“You know who I am, Angel. Now, repeat after me: I love you, Mommy.”
In all of horror, few characters remain so beloved as Laurie Strode. Originated by Jamie Lee Curtis in John Carpenter’s Halloween, this intrepid babysitter anchors one of the genre’s greatest films while helping to create an iconic trope that has changed the way we view women in film. Laurie becomes a final girl when she survives Michael Myers (Nick Castle) and a horrific Halloween night, but she’s cursed to carry the weight of this trauma alone. Out of all the sequels, remakes, timelines, and lore, no one explores the legacy of pain left in Michael’s wake like Rob Zombie. His Halloween II is an angry film that rubs our noses in the sorrow, guilt, shame, and pain still guiding Laurie’s shattered life. This polarizing sequel takes a wild swing at Michael’s monstrous motivations while delivering an original, honest, and occasionally off-putting look at the final girl’s burden.
One year—or two if you’re watching the Director’s Cut—after a hellish Halloween, Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton) is struggling with severe PTSD. Living with Annie (Danielle Harris) and her father Sheriff Brackett (Brad Dourif), she attends regular therapy to counteract her complex survivor’s guilt and tries to distance herself from all reminders of Michael Myers (Tyler Mane) and that deadly night. When Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) releases an exploitative book, Laurie learns that she is Michael’s long lost sister Angel Myers. This devastating revelation coincides with the killer’s return and Laurie finds herself once again a target of her brother’s murderous rage.
In the latest episode of Bloody FM’s The Lady Killers Podcast, Co-hosts Jenn Adams, Sammie Kuykendall, Rocco Thompson, and Mae Shults celebrate Halloween by honoring a new interpretation of a classic character. How does Zombie build on classic IP? How does Taylor-Compton fare in iconic final girl shoes? Do they prefer the Director’s Cut to the original and which Rocky Horror character has the best outfit? They’ll dodge tricks while enjoying the treats of Zombie’s harsh sequel that may just get better with each passing Halloween.
Stream below and subscribe now via Apple Podcasts and Spotify for future episodes that drop every Thursday.