Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

Want to feel really old?

Remember Kim Darby, John Wayne's young sidekick in the 1969 Western "True Grit"? She plays a grandmother in the latest "Halloween" movie.

Of course, Darby's character is dispatched early on, having foolishly left an ax within Michael Myers' reach, so there isn't much time for us to think about it.

Sadly, that's nothing compared to poor Donald Pleasence. Darby, of course, still has time for her career to take an upswing (and a guest appearance on the sitcom "Dweebs" would qualify).

But this sixth in the "Halloween" series was Pleasence's final big-screen appearance before his death last February. And the film is dedicated to his memory. My guess is he'd prefer to be remembered for his roles in "The Great Escape" or "The Caretaker" or "Fantastic Voyage" . . . or even the first "Halloween."

Though theater marquees locally read "Halloween 6," the official title is "Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers." But, despite the addition of some evil modern-day Druids who want to sacrifice a baby and a sinister, lurking figure who resembles "The Shadow," very little has changed from the usual "splatter" killer-who-can't-be-killed formula.

Faceless, hulking Michael Myers, predecessor of Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees, stalks one-dimensional victims, usually impaling them and then adding an extra twist for gross-out sound-effects and gore. And the film's conclusion is, naturally, open-ended, to allow for "Halloween 7," which will probably be subtitled "Michael Myers Does a Pepsi Commercial."

Local fans will want to know that, yes, like "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" and the more succinctly titled "Halloween 5," this latest effort was filmed right here in Salt Lake City, though the setting is still Haddonfield, Ill. Lucky us.

"Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers" is rated R for violence, gore, sex, nudity, profanity and vulgarity.