The latest Halloween sequel has officially hit theaters, followed closely, almost menacingly, by its all-important Rotten Tomatoes score. Luckily for Michael Myers, the film has scared up what appears to be not just a respectable number, but the best in the franchise's storied history.
Based on 35 reviews total, only eight of which are "rotten," Halloween scored a solid 77%, which is more than enough to afford the film the coveted role of "Certified Fresh," and make it the critically highest-rated Halloween film in the site's history.
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Indeed, most reviews of the new Halloween have been kind, citing the reverence director David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express, Stronger) paid to the project, especially his attention to its deep, if somewhat divisive lore. Fans were also impressed by his exploration of character in the sequel, noting its themes of post-traumatic stress and the focus on its female characters' reclaimed agency.
Other reviews noted the cast's passable to commendable performances, perhaps not surprisingly levying most praise on Jamie Lee Curtis' powerful return as the rightfully troubled survivor Laurie Strode, who has transitioned fully from the original "final girl" to a hard-nosed family matriarch.
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In our own CBR review, Justin Jones called the film "a blast from start to finish," further remarking that the sequel is, "a deeper, richer film than any the series has seen before [and] among the best legacy sequels audiences could hope to see."
These sentiments are not just echoed by other review outlets, they are also reflected in the film's immediate financial success. According to Variety, the latest sequel, in a now 11-film series, made $7.7 million on its opening night in just 3200 theaters. Halloween is projected to continue doing big numbers, and is set to break the $26 million opening-day franchise record previously held by Rob Zombie's much more critically derided remake in 2007.
Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak and Will Patton, is in theaters now.