The Halloween series is one of the most iconic horror franchises of all time. Spanding over 13 films, the series is full of phenomenal horror films…. and not so great ones. Michael Myers is the star of the franchise and is one of the most famous horror villains of all time. While as iconic and loved the series is, it’s really inconsistent. There are multiple timelines, retcons of previous films, a remake with a sequel, and a reboot/requel trilogy. I love this series and I’d say it’s my favorite of any horror franchise.
My brother is also a fan of the series. We’ve had so many discussions and debates about this franchise. Every year we talk about the films for the entire month of October. Our opinions are different so we always have good conversations. We may repeat ourselves but it never gets old for me.
I’ve seen every film multiple times over the years. My opinions on certain films have changed since the first viewing. Now, I’d like to go over all of the films in order of my favorite to least favorite. I’ll be writing my thoughts on each of them.
POTENTIAL SPOILERS
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Yes, my favorite is the 3rd film that has nothing to do with Michael Myers. I know this is already controversial to fans of the franchise but I love this film. It’s my favorite horror film. This film was supposed to be the starting point for a Halloween anthology series. John Carpenter and Debra Hill, the creators of the original film, came up with the idea since Michael Myers died at the end of Halloween II (1981) and they didn't want to continue that storyline. Audiences in 1982 didn’t like the idea so it was scrapped and the shape would return in 1988. I wish we got the anthology series but that’s just me. Dan O’Herlihy as Conal Cochran is my favorite horror performance and horror villain. The score is so goddamn good it’s one of my all time favorites. I plan on writing an entire piece on why this film is my favorite later this month. All I’ll say is if you don’t like this because it lacks Michael Myers or you’ve skipped it because of that reason, please give it a chance. It’s a batshit insane horror film that’s perfect to watch around this time of year.
My rating: 10/10
Halloween (1978)
The original classic. The horror masterpiece that made the slasher subgenre so popular. This film has been praised and analyzed since it’s release so there’s nothing more I can say that hasn’t been said. It terrified me when I was young. I’ve seen it so many times, especially with my brother. It’s beautifully shot and really impressive for it’s low budget and small crew. The score is perfect. Michael Myers and his mask became icons. Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis… need I say more? John Carpenter, Debra Hill, and company made one of the greatest horror films of all time.
My rating: 10/10
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
The sixth film is one of the most controversial of the franchise. I’ve seen people either love this film or hate it. For me, I love it. Yes I can admit it’s a messy film with two different cuts. I understand the studio interfered and ruined a promising script (fuck you Weinsteins). This film is also really disrespectful to the character of Jamie Lloyd. Despite those problems I still love this entry.
Before I dive into the differences between each cut, I want to talk about the things I love about this entry. I really like the new characters. Tommy Doyle, the little boy from the original, is in this and he’s played by Paul Rudd in his first film appearance. I love his performance and I think he’s a highlight of the franchise. He’s so creepy and weird. I also like the Strode family, especially Kara Strode. It feels fresh that we follow a different set of characters that have no relation to Michael Myers. Speaking of Michael, he’s the scariest he’s ever been. His mask in this film is the second best mask of the series. It looks so good. Donald Pleasence returns as Dr. Loomis for his final performance. He died shortly after filming wrapped. RIP to a legend.
The theatrical cut is the main film most people have seen. It’s the cut the studio prefered. It’s more violent and bloody. I do have problems with this cut. Mostly the quick editing and the awful guitar score. The quick editing is headache inducing and it’s filled with loud screams and cringey shots of “scary” imagery. The film was severely cut down to fit a more mainstream audience and it feels really messy and unfinished. This cut has less of Dr. Loomis because the studio found him boring…. BORING. What the fuck is wrong with them? Still, this cut is entertaining and I watch it every year. I do prefer this film’s 3rd act over the other cut. It’s more thrilling and satisfying.
The producer’s cut is my favorite of the two cuts. This is the cut that was originally filmed and test audiences hated. It feels more complete than the theatrical cut. There’s no bad editing and the score is way better because it was actually done by Alan Howarth. This cut has more of Dr. Loomis which makes me happy because I love seeing Donald Pleasence as that character. The story is what most people hate about this cut. I can understand why. For me, I love the cult idea and the thorn ideology. It’s very weird but different. This film, and the other cut, feel very unique compared to the other entries. I like that it took a risk. This was the only Halloween entry filmed during the fall and it has that perfect October atmosphere. I say it has the best atmosphere of the series. I always watch it in October. This cut’s 3rd act is strange and I mean STRANGE. I like it but I can see why people think it’s too much. Still this film is one of my favorite horror films.
