Halloween review round-up: What are critics saying about the new Halloween movie?

The 2018 edition of Halloween is still a few months from its theatrical release.

However, many critics have been treated to screenings ahead of its debut.

They have some strong opinions.

What are critics saying about the new Halloween movie?

Brian Tallerico writing from the Toronto Film Festival for RogerEbert.com gave it two stars.

He wrote: “At its best, “Halloween” is about a woman dealing with trauma for more than half her life, and only able to exorcise her demon when she faces him again.

“That sets up a great deal of pressure on the closing scenes, and—other than one nice twist—“Halloween” just doesn’t deliver when it needs to most of all,” he added.

AV Club writer AA Dowd similarly agreed, writing Halloween was: “just another pale imitation, another bad Halloween sequel watering down the fear factor of the original.”

Despite these critics’ disappointment, the sequel holds an 81 per cent approval rating on reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

Barry Hertz wrote: “The result is almost the Platonic ideal of a slasher-reboot — it’s fierce, it’s lean, it’s mean, and it has at least three first-pumping “Hell, yeah!” moments,” for the Globe and Mail.

Similarly, Variety’s Peter Debruge wrote: “[David Gordon] Green (who flirted with the idea of directing the “Suspiria” remake) has pulled off what he set out to do, tying up the mythology that Carpenter and company established, while delivering plenty of fresh suspense — and grisly-creative kills — for younger audiences who are buying into the “Halloween” brand without any real investment in Michael and Laurie’s unfinished business.”

Entertainment Weekly’s Leah Greenblatt wrote, “The movie mostly works because it’s so fundamental, and funny too: Michael still never speaks; his mask and his slow, deadly, deliberate walk say everything they need to.”

Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus sums up most of the reviews like this: “Halloween largely wipes the slate clean after decades of disappointing sequels, ignoring increasingly elaborate mythology in favour of basic – yet still effective – ingredients.”

“In an era where genre movies, especially long-established franchises, feel the need to demythologize or over-explain iconic characters, it’s refreshing that Halloween simply has the boogeyman be the boogeyman in all his nightmarish, skull-smashing excess, and just as terrifying as ever,” wrote Jim Vejvoda for IGN.

Polygon called it a “terrifying slasher about survival” and all critics seemingly agree Jamie Lee Curtis is outstanding.

This Halloween movie is a direct sequel to the 1978 original movie, which sees Laurie Strode (Curtis), who narrowly escaped death at the hands of Myers, come face-to-face with Michael Myers for a final confrontation.

Lauren Bradshaw distilled it well, writing: “Laurie Strode will no longer be the victim; she is the reckoning.”

The horror movie had its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8, 2018.

Fans in France will have a chance to see it at its premiere on October 1 in Paris.

Both the UK and the USA will see the cinema release at the same time, on October 19, 2018.

Last in line to receive the Michael Meyers slasher film is the Netherlands, on November 1, 2018.

Halloween is in cinemas October 19, 2018.