Jamie Lee’s Halloween Gift For Michael Myers!
It’s here – the latest “Halloween” film – and the reviews are great! The best part: America’s Scream Queen has grown up!
Jamie Lee Curtis became America’s “Scream Queen” in 1978 when the original film was released, and now she is back in the “Halloween” family, returning as her character Laurie Strode, as the film sets up her final confrontation with Michael Myers!
Myers is, of course, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Here is the trailer that sets the final confrontation up nicely:
I can’t wait to see this new “Halloween”, and the first reviews have been great…so let’s celebrate by looking back at the first film, and showcase another of Jamie Lee’s great slasher films from the 80’s as well!
When “Halloween” was released in 1978, it made Jamie Lee Curtis a star – after all, she screamed her way into our hearts while also fighting back – something that most female characters didn’t do in a film, they just screamed and died!
William Shatner, Psycho Killer!
Here is some great trivia, provided by IMDB: Due to “Halloween”‘s shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest $2 mask that they could find in the costume store: a Star Trek (1966) William Shatner mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes!
Shatner admitted that for years he had no idea his likeness was used for this film. It was only during an interview that someone mentioned his mask was being used. He has since stated that he is honored by this gesture!
Michael Myers is one of cinema’s great psychos, and what makes “Halloween” work so well is that you truly root for Jamie Lee to survive – a tribute to how well she acted in her movie debut – which IMDB says paid her $8,000 for starring in the film!
But after this, she was on a horror role, most notably in this great 80’s slasher:
Join Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis On The “Terror Train!”
“Terror Train” is a terrific, vicious slasher film from 1980, with some good scares and lots of blood…much of it on legendary Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!
After the phenomenal success of “Halloween” in 1978, Curtis found herself starring in a number of slasher films, and quickly earned the title of reigning “Scream Queen”! Some films weren’t that good, but this one delivered the scares!
The plot of “Terror Train” is brilliant in its simplicity: A masked killer seeks revenge against six college kids who were responsible for a prank gone wrong three years earlier – and lucky for the killer – the kids are throwing a large New Year’s Eve costume party aboard a moving train!
This film is helped greatly by a truly creepy looking killer, and an ongoing sense of dread throughout. Check out the trailer:
According to the great movie website IMDB, Jamie Lee Curtis once said of her character in this film:
“There are certain things a heroine in a thriller has to be. She has to be vulnerable, so that the audience identifies with her and is rooting for her. But she also has to have an enormous inner strength to overcome the evil, or terror, that is pursuing her. I play the same kind of character as I did in other films. But Alana – the girl I play – is stronger and more defined”.
Bravo to Jamie Lee Curtis for finding more depth of character, even in straightforward horror films!
I love the Halloween season – so many great horror films to enjoy – go to my exploitation website for a look at some classic horror films like this:
Yep, they don’t make them like THIS any more – click here to see why!
Let me know if you plan to see the Jamie Lee – Michael Myers battle!