By Amanda Moses
Oh, the horror! There are very few who do not know about the boogeyman, Michael Myers. The looming figure in an auto shop jump suit, the thick, white rubber mask covered in dirt and frayed hair, and let’s not forget his infamous kitchen knife. Over 44 years ago John Carpenter’s Halloween film hit cinema screens with beloved babysitter, Laurie Strode as the surviving heroin. Since then, 13 Halloween films have been made, rebooted, and revamped.
The latest trilogy, first released in 2018 by Director, David Gordon Green, has eschewed the other Halloween sequels and revamped the series following only the original 1978 film. This version follows Laurie Strode 40 years after her vicious encounter with Michael Myers, where she saw her friends murdered. For decades that trauma dictated Strode’s life, where she locked herself away preparing for the day Myers returned. The film focuses on her relationship with her estranged daughter and granddaughter—and Myers escape from the Haddonfield mental facility.
On October 8th, Jamie Lee Curtis was honored with an hour-long panel at the Empire State in New York Comic Con, which was moderated by the infamous Drew Barrymore—a scream queen herself—to discuss what it feels like to close this chapter in her life as the iconic Laurie Strode.
Barrymore inquired, “What do you think, if you had to guess, what people connect with Laurie about?”
“I think Laurie Strode is everybody’s sister. Everybody’s friend. Everybody’s daughter, granddaughter, or niece. She represented pure innocence and kindness, and when she comes into conflict and collision, really with Michael Myers, who is the epitome of evil in John’s understanding of vulnerability, that’s why you care about her. When I say you guys have cared for me, you have carried her, you love her, you have love. But then what you have to know and I appreciate that. At this point, Jamie and Laurie has become woven together. There is no separation,” Curtis said.
Tears welled in Curtis’ eyes as she gazed into the crowd of hundreds upon hundreds of fans, many holding up paper cutout of Laurie Strode and Michael Myers’ face, waving them eagerly. She shared that she did not think at merely 19 years old that this film would have had such a profound effect on her life. It is a role that she says she has cared for deeply and knows that upon her death, it will be what her career will be held synonymous with.
“But you know, I’m 64, do the math. It’s not in my favor. Sooner than later, it’s gonna say three words: Halloween actress dies,” Curtis said to a round of shocked gasps from fans. “She’s gonna die. You guys my point is, it is a permanent state of my life, is you guys. It is a permanent saturation into me no matter what I do.”
Curtis shared snip bits about her other films and fun behind the scenes stories about her roles on the various Halloween films. The panel concluded when she took photos of the audience to remember and honor the fans who’ve cared deeply about her and her role as Laurie Strode.
Halloween Ends was released on October 14th and is available to watch in theaters or stream on Peacock.
Photos by Amanda Moses
