It’s the Booze Talkin’; Original cast members in Halloween? Hallo-yes!

I don’t know about you. but once August hits I’m all in for getting ready to celebrate Halloween. This includes decorating the house, thinking about a costume and pretty much fully preparing for the horror magic that October 31st brings. And one holiday staple that most horror fans enjoy is the yearly viewing of the film that started it all, John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN. The original is a must watch once October comes around. And then there are the myriad of sequels in a series that tends to follow different takes on the cursed cinematic world set in Haddonfield, Illinois. This is one thing that I tend to appreciate about the franchise is that, while not terribly consistent, I enjoy that you can take on a couple of different storylines depending on if you're in the mood for druid cults or white trash families courtesy of Rob Zombie.

One sequel that worked was last year’s HALLOWEEN, directed by David Gordon Green and written by Green, Danny McBride and Jeff Fradley. Laurie Strode was always a major part of the series and her return was incredibly satisfying. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I was lucky enough to see the 1978 features first, as opposed to seeing part 4 or 6 or 8 and then catching up. I love the dynamic between Jamie Lee Curtis and the emotionless boogeyman that continues to haunt this poor woman. And while I was a massive fan of HALLOWEEN: H20, I prefer the more kick ass version of Ms. Strode that Green brought. The prospect of seeing how someone survives the horrors they went through in the first film was something that I truly appreciated. And it also helps that the casting was solid throughout, this includes both Judy Greer and Andi Matichak who play Laurie’s daughter and granddaughter.

Since the 2018 version worked as well as it did for me, the announcement of two HALLOWEEN flicks – HALLOWEEN KILLS and HALLOWEEN ENDS – was exactly what this long time fan was hoping for. Starting from the beginning, and having both Curtis and even Carpenter involved was a treat; and that also includes the fact that they brought Nick Castle back for a couple of nods to the original film. And now we have even more exciting casting news for the upcoming sequels with the return of three characters from the original! First up we have Anthony Michael Hall taking on the role of Tommy Doyle – previously played by Brian Andrews in Carpenters' classic and Paul Rudd in HALLOWEEN 6: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS. As cool as that is, it’s even more thrilling to see the return of both Charles Cyphers as Sheriff Brackett and Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace.

As of late, moviemakers rely on the whole nostalgia factor quite heavily. Sometimes it doesn’t quite connect. However, this bit of casting news is far more intriguing. As someone who is fully aware that a few fans were disappointed that the new HALLOWEEN ignored everything that came after in the franchise, I frankly admire the fact that Green and company are trying to build so heavily off the first film. By bringing members of the original cast back in such a way brings my excitement for the new films at an all time high. Growing up on this flick and knowing these characters inside and out, it thrills me to see what both Brackett and Wallace have become. While the original Tommy isn’t supposed to return, the casting of Hall is yet another unique take. The idea of seeing all three characters return is a wonderful one.

Part of my enthusiasm for the return of these three characters is simply the fact that it may bring a little focus to this horror series. While I previously mentioned that I like that the sequels follow various paths, the idea of following Strode's story once again gives me a ton of hope for what could be. If they can bring in these familiar faces in an organic way, this could make for an even stronger sequel than what they gave us in 2018. Truth be told, because of the impact that Carpenter’s vision brought movie fans, this truly feels like a return to Haddonfield. More than HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS, and more than HALLOWEEN: H20. As much as I love this franchise, I feel like this is the best direction that they could possibly take in a time when we are holding onto the past in the movie theatres. Bring this series home.

Maybe it’s the booze talkin’, but original cast members for Halloween!? Hallo-yes! John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN is not only one of my favorite horror films, it’s also one of my favorite films period. By bringing so many elements of the original into HALLOWEEN KILLS and HALLOWEEN ENDS, this feels like a proper return for both Michael Myers and Laurie Strode in the best of ways. Of course there is a slight fear that they will rely too heavily on nostalgia, but I have a feeling Mr. Green and the fine folks at Blumhouse will deliver two proper sequels that will retain the atmosphere and soul of the franchise like none of the previous sequels before. And who knows, if they do well, we may see another group of sequels, ones that bring Danielle Harris back as Jamie Lloyd. What do you all think? Is this current casting news a trick or a treat for you?