Key Takeaways
- “The Hallowarrior” offers a unique post-apocalyptic Halloween story with a twist on the final girl character.
- Movie has a “nostalgic fall atmosphere” that combines post-apocalyptic horror with the favorite time of year.
- Milly Shapiro stars in the film, adding to her list of successful horror movie roles.
The world of horror has gotten particularly exciting in the past few years. From the short-term rental nightmare story The Barbarian to the Smile sequel, there has been no shortage of cool new releases for every kind of horror fan. I’m always seeking out new slashers, but I’m also always excited to watch a story set at Halloween. Thankfully, there is an upcoming horror film that takes place during this eerie time of year, and it has a plot that hasn’t been done before.
Jack-o-lanterns, falling leaves, unsettling costumes, and chocolate bars are always a great backdrop for a scary story. But sometimes, a Halloween horror movie can struggle to stand out from the crowd. This upcoming horror movie has a cool concept that I need to talk about and I can’t wait to check it out.
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Milly Shapiro’s Upcoming Horror Movie The Hallowarrior Sounds Intriguing
In late November 2024, Variety reported that Milly Shapiro, who starred in Hereditary as Charlie Graham, is starring in a horror movie called The Hallowarrior. Writer/director Ben Sottak said:
“This is a throwback to the crowd-pleasing genre films I grew up watching every Halloween. The movie is dripping with nostalgic fall atmosphere, cheer-inducing kills and a lovable ‘final girl’ played by the brilliant Milly Shapiro. I can’t wait for this movie to enter horror fans’ annual October viewing rotation for years to come.”
As Variety explained, The Hallowarrior is about Pumpkin, the only person who is still alive after a plague caused the apocalypse. When people appear to attack and steal from her, including Shannyn Sossamon’s character Thalia, Pumpkin has to defend herself.
I love so many things about The Hallowarrior, but the premise is what stands out the most to me. There are a lot of post-apocalyptic horror movies. It’s also true that countless horror movies take place on October 31st and evoke the excitement of eating candy and seeing creepy costumes, no other film has told this exact story. Pumpkin is a smart twist on the final girl character since she’s truly the “final girl” around. I want to learn more about her, including who she was before everyone else died and how she was able to survive such a terrifying and brutal situation.
I also love that Sottak said the movie has a “nostalgic fall atmosphere” and am interested in seeing how the filmmaker combined a post-apocalyptic story with many people’s favorite time of year. Maybe Pumpkin has found shelter in the woods somewhere and there are plenty of colorful leaves in many shots. She might also be wearing a cozy sweater (that likely will get destroyed and bloody throughout the movie). I also think it’s compelling to set the story after people have died from a plague. Fall may look beautiful, but it’s also a somber time in some ways. After all, leaves fall and then the trees are bare during the cold, dark winter. It’s smart to combine this time of year with a tale about the last of humanity.
What Are Shannyn Sossamon’s Other Horror Roles?
- Beth Raymond in One Missed Call (2008)
- Courtney Collins in Sinister 2 (2015)
- Pandora on Sleepy Hollow (2015-2016)
- Theresa Burke on Wayward Pines (2015-2016)
- Leah Chaudry in Grimcutty (2022)
It’s also fun to see Milly Shapiro in another horror movie since Hereditary and its creepy ending were such a big hit.
In an interview with Mashable, the actress talked about how she feels about the genre. She said:
“I used to be terrified of everything, but I have a really high tolerance for horror movies now… My whole idea was that I’d be really creepy, so then things wouldn’t creep me out — they’d be creeped out by
me
instead. Which was a very weird idea for a 9 or 10 year old to have. But it worked!”
Some Of My Favorite Horror Movies Are Set During Halloween
It’s impossible to talk about slasher movies without reflecting on the impressive and legendary Halloween from 1978. The movie helped cement the concept of a strong final girl in Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) along with a masked killer in Michael Myers.
I’m also a big fan of Trick ‘r Treat, the anthology film from 2007. I’m among the fans waiting for Trick ‘r Treat 2 because I think that there’s nothing better than a movie telling various Halloween stories. This film captures so much of the holiday, from the character who doesn’t even like it that much to the group of friends who dress up before going out on the town. Since the villain Sam has a burlap sack on his head, he kind of looks like a pumpkin, which is perfect.
I also enjoyed Carved, which was a fun and cheesy Huluween movie that was released in October 2024. When comparing all my favorite Halloween horror films, I’m sure that The Hallowarrier will also become part of my rotation, as the writer/director said.
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