Laurie Strode has been through it all in the Halloween franchise, and Jamie Lee Curtis plays this character brilliantly over several different films. In Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, which was released in 1998, Laurie is working at a boarding school under another name and doing her best to move on. Of course, she can never forget what happened to her, but she has a son, a partner, and a job that she cares about.
When comparing Halloween H20 to David Gordon Green's new trilogy, which will conclude with Halloween Ends in October 2022, it seems fair to say that Laurie Strode's trauma is perfectly examined in the film from the '90s.
While Halloween (2018) does explore the aftermath of final girl trauma, it could be argued that Halloween H20, which is better than people think, actually does a much better job. In this story, Laurie is raising her son John Tate (Josh Harnett) and working at a private boarding school called Hillcrest Academy. Laurie is going by the name Keri Tate as she pretended to die, and she's the headmistress. This makes sense, as Laurie of course doesn't want Michael Myers to find her, and she's also tired of people knowing who she is.
Laurie finally admits to her boyfriend WIll Brennan (Adam Arkin) that she's really Laurie Strode and has been lying about her identity. This scene is important and shows how long Laurie has been coping with the trauma of what Michael did to her and the fact that he is her own brother. While Halloween Ends promises a Laurie/Michael battle, there is actually a big one in Halloween H20 that should be talked about more. Laurie faces him with no fear and even attacks him with an axe in the final scene, which is a satisfying horror movie ending, even if it doesn't exist in the new timeline with David Gordon Green's trilogy.
In Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021), Laurie has refused to discuss Michael Myers with her daughter Karen Nelson (Judy Greer) and granddaughter Allyson Nelson (Andi Matichak), and she has been hiding out. While she's still a strong character who is capable of fighting this villain, Laurie's trauma in Halloween H20 seems more logical. Why wouldn't Laurie pretend to pass away and assume another identity? She still wants to have a life and a career and make sure that Michael doesn't define her entire existence.
Halloween Kills wasted Laurie Strode's character because she's injured and lying in a bed at the hospital, unable to take part in the mob who faces Michael Myers. Why is this the Laurie who fans see? It's fair to say that audiences expected the Laurie from the 1998 film, someone who is aware of what she has been through and who thinks about it all the time, but who thinks that she has a shot at a normal life and knows that she deserves that.
In a scary Halloween: H20 scene with some of the most memorable slasher movie quotes, Will asks Laurie "You have been living with this for 20 years?" and she replies, "Something like that." When he says that it wouldn't make sense for Michael to return and try to kill Laurie, she explains what happened the first time: "He sat in a sanitarium for 15 years, waiting for me. Then... one rainy night, he decides to go... trick or Treating." It's hard not to feel the power and chill of Laurie's words as she knows exactly how horrible Michael Myers is as a villain and she knows that she can't forget about him or rest for a second.
This is an important moment in the franchise as Laurie accepts that Michael will come back and she knows how evil he is, but she doesn't believe that he will beat her, and she feels that she can stand up to him. This is much more interesting than the 2018 and 2021 films where Laurie is definitely interested in revenge but seems miserable at the same time.
Since she's the superior final girl, fan expectation is always high for Laurie Strode. While Laurie and Michael face each other in Halloween Kills, as the characters say "evil dies tonight," Laurie seems more courageous and interesting in Halloween H20. While this movie may be several decades old now and while it might not be as beloved as others in the franchise, Laurie does kick butt and it's significant seeing Laurie as a fully formed grown-up with a child, a love interest, and a career that she is working hard at every day. Laurie has been through a lot, but she has hopes and dreams, too, and that's a Laurie that is much more compelling.