When director David Gordon Green’s Halloween hit theaters in the fall of last year, it quickly cemented itself as one of the most popular horror movies of all time. The eleventh installment of the Halloween movie series, the film would become the highest-grossing slasher movie of all time, taking the title from Wes Craven’s Scream. For those who missed the Halloween craze in theaters at the time, and for those who’ve seen it now wanting to own the film, Halloween will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on Jan. 15. The film is now already available to watch on VOD outlets.
Confusingly for some, the new film ignores every move in the series past the 1978 original. It serves as a modern sequel to that film, taking place 40 years past Michael’s first Halloween night killing spree. Survivor Laurie Strode (played by a returning Jamie Lee Curtis) has been training in the decades since for Michael’s inevitable escape. With her daughter and granddaughter potentially becoming new victims when Michael returns to Haddonfield once again, Laurie confronts the boogeyman for one final (?) showdown. While not absolutely perfect, the sequel is solid and now seen by many fans as one of the best the franchise has to offer.
Related Article: Our Interview With ‘Halloween’ Star James Jude Courtney
In 4K Ultra HD, you can get the best possible look at the Halloween sequel. On a 4K television set, you’ll get an even better peek at the finer details, such as just how gnarly some of the violence in the film really is. Even the little things, like the jack-o-lantern made with a human head, do a lot to enhance the movie. Seeing some of the film’s many other victims can also be unsettling, as the FX are realistically on point and one of the sequel’s best qualities. Of course, the Blu-ray and DVD versions of the movie look great as well, and come with the same selection of special features.
After watching the film, you can step behind the scenes to see what it took to get it made. The bonus features include a variety of featurettes, showcasing the sequel’s creation from the other side of the camera. You can also get more out of the story by watching eight deleted and extended scenes. This includes an unsettling scene with Allyson walking by a deceased dog hanging from a tree, and another that completely explains her boyfriend Cameron’s sudden absence from the story.
Unfortunately, the movie’s bonus features do not include any commentary tracks. This may be rather disappointing for those hoping to listen to Green or Curtis providing some further insight into the film while watching it. Because commentary tracks are now pretty much standard for most home video releases, it’s odd that one wasn’t recorded for Halloween. While not a deal breaker, it’s noticeably missed and definitely would have been a nice feature to make this release even better.
Unmistakably one of the best installments of the iconic franchise, the new Halloween is a must-have for fans of the movies. Like the original from John Carpenter, this is now a film horror fans should revisit during the Halloween season every year. Michael Myers just wants to come back home… so bring him into yours! Currently available on VOD, the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD releases of the film will go on sale on Jan. 15.
Related Article: Take the ‘Halloween’ 2018 Movie Trivia Quiz!
