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20 Ways The 'Halloween' Franchise Has Evolved: Then vs. Now

The series that pretty much invented the slasher genre.

20 Ways The 'Halloween' Franchise Has Evolved: Then vs. Now

September 20, 2022

It’s 2036. Although Jamie Lee Curtis said she was done with the Halloween movies after 2030’s artsy pseudo-reboot, All Hallows Even, we now know she is returning to an ultra-splattery sequel trying to revive the franchise called Halloween Legacy. According to the trailer posted on Dystopia (Bezos, Musk, and Zuckerberg’s newly created social platform), it features Laurie Strode in a retirement home being helped by Paul Rudd in his return to the series after having passed on 2021’s Halloween Kills. Jamie Lee Curtis says now she is really done with the franchise.

But we’ve been here before. Some of you might recall back when 2022’s Halloween Ends was supposed to be the moment Halloween, erm, ended. Oh, you sweet, sweet souls. We actually remember when H20, the third part of the Halloween-Halloween II trilogy, ended with Laurie cutting Michael Myers’ head. It was beautiful, liberating, truly a fitting finale for the whole thing. And then Busta Rhymes busted rhymes. History repeats itself, time is a flat circle. Anyway, here are 20 facts about the Halloween franchise, at least until 2022’s Halloween Ends – which means that no, we’re not considering the 2027 crossover Halloween v. Midsommar: Druid Ritual, that movie was off-continuity anyway.

20

Origins

Halloween Then vs. Now From 1978 to 2022 Inspired by Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the forgotten Foster's Release, John Carpenter asked Bob Clark about sequel ideas for Clark's 1974 Black Christmas. After making around $65 million on a $320,000 dollar budget, Carpenter's Halloween spawned a total of 13 movies, including 2022's supposed end to the entire thing, Halloween Ends. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Wikipedia

19

Movies

Halloween Then vs. Now From the first to the last The first film is, drum roll please, 1978's Halloween. We have nothing to add to almost five decades of discourse about this movie, it just rocks, watch it. 2022's Halloween Ends is meant to finish the saga, putting an end to Laurie Strode's five terrifying encounters with the Shape. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia

18

The Best and the Worst

Halloween Then vs. Now From worst to best At the bottom of the barrel, Revenge, Curse, the Rob Zombie ones, and Resurrection. The best one? Come on, you know the answer. In no particular order, other interesting installments include the first sequel, H20, and 2018's Halloween. The underappreciated gems: Halloween III and Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. CRACKED.COM — Collider, WhatCulture

17

Continuities

Halloween Then vs. Now From the other continuities to the main continuity The franchise has four continuities: The first two movies and then the ones following Laurie's daughter, Jamie; the first two and H20 and Resurrection, and then the Rob Zombie movies. The fourth continuity, however, is the main one, composed of the first film and the ongoing trilogy. Oh, and there's also the standalone third movie-so yeah, it's a mess. CRACKED.COM — Den of Geek, Collider

16

Directors

Halloween Then vs. Now The directors John Carpenter only made the first Halloween, but wrote the sequel and produced some follow-ups. Rick Rosenthal did a fine job in Halloween II, but dropped the ball with Resurrection. Steve Miner competently handled H20. And Rob Zombie? Way too try-hard. After Carpenter, David Gordon Green is probably the best director in the franchise. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia

15

Actors

Halloween Then vs. Now From an unknown actress to stellar casts In 1978, only Donald Pleasance was well-known, and the movie turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a star. By now, the franchise has housed greats such as Tom Atkins, Danielle Harris, Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, Janet Leigh, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Malcolm McDowell, William Forsythe, Judy Greer, Anthony Michael Hall - and of course, a young Paul Rudd. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia

14

Michael Myers' Mask

Halloween Then vs. Now That damn mask 1978 gave us Myers' classic look. They didn't take proper care of the Shatner-based prop, though, so in the 1981 sequel it already looks grimy and stretched out. Still, that is nothing compared to the goofy-looking masks from Return and Revenge. In H20, it looks better (except for the CGI version), and the recent masks are acceptable as well. CRACKED.COM — A Brief History of Michael Myers' Mask From 'Halloween', Screen Rant, The Wrap

13

Michael Myers

Halloween Then vs. Now The evolution of Michael Myers In 1978, he was just an unstoppable shape. In the sequel he becomes Laurie's brother, and in Return he's all about family. In Revenge he gets actual emotions, and in Curse he becomes a perv with powers from a druid cult. Rob Zombie over- explained and intensified his brutality, but the current movies returned him to his mysterious roots. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia, HalloweenCostumes.com, KiloBisto/YouTube

12

Michael Myers

Halloween Then vs. Now Michael Myers' backstory 1981's Halloween II made Myers Laurie's brother, and the family obsession continued from Return to Curse. The latter's backstory went full druid-curse, but this was already hinted at in the original's 1979 novelization. Rob Zombie focused on Myers' history of abuse and murderous tendencies. In the new ones, the family link is gone, but the supernatural element seems to be returning. CRACKED.COM — CBR

11

Laurie Strode

Halloween Then vs. Now From happy teenager to world-weary survivor Laurie Strode is a random stranger, then Michael's sister, and then a stranger again. She also dies before the fourth film, leading to the later focus on her daughter Jamie. Having changed her name, Laurie returns as an alcoholic survivor in H20, dies again in Resurrection, and in the 2018 reboot-sequel, she's again an alcoholic, traumatized survivor. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia, Cinemablend

10

Dr. Samuel Loomis

Halloween Then vs. Now From Donald Pleasance to after-death cameo Dr. Loomis went from being Myers' shrink to protecting Laurie's daughter, Jamie. In Curse, we last see him confronting Myers, fate unknown. Donald Pleasance died in 1995, so Malcolm McDowell took over in Zombie's films, before today's prosthetic recreation. Still, 1988's Return gave us two awesome Loomis moments: Jjumping off an explosion, and his final, desperate scream. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia, 'Halloween Kills' Brought A Dead Actor Back The Old Fashioned Way

9

Laurie's Family

Halloween Then vs. Now From Laurie to her extended family Besides Michael, Laurie, and Loomis, the original sequels have provided more interesting characters than the newer runs. Little Tommy Doyle returned all grown-up in three more movies after surviving the first. Similarly, Laurie's daughter Jamie led the franchise in Return, Revenge, and Curse. In fact, her interrupted heel turn after Return is one of the franchise's greatest missed opportunities. CRACKED.COM — Wikipedia

8

Body Count

Halloween Then vs. Now The body count Considering Halloween's role in molding the modern slasher, it has a tame kill count of only five people. Numbers increased steadily increasing, and Curse's 16 victims turned back into six for H20. The next spike was Rob Zombie's 2007 remake with 18 kills, but 2021's Halloween Kills blew them all out of the park with a bloody 26 murders. CRACKED.COM — Te Lo Resumo/YouTube

7

Immortal Michael Myers

Halloween Then vs. Now Michael Myers' many deaths John Carpenter was very clear about wanting to give Myers an unstoppable, almost otherworldly quality. But after surviveing eight bullets and a fall, he would go on to survive being burned alive, shotgun blasts, tranquilizers, farm equipment impalement, and even decapitation after H20 (due to franchise- ruining, studio-driven retcon-armor, that is). CRACKED.COM — HalloweenCostumes.com

6

Michael Myers' Face

Halloween Then vs. Now Michael Myers' face Despite what a newbie might assume, we have seen Myers' scarred face. Many times. Laurie removes his mask already in the original, and the sequels also show glimpses. The Rob Zombie films show his child face and then his older, bearded hillbilly face. Finally, the current movies have also shown it. CRACKED.COM — KiloBisto/YouTube

5

Halloween

Halloween Then vs. Now Musical storytelling The minimalist original score works as an homage to Psycho, but it also answers to budget constraints (so, just like Psycho). It also stands for the Shape's relentless, single-minded threat. By 2021's Halloween Kills, the music tells another story, with its fuller sound encapsulates shared trauma and communitarian action. CRACKED.COM — Showbiz CheatSheet, Davidson

4

Meaning

Halloween Then vs. Now From the post-Vietnam fear to victim empowerment We're not going to overinterpret Resurrection as some metaphor for Internet culture, but there are different reasons Myers is so scary. In the late '70s, he represented the relentless threat of American defeat invading suburbia. In the post-modern Halloween H20, he stands for the fears of '90s complacency. Today, he stands for fearful communities, our true crime-obsessed era, and minority self-defense. CRACKED.COM — Muse by Clio

3

Knock-Offs

Halloween Then vs. Now From knock-off to knock-off. The long list of shameless rip-offs includes 1980's Не Knows You're Alone, 1981's Final Exam and Nightmare, 1982's The Dorm that Dripped Blood, 1984's The Mutilator and Silent Night, Deadly Night, 1988's Edge of the Ахе, 1989's Offerings, 1992's Happy Hell Night-and of course, the Jamie Lee Curtis-led derivatives, 1980's Terror Train and Prom Night. CRACKED.COM — Screen Rant, Wicker Horror

2

Halloween

Halloween Then vs. Now The influence Halloween paved the way for your Fridays, Nightmares, and Screams. But Halloween's influence extends beyond the mere slasher. It's a cinematic classic, and like The Exorcist or The Shining, an unavoidable reference for movie-making in general. CRACKED.COM — The Take, IndieWire

1

Renaissance

Halloween Then vs. Now From a tired franchise to today's renaissance The Friday the 13th movies fizzled out very soon. When A New Nightmare lent new life to Freddy, Curse represented one of the franchise's low points. Following Scream, H20 gave it new post-modern tricks. But today, 2018's Halloween almost turned the concept into what kids these days call elevated horror. Today is, perhaps, the franchise's very best period after the original. CRACKED.COM — MovieClips/YouTube

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