I know many of you are excited (and many are not) about the new Halloween film (entitled as of now) Halloween Returns. I will be absolutely and unequivocally honest with you… there is nothing about what I have read, nor what I have learned about the early stages of this film that has me even remotely excited or hopeful. The probability of this film capturing the magic and the spirit of the original 2 Halloween films (and why many of us respect and enjoy them) is next to impossible. Not because it can’t happen or IS impossible, but because they don’t have the right people involved.
Any Star Wars fans here? There is no doubt from what we’re seeing with this new and highly anticipated Star Wars film thus far… that the probability of it capturing the old magic of the original trilogy while still giving us something NEW and exciting is extremely high. They have the right team in place. Unfortunately the expectations are also high. Too high. Many will be disappointed because of it.
In order for a new Halloween film to capture the magic and spirit of the original 2 Halloween films and give us something new at the same time (which is a very difficult line to walk) the proper team of people need to be in place. A team that understands the value of smart mood, atmosphere and suspense. A team that understands pacing, and development. A team that understands the value of leaving more to the imagination. A team that understands the basic and fundamental principles of real horror…so it can truly frighten an audience. That team (as of right now) is not in place.
What the future of Halloween needs, is not only a filmmaker who understands these principles, but who is also a die hard Halloween (1978, 1981) fan.
There is no evidence whatsoever that Trancas International is interested in (or has ever been) listening to the fans of Halloween…unlike what Disney has done with Star Wars. They’re listening.
The same rhetoric and catchy sound bites for interviews and online articles about how important the legacy of Halloween is, has fallen on deaf ears for me. I don’t care. Actions will always speak louder than words. People can “say” a lot of things. But it’s what they DO moving forward that will inevitably be the legacy of Halloween. I’m talking about a true fundamental understanding of the principles of what made Halloween work.
I have seen no evidence (and I don’t suspect I will) of this moving forward.
Who’s the more foolish? The fool? Or the fool who follows him?