The Ultimate Halloween Sequel: John Carpenter's Surprising Favorite (and It's Not What You Think!)

Summary

Halloween Kills Emerges as John Carpenter's Preferred Film Among the Reboot Trilogy

Following the success of Halloween in 2018, the reception for Halloween Kills took a downturn with predominantly unfavorable reviews. This served as a foreshadowing of what lay ahead. Halloween Kills introduced pivotal themes such as mob violence and alienation, which would then be integrated in a manner that sidelines the tale of Laurie and Michael.

Halloween franchise creator and original director John Carpenter reveals his favorite film in the reboot trilogy. David Gordon Green directed the successful 2018 sequel, Halloween, which was followed by Halloween Kills in 2021 and the controversial Halloween Ends in 2022. Carpenter acted as an executive producer for all three films.

Now, during a New York Comic Con panel, where Our website was present, Carpenter disclosed that although the 2018 film received the highest critical acclaim among the new Halloween trilogy, it is not his personal favorite. Revealing his preference, the filmmaker stated that Halloween Kills holds that honor. See Carpenter's complete statement below:

"I have immense admiration for the director, David; he is exceptional. He collaborated with a team of talented individuals, including the incredibly skilled writer, Danny McBride, who is also a renowned comedian. I truly appreciate the contributions they made to the screenplay. Additionally, they granted me the role of associate producer, although I must admit it is quite a deceiving position. Furthermore, I had the pleasure of working alongside my son in creating the film's soundtrack, which was an absolute joy. The entire cast and crew were exceptional, and I have to say that Halloween Kills stood out as my personal favorite among the trilogy."

Why Halloween Kills Was A Red Flag For The Trilogy's Finale

Despite Carpenter's 1978 original being a beloved horror classic, many of the subsequent sequels and reboots have not been able to replicate its success. The sequels, in particular, received unfavorable reviews and after Rob Zombie's Halloween II in 2009, the future of the franchise seemed uncertain. However, Green's 2018 film provided a much-needed revitalization, garnering positive feedback from critics. It introduced intriguing new characters, featured gruesome kills, and found a perfect balance of paying homage to Carpenter's original while pushing the franchise in fresh directions.

Unfortunately, some of the momentum gained from the success of 2018's Halloween was lost with the release of Halloween Kills. The second film in the reboot trilogy did not receive the same critical acclaim, scoring only 39% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its predecessor's 79%. Although it had its share of shocking and gory kills, the movie mostly sidelined Laurie Strode and hinted at some controversial ideas for the franchise's future from Green and co-writers Danny McBride and Scott Teems.

The inclusion of Lance Tivoli's storyline foreshadowed the movie's exploration of the hazards and repercussions of isolation and mob violence. Halloween Ends received widespread criticism for its lackluster ending, particularly in regards to the narrative involving Corey, a new character. Although Corey's presence provided an opportunity for the filmmakers to delve into the origins of monstrous figures like Michael Myers, for many viewers, the film failed to deliver the grand conclusion to Laurie and Myers' story established in the original Halloween.