Movie Review: How the original ‘scream queen’ is carving the way for women over 50
John Carpenter’s 1978 film “Halloween” is best known for introducing the world to the maniacal serial killer Michael Myers, but it is lead-actress Jamie Lee Curtis who is making the headlines 40 years later as the franchise returns to the big screen.
“I am stunned. Simply stunned and thrilled,” @jamieleecurtis tweeted when she read San Francisco Chronicle reporter Peter Hartlaub’s review of the 2018 “Halloween” sequel.
In his review, Hartlaub said, “Not all heroes wear capes. Some are 59-year-old women in men’s flannel hunting shirts who are ready to stare evil down and load another round.”
For Laurie Strode (Curtis’ character), the return of Myers on Halloween night proves to her family she is not the victim of a 40-year old crime, but rather that she is a strong heroine prepared to face her fears and ready to carve out (pun intended) a new path for her own life.
It is in the post-#MeToo era where we find Strode, who has spent her life preparing to face her attacker. Strode isn’t apologetic to what she has become, forced to deal with her PTSD and cut off from her family. Rather, Strode prays every night that she will get the chance to kill Myers.
There are no screams from Curtis in the film as she re-embodies Strode. There are no men in her life telling her to move on. There are no scenes objectifying Strode for the male gaze. Instead, the audience is treated to a raw and real performance from Curtis playing an empathetic character, one who happens to be in her late 50s.
“I’m going for one boast post. Biggest horror movie opening with a female lead. Biggest movie opening with a female lead over 55. Second biggest October movie opening ever. Biggest ‘Halloween’ opening ever. #WomenGettingThingsDone,” Curtis tweeted out on Sunday after the film opened to a staggering $77.5 million weekend, just shy of the “Venom” movie’s record $80 million October weekend.
This news is monumental for the franchise as Hollywood will likely greenlight yet another “Halloween” sequel and will almost definitely reboot other slasher franchises in the process. What movie executives are probably going to fail to realize is that there is money to be made in casting famous actresses over 50 in lead roles.
See, Strode is a superhero. She rises to the call when a villain is tormenting her city, she trains and fights for good, and she relies on her origin story to give her strength during hard times. In turn, she has raised a strong daughter and a strong granddaughter who each get their turn to face Myers in the film.
It is likely that this film is a passing of the torch from Strode’s character to the younger granddaughter character named Allyson (played by “Underground’s” Andi Matichak) who is seen holding the iconic butcher knife at the end of the film.
However, if “Halloween” past is anything to learn from, it is clear that any “Halloween” film without Curtis isn’t successful. In fact, for as long as Curtis wants to keep reprising the role of Strode, hopefully the franchise welcomes her with open arms. If not, at least this might be a resurgence for Curtis to be a leading lady again on future projects, and just maybe, other women will also get that chance.
—erickwood97@gmail.com
@GrahamWoodMedia