According to MTV, the original “Halloween” movie had such a low budget they bought a $2 William Shatner “Star Trek” Halloween mask and turned it into the terrifying face of murderer Michael Myers. Despite its dirt-cheap budget of $300,000, the original film went on to gross $47 million at the box office and created a legion of Halloween fans ready to dress and look the part of the grotesque Michael Myers.
After 10 movies in the can and a long break from being on a murderous rampage, Michael Myers is back in the newest “Halloween” film franchise. “Halloween Returns” began production during the summer of 2015 with “Saw” writer Marcus Dunstan directing. Here’s a look at the bloody adventure coming our way:
Have a Reintroduction to the Franchise
After a long hiatus from torturing his victims, Michael Myers returns and reintroduces new audiences to the “Halloween” franchise. In an exclusive with MovieHole.net, movie insiders share that Michael Myers is on death row awaiting his execution. The 18-year-old child of one of Myers’ victims and the child of a cop obsessed with the case sneak in to watch his final moments.
However, that kind of resident evil doesn’t die off easily. We already know that previous attempts to kill him seemed to make him stronger and even more crazed. Of course, something goes horribly wrong during Myers’ execution, and the serial killer escapes. After his time languishing on death row, Myers is sure to be refreshed and ready to stir up more terror, carnage and gore.
Don’t Call It a Reboot
Dimension Films recruited “Saw” writing duo Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan to write the new “Halloween Returns” script. The pair is quick to point out that the movie is not a remake or even a reboot. Instead, Dunstan calls it a “recalibration” of the horror franchise. In an interview with “The Myers’ Fan,” Dunstan said he hopes the film will embody the spirit of films like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “The Dark Knight.”
In addition to a darker, more suspenseful tone, Dunstan also wants the new movie to stand on its own. Old-school fans are likely to understand the subtle horror and high-stakes suspense of previous “Halloween” flicks, while newcomers can still follow the plot without needing to see all 10. But any good Myers’ fan will recommend taking in all 10 in one sitting to appreciate how freaking scary this franchise really is.
See Halloween Unmasked
During the interview, Dunstan said the mask will resemble the classic version from the original 1978 “Halloween.” He also described a plan to release the mask in profile on Instagram with border edge lighting to get a feel for the evil and creepy intent.
While vocal about the perfect mask, Dunstan was more tight-lipped about the casting. However, he did confirm he wants Gillian Jacobs, from the cult-favorite comedy TV series “Community,” to join the anticipated recalibration. Despite her comedic background, Dunstan admires her work from the dramatic “Gardens of the Night.” No word yet on who else is going to get hunted down and face the wrath of Michael Myers, but I’m hoping Jamie Lee Curtis can be persuaded to make one more return.
