Halloween II (2009) is a Uncooked Exploration of Trauma
The exploration of trauma isn’t new to horror as a style. In reality it’s a driving power of a lot of the horror media we eat and love. All through the style, we’ve seen our favourite characters endure a lot trauma that they’ll want remedy for years to come back. And we’ve seen depictions of all kinds of trauma, like grief-based trauma in The Descent (2005), generational trauma in Hereditary (2018), racial trauma within the tv adaptation of Lovecraft Nation, and extra. The movie I’m right here to speak about, although, is Halloween II (2009) and the way the director’s reduce approaches trauma.
Rob Zombie’s tackle Halloween is controversial and sometimes sparks discourse amongst horror followers. Depicting Michael Myers as something greater than the Boogeyman or a person managed by a mysterious cult is an enormous no-no for some followers. And the discourse Zombie’s Halloween (2007) remake made folks shake their fists as a result of he gave Michael a backstory. Due to this fact the discourse surrounding the sequel, Halloween II (2009) is extremely robust. Extra particularly, it was because of the inventive course Zombie took with it. Nevertheless, Halloween II (2009)’s director’s reduce is sort of totally different compared to the theatrical model.
Within the director’s reduce, Halloween II follows Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton) two years after Michael (Tyler Mane) went on a killing spree and practically killed her, Annie (Danielle Harris), and Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) within the earlier movie. And identical to Laurie feared, Michael returns to terrorize Haddonfield as soon as extra. Solely the killing spree this time round is paired with hallucinations and lots of visuals that depict Laurie’s deteriorating psychological well being due to the occasions two years in the past.
The grit and gore all through Halloween II (2009) may not be for everybody (with some scenes being strictly for shock). However all of it completely captures what’s happening inside Laurie. After enduring the hell of the primary movie, the place she misplaced her adoptive mother and father and buddies, practically misplaced Annie, witnessed lots of violence, and practically died herself, there’s no questioning why she may not be okay. To not point out the psychic connection between Michael and Laurie, proving they’re nonetheless linked (one thing that turns into much more vital within the third act).
Within the director’s reduce Laurie may be considered as unlikable as a result of her habits isn’t watered down. She is visibly coping with PTSD and general psychological well being points from begin to end. And, after all, Annie can be extremely traumatized, even going as far as changing into a recluse who stays at house.
Their relationship (which may be learn as queer-coded when you squint) is extremely fractured because of the trauma, with Laurie even stating to her therapist that Annie is a bodily reminder of what occurred. It’s an correct portrayal of how trauma can have an effect on folks’s lives and relationships. Reasonably than present folks performing “regular” after a killing spree and near-death experiences, these characters aren’t remotely okay.
All through the director’s reduce, Annie and Laurie struggle fairly a bit. And the final time they see one another is when Annie is dying. As heartbreaking and ugly as Annie’s dying is, it symbolizes the final shred of hope and light-weight that Laurie has in her life. She has little or no left to carry onto as quickly as Annie dies. And regardless of Annie being a bodily reminder of what occurred two years in the past, Laurie by no means needed to lose her. She even goes as far as to say ”Don’t go away me, child”. Laurie is visibly wracked with grief and goes straight into struggle or flight when Michael comes after her once more.
Referring to trauma in a means that isn’t that simple to swallow or cookie cutter and is extra gnarly and messy isn’t all the time a simple watch. But it surely’s extra sensible in a movie that steps exterior the realms of actuality. Slashers don’t all the time care about displaying how folks would act. And there’s nothing flawed with slashers which are extra about having enjoyable. Nevertheless, it’s refreshing to see a ultimate woman extremely affected and traumatized. It’s uncooked and actual and shouldn’t be dismissed as strictly annoying when it solely provides to the movie.
The top of the director’s reduce of Halloween II isn’t remotely glad and is doubtlessly unsatisfying as everybody linked to Michael’s previous, together with Michael himself, dies. Laurie’s life was an emotional hell for 2 years. She endured one other killing spree, after which she met her demise within the ultimate minutes of the movie. Not everybody may be who they was once after trauma, and I feel that’s a really daring ending to present your ultimate woman. This isn’t the Laurie Strode within the H40 trilogy who is ready to vanquish Michael. It reveals one other facet to issues, and that, to me, is efficient, even when it sounds too depressing to observe.