Apart from being under contract to do so, Jamie Lee Curtis's primary motivation to reprise role in Resurrection was to ensure character could never appear in another film.
16 years later...
The sequel to Halloween (1978) is Halloween, which makes no FUCKING sense.
So although not named so, another Halloween II.
For those not aware, Wizard released a video game for the Atari 2600 in 1983, meaning this is the fourth to bear title of just Halloween.
Can David Gordon Green's 'requel' live up to extremely high expectations?
Jamie Lee Curtis - Laurie Strode
James Jude Courtney - The Shape
Judy Greer - Karen
Andi Matichak - Allyson
Haluk Bilginer - Doctor Sartain
Summary
To my disappointment, this doesn't pick up immediately after original and show how Michael was apprehended on 31 October 1978.
Instead, we jump 40 years later at Smith's Grove, where two investigative journalists (Aaron and partner Dana) fail to spark Michael's fuse.
By now, we've met Loomis' student Dr. Sartain, as teacher passed away.
Meanwhile, Laurie Strode has prepared for Michael's inevitable return by taking years of survival training and made isolated home more secure than an encrypted password.
Behaviour has alienated Karen (who since had a kid of her own Allyson), as for most of her youth, mother forced obsession upon daughter.
During routine transfer to Glass Hill, Michael's prison bus crashes (off-screen), giving psychopathic killer licence to return to old stomping ground.
Mediocre
Having been SO pumped, SO excited, I'm somewhat deflated.
It's not a bad film by any stretch, but expect it to be out on DVD early next year.
The Shape is primarily portrayed by stuntman James Jude Courtney, with original geezer Nick Castle doing all the breathing and appears in solitary scene when Laurie is tricked by Michael's reflection.
Tony Moran is back as Michael unmasked.
Pale in comparison to original, as Michael was played by seven different people.
Attention to detail should be admired, as eye is still clearly messed up by Laurie's wire hanger stab.
Age definitely hasn't made imposing figure soft.
Having said that, emotionless killing machine does have limits.
He takes out young boy, but later ignores a baby.
Damn, this shit could've got really dark.
Timing of new music is pretty good and P.J. Soles (who played horny Lynda), cameos as Allyson's teacher.
JLC aka Sarah Connor, doesn't just go through the motions and gives an impressive performance.
Final act is enjoyable enough and reaches a fairly satisfying conclusion.
After stalking Michael, Laurie eventually thwacks him with frying pan, sending ass tumbling into safe room. She flips switch activating barricade, also filling room with gas. Laurie sets room alight with flare, with Michael looking on impassively.
Laurie, Karen and Allyson ride away on pick-up truck as house burns down.
Wait until after credits roll to hear Michael breathing.
For dramatic effect?
Very much doubt it.
Anyway, screenplay insists he's human (rather than supernatural), so anybody shot in the neck would quickly bleed to death.
Co-written by Danny McBride, comedy was inevitable, and oh fucking dear.
Allyson's friend Vicky babysits little boy Julian, who attempts to make us laugh by spreading incredible cheese and exclaims 'Oh shit' when Michael emerges from closet.
Ray is annoyed about getting peanut butter on penis (honestly) and two cops talk specifics of sandwich filling and homemade chocolate brownies.
Allyson splits up with boyfriend for cheating on her with some random bitch at school dance.
WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT SUCH TEENAGE BULLSHIT.
There are some clever references and thematic tributes, but majority of kills rehash and/or rip off those from previous films.
Frustratingly, the more gruesome murders occur off-screen, with audience only seeing result.
In terms of gore, this has nothing on Rob Zombie's Halloween II.
Pointless characters are only here for Michael to dispatch and sequences are devoid of tension and atmosphere.
Tight direction makes this worth our pennies and overall, I'd say it's better than H20, but worse than Rick Rosenthal's original sequel.
Ironic really, as the same guy gave us Resurrection (one of the worst films of all time).
It's a funny old world.
Just WHAT?
This is already famous (for all the wrong reasons).
After Sheriff Hawkins mows Michael down, and law enforcement officer wants to 'blow this motherfucker's brains out'.
That would put a dampener on researching evil, so Sartain sticks Hawkins in neck with a scalpel.
He tries Michael's mask on for size so he can feel what it's like to kill.
Hmmm.
Ridiculous twist is almost immediately rendered pointless, as a now conscious Michael makes head explode like a fucking melon.
Series references
Halloween (1978)
Crushed pumpkin in title sequence gradually inflates.
Dana tells Laurie Michael will be locked away until the end of his days. She says: "That's the idea."
