Nicholas Hill

I have watched all the Halloween movies and been a fan since the 80s. After the 2018 reboot ‘Halloween’ which followed a decent script, we all expected a sequel which was so much better than this trash. This movie is on a par with the appalling Halloween Resurrection. We could have accepted a lack of originality, but having to tolerate absurdity and cringe-worthiness for 90+ minutes is unbearable. Let’s start. The story was as weak as they come. The beginning of the movie is disjointed showing unrelated bits of the previous movie and recreations of the 1978 movie. Laurie Strode is no longer the protagonist but instead spends her time in a hospital having meaningless conversations with the officer who somehow survived the (also unbelievable) slicing by Michael’s psychiatrist. We have gay couple who refer to each other as big John or little John (really?) one of whom decides to approach michael even after the killing of his partner! An entire town becomes enraged by the serial killer despite not even being aware of the murders 40 years ago! Nevertheless the crowd (educated and rational human beings inc. doctors and nurses) all chase down an unwitting victim who takes his life. The end is even more ridiculous. Decent human beings turning into a mob of angry thugs who stab, shoot and beat Michael without knowledge of his previous endeavours. Of course, Michael does not die. Instead he retaliates with his usual stabbing fest (this is the less annoying but unoriginal bit). I could go on but having wasted enough of my time watching this trash, I would rather watch my cats take a dump!

While other critics want to slate this film for lack of originality, you have to remember that the original idea is over 40 years in the making. Originality is always going to be a tall order! The script, acting, and cinematography is well done and offers a new story for all viewers. For the pacifists, I salute you and stand with you. There are some horror fans that appreciate these movies from the perspective of the victim’s point of view and perpetually hope for their reprisal.

Hobbs and Shaw is a mind-numbingly bad concoction of appalling comedy, unnecessary action, over-acting, and terminator-like sci-fi-for-dummies; all of which accompanies an unoriginal storyline. The storywriters seem to be in conflict about the direction of the film from beginning to end. The continual comical attack on the plot by Ryan Reynolds causes the eyes the roll after every sentence. Furthermore, the ‘black superman’ idea simply fits into the script like an elephant trying on a ballerina’s slipper. If you want more intellectual stimulation and even entertainment, then paint your walls and watch it dry!