Why Halloween Kills Excludes Laurie Strode's Flashback Scenes from 1978 Timeline
Why Halloween Kills Cut Laurie Strode's Flashback Scenes To Original 1978 Timeline: Unraveling the challenges faced in presenting the intricate Laurie flashbacks Discover why the decision to stick to the original 1978 timeline was crucial for the film's narrative success
Article Overview
An early draft of Halloween Kills included multiple extended flashbacks to Laurie in 1978 during the events of John Carpenter's original film.
These flashbacks were omitted due to the unavailability of recasting Laurie, the high cost of visual effects, and director David Gordon Green's desire to carry on the storyline from the 2018 film.
Although the inclusion of Laurie flashbacks posed challenges, Halloween Kills received mixed reactions, suggesting that going back to the essence of Carpenter's original movie might have garnered a more positive response.
The original script for Halloween Kills included flashback scenes of Laurie Strode from the 1978 film, but they were ultimately removed. The 2021 horror movie, the second installment in director David Gordon Green's divisive Halloween reboot trilogy, features Jamie Lee Curtis reprising her role as Laurie as she once again confronts the unstoppable Michael Myers alongside her family. Although the film received mixed reviews from critics, it was a commercial success at the box office.
In the book Halloween: The Official Making of Halloween, Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends by Abbie Bernstein (via Slash Film), it is revealed that the original script for Halloween Kills, written by Green, Danny McBride, and Scott Teems, included extended flashback sequences of Laurie from John Carpenter's original Halloween. Teems came up with the idea to reenact moments from the original film, but it was ultimately abandoned. McBride and Green disagreed with the idea of casting a younger actor, and the use of visual effects was considered too costly. Furthermore, Green decided to pursue a different creative direction. Below is Teems' account of Green's rationale for making these changes.
"I love a lot of this, but I'm realizing that there is unresolved stuff from the first movie, and the second movie needs to be a continuation of the night."
Why Halloween Kills' Laurie Flashbacks Wouldn't Have Worked
Incorporating Laurie flashbacks in Halloween Kills poses multiple challenges, as stated earlier. One of the major risks is the use of a different actor to portray a younger Laurie. Curtis has set the standard exceptionally high, and audiences have grown accustomed to her portrayal of the character over several decades.
The inclusion of Dr. Loomis flashbacks in Halloween Kills is effective because they are used sparingly and because he hasn't achieved the same status as Laurie as a horror icon.
Although using VFX face replacement is a growing trend in the industry, it is not economically feasible in this case. The Halloween franchise has been successful and long-lasting precisely because these films are budget-friendly. Horror movies, in general, have a reliable track record due to their ability to be made with small budgets while still generating high profits.
It is understandable why Green and McBride opted not to include extensive flashback sequences in their storytelling. Depending too heavily on flashbacks runs the risk of diminishing the suspense of present events and may make the film feel like a recycled or retold version of past events, rather than a unique story in its own right. Nonetheless, Halloween Kills still managed to polarize audiences, partially due to the limited involvement of Laurie. Perhaps a greater focus on what made the original film beloved could have been more impactful.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the decision to exclude Laurie Strode's flashback scenes from the 1978 timeline in Halloween Kills. On the one hand, I understand the challenges involved in presenting these flashbacks, such as the unavailability of recasting Laurie and the high cost of visual effects. On the other hand, I believe that including these flashbacks could have added depth to Laurie's character and helped to connect the new films to the original classic.
I think it would have been interesting to see Laurie's perspective on the events of the original film and how they shaped her life. Additionally, these flashbacks could have helped to explain why Laurie is so determined to stop Michael Myers and protect her family. Overall, I think the decision to exclude these flashbacks was a missed opportunity, but I understand the challenges involved in making such a decision.
