its success according to multiple sites it was reported that the new Halloween surpassed Wes Craven’s infamous Scream as “…the highest-grossing slasher movie at the box office in history.” (Movie Web) And there’s no denying just how much it meant to fans of the franchise, especially those still upset about certain sequels. The cherry on top was the cleverly placed Easter eggs throughout the film. I know I freaked out in the theater when I noticed the cinematic parallels. It was just a fun salute to the original and definitely worth a closer look for those who may have missed them. Consider this your major spoiler warning.
Opening Credits
Right from the get go, the opening credits are pretty much an exact replica of the 1978 original. Same black background, same orange text to introduce the cast but with one important exception. There is still that ominous jack-o-lantern on the left hand side. Only this time the pumpkin is shown decaying in reverse to make it look like it’s rising back up like some sinister balloon.
The Babysitters
Much like in the original Allyson’s friend Vicky is stuck babysitting on Halloween night. The young boy that Vicky is looking after talks about his fear of the boogeyman just as Tommy Doyle did 40 years prior. In a slightly altered version Vicky invites her boyfriend over so they can spend time together after Julian goes to bed. Just like Laurie’s friends Lynda and Bob shortly before their murders. After killing Vicky, Michael takes a ghost sheet to hide her body. This is clearly a reference to when, after murdering Bob, he threw on a ghost sheet and Bob’s glasses to trick Lynda. Vicky’s boyfriend is later found dead, pinned to the door just like our friend Bob.
Classroom Scene
One of the more iconic elements of John Carpenter’s Halloween is how Michael Myers subtly stalks Laurie Strode. This includes the scene where Laurie sits in the back left corner of the classroom. She is seen day dreaming as she stares out the window. This is where we see Michael Myers sitting in a stolen car across the street watching her. Fast forward 40 years we see Laurie’s granddaughter, Allyson, is also sitting in the back left corner during one of her classes. Allyson just so happens to look out the window where across the street she sees, no not the crazed killer, but her grandmother watching her.
The Shape
Just a fun little detail I noticed was that during Laurie’s breakdown/panic attack at the restaurant she mutters something about “the shape”. While Michael is never referred to as “the shape” during the 1978 film until the ending credits.
The Uniform
After Michael’s first escape from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium he leaves in just a hospital gown. It goes without saying that he needs new clothes so he attacks a mechanic on the side of the road, kills him and dawns the dark uniform. This time around Michael follows the investigative journalists to an auto garage. This is where he gets a new outfit from the now very dead mechanic.
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The Knife
The following scene was actually broken down by Jamie Lee Curtis and director David Gordon Green for Moviefone. Michael returns to Haddonfield he goes into a random shed to retrieve a hammer. He then goes into the home of a woman who wears a pink bathrobe and is cutting up ham for a sandwich. Michael kills her in order to gain his iconic weapon of choice, a chef’s knife. Curtis herself notes that “…it’s reminiscent of the opening shot of the movie where you see Debra Hill’s hand in the clown costume grab the knife.” The scene is also a direct reference to Halloween II (1981) where, after he escapes from the police and Dr. Loomis, Michael again walks into the home of a stranger in order to get a new weapon. This time it was the home of an elderly couple, the wife wears a pink robe and is preparing ham sandwiches for her and her husband.
Season of the Witch
Another fun Easter egg is the appearance of the Silver Shamrock masks from Halloween III: Season of the Witch. When Laurie learns of Michael’s escape she wastes no time warning everyone she can. This includes random trick-or-treaters on the street that are wearing the familiar witch, skeleton and pumpkin masks.
Laurie’s Home
After her first encounter with Michael Myers back in 1978, Laurie always had a feeling she would see him again and she wasted no time preparing herself; this includes specialized training, teaching her daughter how to use guns as a child and one seriously tricked out house. Laurie’s home not only comes with weapons out the wazoo and a secret bunker but with a few Easter eggs for our viewing pleasure.
In one scene a white sunhat is seen hanging on a wall in the background. This is identical, or possibly the same one, to the sunhat hanging on a wall in Laurie’s teenage bedroom. In the corner of one of the bedrooms there is a doll house sitting on the floor. This isn’t too weird until you realize it’s an exact replica of the Michael Myers’ childhood home. Another major detail to note takes place during Laurie’s chase of Michael in her house. She ends up in one room that appears to be used for storage as it’s filled with her target mannequins. A Halloween mega fan might notice the layout of the room. It’s the same layout as the bedroom back at the Doyle house, complete with the closet, the double french doors that open up to a balcony overlooking the backyard.
Disappearing Act
At this point in the film everything seems to be coming to a full circle: the hunter is becoming the hunted, Laurie is not only fighting back but fighting back well, the end is very near. Although there is a moment where it appears Michael has gained the upper hand once again. He tosses Laurie from the bedroom balcony onto the ground below. When he goes to check on her lifeless body he finds that she has disappeared. This is clearly a clap back to the move he pulled on Dr. Loomis back in the day.
Ending
It’s over, right? It has to be over, right?! Throughout this reboot Michael suffered more than enough injuries, got shot in the face and literally exploded so he must be dead. If you’re like most, you probably leave the theater or turn off the movie as soon as the end credits start rolling. In this case you might want to stick around as a very familiar heavy breathing is heard at the end of the credits. It’s Michael breathing in his mask just like in the end of the first film. This signals that not only is Michael alive but that there might be a sequel in our near future.
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