On the way to Smith's Grove (just before Michael escapes on 30 October), Loomis says same thing to Marion.
While in class, Allyson looks across road and finds Laurie standing there, rather than Michael.
Hawkins speaks about Michael and The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter intended to call his 1978 classic exactly that.
Michael emerging from Julian's closet to kill Vicky is where Michael hides before he murders Bob.
Also, sheet with eyes cut out covers Vicky's corpse.
Very difficult to spot in real time, but on the floor of Laurie's bedroom is James Ensor's Self-Portrait with Flowered Hat.
During final act, Michael overpowers Laurie and sends her flying over balcony, where she briefly remains. But after turning his back, she's gone.
Holy shit - this bitch is a ninja.
Halloween II (1981)
Back in Haddonfield while celebrations are in full swing, two kids bump into him (one carrying old school radio on shoulder). This also happens just before Michael makes his way to hospital, albeit kid is on his own.
In same part, he enters a house and executes random woman off screen with a hammer. Shortly after, opportunist takes knife. Only knife part happened.
You could also say Michael's 'death' is a pseudo nod towards ending.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Kids are wearing Silver Shamrock masks.
16 years later...
The sequel to Halloween (1978) is Halloween, which makes no FUCKING sense.
So although not named so, another Halloween II.
For those not aware, Wizard released a video game for the Atari 2600 in 1983, meaning this is the fourth to bear title of just Halloween.
Can David Gordon Green's 'requel' live up to extremely high expectations?
Jamie Lee Curtis - Laurie Strode
James Jude Courtney - The Shape
Judy Greer - Karen
Andi Matichak - Allyson
Haluk Bilginer - Doctor Sartain
Summary
To my disappointment, this doesn't pick up immediately after original and show how Michael was apprehended on 31 October 1978.
Instead, we jump 40 years later at Smith's Grove, where two investigative journalists (Aaron and partner Dana) fail to spark Michael's fuse.
By now, we've met Loomis' student Dr. Sartain, as teacher passed away.
Meanwhile, Laurie Strode has prepared for Michael's inevitable return by taking years of survival training and made isolated home more secure than an encrypted password.
Behaviour has alienated Karen (who since had a kid of her own Allyson), as for most of her youth, mother forced obsession upon daughter.
During routine transfer to Glass Hill, Michael's prison bus crashes (off-screen), giving psychopathic killer licence to return to old stomping ground.
Mediocre
Having been SO pumped, SO excited, I'm somewhat deflated.
It's not a bad film by any stretch, but expect it to be out on DVD early next year.
The Shape is primarily portrayed by stuntman James Jude Courtney, with original geezer Nick Castle doing all the breathing and appears in solitary scene when Laurie is tricked by Michael's reflection.
Tony Moran is back as Michael unmasked.
Pale in comparison to original, as Michael was played by seven different people.
Attention to detail should be admired, as eye is still clearly messed up by Laurie's wire hanger stab.
Age definitely hasn't made imposing figure soft.
Having said that, emotionless killing machine does have limits.
He takes out young boy, but later ignores a baby.
Damn, this shit could've got really dark.
Timing of new music is pretty good and P.J. Soles (who played horny Lynda), cameos as Allyson's teacher.
JLC aka Sarah Connor, doesn't just go through the motions and gives an impressive performance.
Final act is enjoyable enough and reaches a fairly satisfying conclusion.
After stalking Michael, Laurie eventually thwacks him with frying pan, sending ass tumbling into safe room. She flips switch activating barricade, also filling room with gas. Laurie sets room alight with flare, with Michael looking on impassively.
Laurie, Karen and Allyson ride away on pick-up truck as house burns down.
Wait until after credits roll to hear Michael breathing.
For dramatic effect?
Very much doubt it.
Anyway, screenplay insists he's human (rather than supernatural), so anybody shot in the neck would quickly bleed to death.
Co-written by Danny McBride, comedy was inevitable, and oh fucking dear.
Allyson's friend Vicky babysits little boy Julian, who attempts to make us laugh by spreading incredible cheese and exclaims 'Oh shit' when Michael emerges from closet.
Ray is annoyed about getting peanut butter on penis (honestly) and two cops talk specifics of sandwich filling and homemade chocolate brownies.
This could be poking fun at the idiot cops from Halloween 5.
But whatever - it's complete bollocks.
But whatever - it's complete bollocks.
Allyson splits up with boyfriend for cheating on her with some random bitch at school dance.
WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT SUCH TEENAGE BULLSHIT.
There are some clever references and thematic tributes, but majority of kills rehash and/or rip off those from previous films.
Frustratingly, the more gruesome murders occur off-screen, with audience only seeing result.
