Karen Nelson

"I never told you how I spent my childhood. I learned how to shoot a gun when I was eight. I learned how to fight. I had nightmares about the basement. Social Services came when I was 12 years old and took me away. I've spent my entire life trying to get over the paranoia and neuroses that she has projected on me."

- Karen to her daughter in Halloween (2018)

Karen Nelson (née Karen Strode) is the deuteragonist of Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021), the first two parts of the Blumhouse Halloween Trilogy. The trilogy serves as a direct sequel to the original Halloween (1978), set 40 years later, ignoring all previous sequels as non-canon.

She is the only canonical child and daughter of franchise protagonist, Laurie Strode and the mother of Blumhouse Trilogy tritagonist, Allyson Nelson. In her introduction, Karen is a 38-year-old wife and mother, frustrated by her mother's paranoia over Michael Myers' return.

Karen is portrayed by Judy Greer. She is the final victim of the 2018 Haddonfield, Illinois massacre.

Early life
Karen Strode was born to 20-year-old serial killer survivor, Laurie Strode in Haddonfield, 1981.

The pregnancy was caused by a drunken one night stand with police officer, Frank Hawkins when Laurie was still 19. Growing up, Karen was emotionally disturbed. She was trained for Michael Myers' return. Laurie's parenting raised concerns among the community.

As Karen explains to Allyson, she learned how to shoot a gun at 8 years old. In 1993, child protective services were called to take Karen away from her mother for the rest of her youth. Her later caregivers are unmentioned.

Halloween 2018
Events of Halloween (2018): Karen arrives home. She is surprised by her mother, who notes that her house doesn't have a security system. While attending a family diner with Alyson's boyfriend, Cameron Elam, Laurie arrives and suffers from a breakdown. After the incident, Karen tells Alyson about her past trauma with Laurie, as she was trained in survival skills and instilled with fear and paranoia.

On Halloween night, Michael Myers escapes from confinement and returns to Haddonfield to kill more people, and Ray is among the causalities. Karen reunites with Laurie and Alyson and encounters Myers, who attempts to murder Laurie in her bunker.

When Michael breaks through the counter ceiling of the bunker, Karen pretends to break down to make Myers approach her, and then shoots him with her rifle. Laurie then attacks Michael after he is stunned, and Karen and Alyson assist Laurie in battling the Shape before escaping from the home. Laurie sets the bunker ablaze with Michael trapped there, and the three ride a pickup truck and embrace one another.