Halloween: The Official Movie Novelization by John Passarella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The gripping novelisation of the 2018 film sequel to the 1978 slasher classic.

Michael Myers is back to terrorise the sleepy town of Haddonfield. For forty years, he has remained incarcerated, having been apprehended shortly after the conclusion to his killing spree in the original film, when he apparently escaped after being shot six times by Dr Loomis during his attack on Laurie Strode. Two journalists are determined to get an interview with Myers, to see behind the mask before he is transferred back to Smith’s Grove Sanitorium and they lose the opportunity. But he remains silent and impassive.

The journalists turn their attention to Laurie Strode, the lone survivor. She is practically a recluse, semi-estranged from her daughter, Karen, and granddaughter, Allyson. Haunted by the events of that night forty years before, she has fortified her property, awaiting the day that Michael will return to finish what he started.

During his transfer, Michael escapes. Laurie knew the day would come and she is prepared. But she is the only one that is. Leaving a trail of bloodshed and carnage in his wake, Michael returns to Haddonfield on Hallowe’en night. After waiting forty years, Laurie soon comes face to face with the Shape, in what may be their final confrontation.

Passarella’s novelisation, based on the screenplay by Danny McBride, Jeff Fradley and David Gordon Green, deepens and enriches the plot and characters of the film. I absolutely loved every second, flying through the pages, becoming once again enthralled by Michael and Laurie’s cat-and-mouse game. I waited an entire year to read it on Hallowe’en (as I wanted to watch the film first when it was released the previous year) – it was certainly worth the wait and did not suffer from me already being familiar with the plot. This is the perfect companion to the film.

It’s worth noting that “Halloween” (2018) is a direct sequel to “Halloween” (1978) only, ignoring the events of “Halloween II” (1981), which took place on the same night as the original, and every sequel since. However, we’ve experienced abandonment of sequels and changes to the timeline before – “Halloween H20”; as well as an anthology film – “Halloween III: Season of the Witch” - and a remake series – “Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009). There are subtle nods to these forgotten sequels – Laurie being Michael’s sister is somewhat of an urban legend, made up so people can make themselves feel like it wouldn’t happen to them, so Allyson suggests; while those deadly Silver Shamrock masks may be for sale once again to the world's children.

Of course, you can’t kill the Boogeyman. Michael will return next year in “Halloween Kills”, and once more in 2021 in “Halloween Ends”. I hope John Passarella will get to tackle both those films and write a further two novels as sequels to this one.

Perfect to read on autumnal nights, “Halloween” is a sublime horror novel, that will grip you in its clutches and drag you relentlessly through Michael’s night of terror. You can only pray you will survive ‘til morning.



View all my reviews
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter