Film Review: Reviewed By John Ferguson; 3 out of 5

John Carpenter's classic 1978 chiller gets a 1990s makeover, although in the hands of director Steve Miner the emphasis here is still firmly on frights rather than in-jokes. Jamie Lee Curtis, back in the role that made her name, is now a recovering alcoholic and headteacher at an exclusive boarding school. The problem is her murderous and seemingly indestructible brother is keen to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his original massacre. The older and wiser Curtis steals the show from the teenage TV pin-ups (Third Rock from the Sun star Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the now-obligatory "big name" killed off before the opening credits), but Miner's direction is merely efficient and lacks Carpenter's assured touch.

Plot Summary

Horror starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Several years after she faked her own death to escape her psychotic brother Michael, Laurie Strode thinks she finally has a safe life as the headmistress of a private school. But Michael has found all the information he needs to track her down, and Laurie must confront the evil one more time.