In addition to de-canonizing any film after Carpenter’s original, one of the best aspects about 2018’s Halloween is that Laurie Strode is back in Haddonfield once again, and this time, she’s as prepared as Home Alone’s Kevin McCallister. Jaime Lee Curtis dives head first into the performance, really giving emotional weight to the character, who is much more than the trauma victim turned badass that the trailer describes. Her years spent waiting for Michael’s return have resulted in two failed marriages and the loss of custody of her daughter Karen (Judy Greer), who now has her own daughter, Allyson (Andi Matichak), that Laurie is also somewhat estranged from.

The film is at its strongest when it shows the family together, and its emphasis on the family dynamic as a theme helps to elevate it above hollow slasher fare. This really shines through in the restaurant scene, which finds Laurie coping with her trauma through heavy drinking, resulting in a hysterical panic attack that leaves the entire table shaken. And it also finds its footing in the last 20 minutes, after the cast has been whittled down to just the three strode women, who battle it out with Myers in a cathartic showdown.