While Halloween Kills delivers on the chills expected from the franchise, there’s a protagonist-shaped hole in the middle of the movie that leaves viewers with no one to root for. A direct sequel to 2018's Halloween, Halloween Kills continues Michael Myers’s night of horror. Jamie Lee Curtis returns to the role of Laurie Strode, leading an ensemble that includes Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Anthony Michael Hall and James Jude Courtney.
Currently sitting at a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the reviews for Halloween Kills have been mixed. While the movie has garnered some praise for its unbridled carnage, many have criticized its messy and cluttered structure. The sequel has a broader scope compared to director David Gordon Green's previous entry and thus features a bigger cast of characters. This accounts for one of the sequel's big issues; Halloween Kills doesn't really feature a strong hero character for audiences.
Despite having Jamie Lee Curtis back, the film chooses to pit the entire town of Haddonfield against the franchise’s killer Michael Myers instead. With a wide array of plot threads weaving in and out of the story, the only real constant is Michael himself stalking through the night, but a masked killing machine isn't somebody viewers can get behind emotionally either. Halloween Kills is brimming with possible protagonists, including Laurie, the eternal target of the seemingly immortal Michael Myers’s obsession. There’s also Tommy Doyle - who narrowly escaped Myers as a child - and Deputy Frank Hawkins who feels responsible for letting Myers live years before. There’s Laurie’s daughter Karen and granddaughter Allyson, both looking to free their family from decades of torment.
All of these characters have the motivation and ability to shoulder the story, but with so many characters and subplots to track, they all crowd each other out. For comparison, it was the sharp contrast behind Laurie Strode and nemesis Michael Myers that set the original Halloween apart. Moviegoers weren’t just scared of Michael, they were scared for Laurie. This connection is why audiences were so thrilled when Curtis returned to the role some 40 years later. While Laurie is back in for the franchise's latest movie Halloween Kills, she’s just one of the ensemble and never even shares the screen with Michael. Allyson is arguably the most proactive, joining the hunt for Michael Myers early and touting a shotgun, but she's also offscreen for big portions too.
There’s a reason for the ‘Final Girl’ cliche in horror movies, as a clearly identified protagonist is a touchstone for the audience. That way it’s not just a series of scares, it’s a terrifying journey that one character must endure until they’re the only one left. With no clear protagonist to take this journey with, Halloween Kills might be a spooky good time but it feels more like a clip show than a truly harrowing horror experience.