The “Halloween” franchise started in 1978. It then turned into 10 films, including Rob Zombie’s remakes. Let’s kick it back to the classic horror movie days.
Here’s my top list of movies in order from the franchise you need to watch before seeing the new “Halloween” film.
“Halloween” — 1978 (Stars: 4.5)
Tonight he comes home.
The first movie from the series is my favorite film because of its corniness and roots to the pure Michael Myers character, himself. The first “Halloween” film, made in 1978, needs to be the first one you watch. This movie introduces Jamie Lee Curtis’s character Laurie Strode, which is reintroduced in the following movies. Even though you don’t understand why Myers is stalking her yet, the suspenseful, famous John Carpenter theme music keeps the audience on their toes waiting for what is going to happen next.
Just beware when you watch this, it was made in the ‘70s, so high-definition death scenes and supreme acting were not a thing. But in order to understand Myers, this movie needs to be seen.
“Halloween II” — 1981 (Stars: 3.5)
Myers got up and walked away after falling off a balcony, being shot several times. Just a minor flesh wound — no big deal. Strode is taken to the hospital following the trauma of being chased by the killer. However, the hospital has no one around — just a small staff on duty. The hallways are deserted and the hospital staff get killed off one by one.
It’s the final showdown between Strode and Myers before he dies. Or did he? They bring him back for more films, so it must have just been another minor flesh wound.
“Halloween H20” — 1998 (Stars: 3)
Twenty years later, Myers returns to find Strode again, in hopes of killing her once and for all. After a bunch of “Halloween” remakes, the producers made a smart choice to bring Jamie Lee Curtis back. She is the essence of the “Halloween” films besides Myers, himself. Without her character, it is just like any other horror film.
Strode fights back and it gives the audience hope Myers might actually die. And yet, he escapes again.
“Halloween Resurrection” — 2002 (Stars: 2)
This movie is not one of the greatest, other than the fact that Jamie Lee Curtis is back for a short time. She ended up in a mental institution, and of course Myers finds his way in. He chases her to the roof and Strode apparently dies, begging the question: did she really die?
It must have been a minor flesh wound — just like Myers’s — for her to get up and walk away to be in the new film.
“Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” — 1995 (Stars: 3)
Paul Rudd makes the film worth it, as well as Myers, of course. It is interesting how in this movie the audience gets to see more of the famous killer’s backstory. It blows my mind how they can take such a small storyline and make it so much bigger. Out of all of the sequels, this one has got to be one of all-time favorites.
“Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” — 1988 (Stars: 2.5)
When they bring in Jamie Lee Curtis’s daughter, the storyline gets kind of confusing. While bringing Myers back to the series was a smart choice for fans, the way they did it was not as enticing. It is difficult to bring back the character without Curtis and be exciting. Myers going after a child, just isn’t for me.
“Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” — 1989 (Stars: 2.5)
This movie is much like “Halloween 4,” but gives into more back story. While I am not a huge fan of the niece’s character, there is also a psychic link between the two that somehow appear. This is stretching the storyline too much and just makes the series even more confusing.
“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” — 1982 (Stars: 1.5)
Don’t have time to watch this? That is perfectly fine. You don’t need to watch this film to be prepared to see the new “Halloween” movie. This is one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen.
Producer Moustapha Akkad decided to take out the Myers character, centering the film around masks for children, which would essentially kill them. The murderer brainwashed them through a song in a “Silver Shamrock” commercial.
Save yourself the hour and a half and just avoid this film if you can. If you are interested to watch it in the slightest, prepare to be disappointed.
While some of these films weren’t the greatest, I am sure the new “Halloween” will be much better, especially clinging to the classic storyline’s characters.
Lindsay Trombly can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lindsay_trombly