In terms of gore, this has nothing on Rob Zombie's Halloween II.
Tight direction makes this worth our pennies and overall, I'd say it's better than H20, but worse than Rick Rosenthal's original sequel.
Ironic really, as the same guy gave us Resurrection (one of the worst films of all time).
It's a funny old world.
Just WHAT?
This is already famous (for all the wrong reasons).
After Sheriff Hawkins mows Michael down, and law enforcement officer wants to 'blow this motherfucker's brains out'.
That would put a dampener on researching evil, so Sartain sticks Hawkins in neck with a scalpel.
He tries Michael's mask on for size so he can feel what it's like to kill.
Hmmm.
Ridiculous twist is almost immediately rendered pointless, as a now conscious Michael makes head explode like a fucking melon.
Series references
Halloween (1978)
Crushed pumpkin in title sequence gradually inflates.
Dana tells Laurie Michael will be locked away until the end of his days. She says: "That's the idea."
On the way to Smith's Grove (just before Michael escapes on 30 October), Loomis says same thing to Marion.
While in class, Allyson looks across road and finds Laurie standing there, rather than Michael.
Hawkins speaks about Michael and The Babysitter Murders. John Carpenter intended to call his 1978 classic exactly that.
Michael emerging from Julian's closet to kill Vicky is where Michael hides before he murders Bob.
Also, sheet with eyes cut out covers Vicky's corpse.
Very difficult to spot in real time, but on the floor of Laurie's bedroom is James Ensor's Self-Portrait with Flowered Hat.
During final act, Michael overpowers Laurie and sends her flying over balcony, where she briefly remains. But after turning his back, she's gone.
Holy shit - this bitch is a ninja.
Halloween II (1981)
Back in Haddonfield while celebrations are in full swing, two kids bump into him (one carrying old school radio on shoulder). This also happens just before Michael makes his way to hospital, albeit kid is on his own.
In same part, he enters a house and executes random woman off screen with a hammer. Shortly after, opportunist takes knife. Only knife part happened.
You could also say Michael's 'death' is a pseudo nod towards ending.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
Kids are wearing Silver Shamrock masks.
Triple hit combo
Gas station is modelled on The Return of Michael Myers.
Here's where it gets messy.
Michael enters toilet area (H20) where Dana is hiding, but used as an excuse to murder her and Aaron, rather than steal car keys.
He then retrieves mask and pops it on. Delayed process is very similar to Halloween (2007).
Mask's worn out look was inspired by Zombie's film.
Coincidences?
Gas station is modelled on The Return of Michael Myers.
Here's where it gets messy.
Michael enters toilet area (H20) where Dana is hiding, but used as an excuse to murder her and Aaron, rather than steal car keys.
He then retrieves mask and pops it on. Delayed process is very similar to Halloween (2007).
Mask's worn out look was inspired by Zombie's film.
Coincidences?
When Michael breaks through door window's glass and attacks Laurie, all I could think of was Jason doing the same to Clay in the Friday the 13th reboot, with set piece itself referencing Friday the 13th Part 2.
Also, what happens to Michael is very Taxi Driver.
Travis Bickle blows off attacker's fingers, then gets shot in the neck by Sport.
Goof
Aaron describes how Michael murdered Judith, by apparently slicing the base of her skull, scraping her spinal column.
Wrong.
He stabbed her in the chest, eight times no less.
What makes this worse is that archive footage from original film plays while he's talking such bollocks.
Plot hole
Near the beginning, Aaron and Dana interview Laurie, who states Michael Myers murdered five people.
The year 1978 is not mentioned.
Okay, but I have one problem - how did she know about mechanic?
After all, death occurred off-screen and Loomis only found abandoned truck, and not body stuffed inside nearby bush.
What I'm getting at is nobody in Haddonfield knew.
Or if they did, we never got to know about it.
Also, what happens to Michael is very Taxi Driver.
Travis Bickle blows off attacker's fingers, then gets shot in the neck by Sport.
Goof
Aaron describes how Michael murdered Judith, by apparently slicing the base of her skull, scraping her spinal column.
Wrong.
He stabbed her in the chest, eight times no less.
What makes this worse is that archive footage from original film plays while he's talking such bollocks.
Plot hole
Near the beginning, Aaron and Dana interview Laurie, who states Michael Myers murdered five people.
The year 1978 is not mentioned.
Okay, but I have one problem - how did she know about mechanic?
After all, death occurred off-screen and Loomis only found abandoned truck, and not body stuffed inside nearby bush.
What I'm getting at is nobody in Haddonfield knew.
Or if they did, we never got to know about it.
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