My rating:10/10
Halloween II (1981)
The first sequel to the iconic original. It’s a direct continuation of the story and it feels the most like the original. This is a film I watch every October. The score is iconic and the atmosphere has that perfect Halloween feel. Dick Warlock is great as the shape and I think his robotic movements make Michael way creepier. I think this is one of the better sequels. However, I do have problems with it.
While I like how this is a direct continuation from the original, I wish the story was different. I wish the film took place years later instead of directly after the original. It's a good companion piece for the original but not the best to watch by itself. Tommy Lee Wallace, the director of Halloween III: Season of the Witch and the maker of the original Myers mask, was asked to direct this film. He accepted but then left the project once he read the script. Years later he gave an interview stating if he wrote and directed this film he would’ve gone with the Scream 2 approach, where the shape hunts Laurie years later when she’s in college. I prefer that idea over what we got.
This film's pacing is much slower and the new characters aren't as interesting as the original cast. I do like the new characters but I don't care for them as much as the original. Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis is my favorite part of this film. His performance is on par with the original film. Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't really do much in this and she sports a terrible wig. She barely speaks and might as well not be in this film.
The writing is definitely a huge negative and that's due to Carpenter's lack of care. One of my biggest issues with the series is the family motivation of Michael's killings. In the original he has no motive which makes him way more terrifying. Giving him a motivation ruins some of the mystery and horror. It also feels underwhelming since Laurie never finds out that revelation and she’s basically a cameo in this film. It’s a missed opportunity. Carpenter added that element when he was drunk and had writer's block. If he didn’t want to write this film he should’ve got someone else. It just feels like no one wanted to make this film.
The ending is my favorite part and it's iconic. Michael Myers is so dead at the end. Come on, he fucking burns to death. This was supposed to be the end of the Michael Myers storyline but audiences wanted more of the shape and they got what they wanted.
My rating: 8/10
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
The fan favorite. This is one of my brother’s favorites and he champions this film. I used to think it was just an okay sequel but it grew on me over the years. Since the anthology series was scrapped, they brought Michael Myers back and I don’t think they could’ve done it in a better way.
The introduction is one of the best in the series. Eerie shots of an October morning and old Halloween decorations on a farm are shown on screen as the bright orange title cards glow in the center. Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t want to return as Laurie Strode so they decided to revolve the story around her daughter, Jamie Lloyd, played by the brilliant Danielle Harris. She was only 8 when she starred in the film and she is really good. One of my favorite characters in the series and I wish she was in it more. Donald Pleasence is back and he’s a huge highlight of the film. He’s so damn good as Dr. Loomis. I like Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers, Jamie’s step sister. My favorite scene in the film is when Loomis sees Michael at the diner. Their confrontation is a highlight of the series.
The story feels similar to the original but I still enjoy it. The director, Dwight H Little, does a great job and I think he’s one of the best directors of the series. Michael Myers is the most strategic in this film than any other entry in the series. He takes down Haddonfield’s entire power and police force with no sign of stopping his goal of killing his niece Jamie. His mask gets so many complaints and I used to be one of those people but it has grown on me over the years. It’s not that bad. I also like George P Wilbur’s portrayal as Michael Myers.
Now I love the first half of this film. It’s creepy and full of mystery but as the film goes on, it gets way too silly. Michael is unstoppable but he might be too unstoppable. He’s able to transport from a three story roof to the ground in a matter of seconds. He just knows where Jamie is and shows up everywhere she goes. My biggest complaint is, near the end of the film, Rachel saves Jamie at the school by spraying Michael Myers with a fire extinguisher, allowing the two heroes to escape. They are picked up outside the school and are taken out of town by some local redneck vigilantes. SOMEHOW Michael was able to sneak outside when no one was watching, despite that being impossible since people surrounded the truck, and he was able to climb underneath the truck. He’s then able to hold on underneath the truck as it’s driving away. He climbs over the tailgate, it should be noted he’s holding a butcher knife with one hand so that means he was hanging on underneath the truck with ONE HAND, and then murders everyone except Jamie and Rachel. I fucking HATE this. It bothers me so much because it's so ridiculous and is so out of place compared to the rest of the film. If it wasn’t for that scene, I’d rate this film higher.
