We are doing a Halloween double feature today for Halloween. I am going to give you my thoughts on Halloween and in this post, Halloween II. Halloween II seems to be a fan favorite and some fans end the series there. No love for the rest of sequels and while I love them, I can understand why. Halloween II is the first of the series I ever had the chance to see and one scene will be forever burned into my brain, you’ll see later, why I said, “burned”.
There is a spoiler warning in effect, not for the movie, but for the rest of the article. I love this movie, I am super confused one two major choices, like the mask changes and the theme from the beginning of the movie. No big deal, I used to hate this, “disco” version of the theme, it has since grown on me.
Synopsis:
After failing to kill stubborn survivor Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she’s been admitted for Myers’ attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim.
Halloween was not supposed to get a sequel or 6 more and two freaking remakes and a, well spin-off I guess. The decision to continue from where the first movie left off was bold, because, at some point during the movie, I think it became November 1st. No, joking aside, it was an interesting concept, “lets give the shape a chance to finish the job.” He messes that up too.
The thing about Halloween II that is really great, it has the same tone as the first. If someone edited the two movies together into a full length Halloween, it would be a treat to watch for sure. Of course Laurie’s hair is a little different and the characters are not as interesting as in the first movie, but the stakes are a little higher. You also have to admit the empty hospital gives off a creepy vibe, without a doubt.
So, the scene when Dr. Loomis is looking for Myers a couple of teens come up to he and the Deputy looking for Bennet Tramer. Well right before that we see a car slam into someone in the the same get up at Myers and the car hits a van and explodes. Yeah, that scene kills me, we were on our way out to trick or treat when I first saw that at 5 years old and I did not want to go out after seeing a kid die. I got over it.
Pleasence returns for the second movie and he was superb. Clearly I love this actor, but if you ask me, Halloween has been weaker without him in the films. It is a shame that he was killed off, but the role died with Pleasence and that makes sense, well except for the remake.
Halloween II is a great complement for the original movie, even it Carpenter did not want it to happen.
IMDB.com has a score of 6.6
I give it a score of 8.0, it is a great addition to series.
Check out this fan poster.