Despite that, I really enjoy this film. The introduction and especially the ending are huge highlights of the franchise. I wish the series took advantage of the iconic ending and Jamie was the new killer of the series.
My rating: 8/10
Halloween Ends (2022)
After my disappointment with Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills, I went into this with very low expectations. I didn't even want to see this in theaters. My brother convinced me to give it a chance and I have to say... I was pleasantly surprised. This is a really good Halloween film.
I really enjoyed the introduction. It was shocking in all the right ways. I didn't see it coming honestly. After the shocking opening, I was curious to see what would happen next. It really grabbed my attention and kept it the entire runtime.
The story is very unique for a Halloween film. I liked the direction the filmmakers went. The twist is bold but I think it works for me. I'm happy they finally did something different. It felt fresh. It’s strange they decided to do this for the last film of a trilogy but I don’t care. I think this film stands on its own.
Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode is great per usual. Her character in this film is the best in this entire trilogy. She was funny and alive. I like how Laurie’s story ended.
The score is great and that’s no surprise since it’s John Carpenter back again. I enjoyed a lot of the tracks. It helped with creating an eerie atmosphere. This film actually had a creepy and eerie atmosphere. Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills lack that atmosphere that these films should have. I think this film is well shot and there are some really creepy imagery.
I liked the character of Corey. I thought he was well portrayed by Rohan Campbell. I liked the relationship between Allyson and Corey. I like how the film focuses on his character. It’s a bold choice but, like I said, I think it works. His arc was interesting and I liked how his story was concluded.
Although I do have some issues. I felt the 3rd act was a bit underwhelming. The final confrontation was hyped up so much and all we got was a dull conclusion. The comedy in this film sucks. Honestly, I hate the comedy in this trilogy. They are not funny. The flashback to the original film felt like pandering. Just a bunch of quick edits of previous scenes from the older films. It didn’t add anything to the narrative and it only felt like pandering to the audience.
Overall, this is a BOLD Halloween film that people will either love or hate. I dug the hell out of it. I think it's the best of the new trilogy. The more i think about it, the more I like it.
My rating: 8/10
Rob Zombie’s Halloween II (2009)
This is another controversial take. I understand a lot of Halloween fans hate this film. I used to hate this film. I used to think this was the worst of the series. I thought that way for a long time.... not anymore.
What changed? How did this go from my least favorite of the franchise to my number 7? Well, I went through Rob Zombie's films this past year and it made me appreciate his style more. I think he's a good director with a unique style. Does it work for everyone? No, but film is subjective and I think his style works for me…. sometimes.
I’ve seen this film a few times and after my last viewing, I can say that I like it. It's well shot, unique, and quite scary. I enjoy the direction Zombie went with this film. He easily could've remade Halloween II (1981) but he does his own thing and I really appreciate that. I like the PTSD and mental aspect the characters go through. Laurie is way more interesting in this. All the acting is pretty good. I like the score and the overall atmosphere. This film is fucking brutal holy shit.
However I still have some issues. My main issue is Dr. Loomis. Again, I appreciate Zombie doing different things but in this case I still hate what he does with Loomis. To me, Loomis is the heart and soul of the Halloween franchise and to see him become a selfish greedy asshole doesn't work for me. I do like that he has an arc but I still don't enjoy the character throughout the majority of the film. Also, some of the hillbilly comedy is still garbage and I don’t like it.
I know it’s not for everyone and I understand why people hate this film. My brother doesn’t understand why I like this more than other films in the series. The film swings for the fences and I think it works.
My rating: 8/10
Now up to this point, I love the top seven. I watch those the most, especially during the month of October. Not only are they the best of the franchise, they’re some of the best horror films ever made, in my opinion. The rest of my ranking are films that I don’t like. They range from bad to straight trash. Let’s continue…
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
I have a nostalgic attachment to this entry. I watched this every October on AMC Fear Fest when I was younger. I’ve seen it just as much as Halloween II and Halloween 4. I liked it back then, before I had a sense of what good cinema is like. I do have some positives and they consist of two aspects: Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis and Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd. That’s it. Even then, this film ruins their characters badly. Loomis is a fucking crazy asshole who screams at Jamie about Michael Myers and Jamie is a mute that does nothing for a majority of this film. Funny how I turned my positives of this film into negative ones. Jesus, this film is so frustrating.
It may be obvious but I don’t like this film… at all. It’s a shame because it had potential but it was clearly rushed into theaters because Halloween 4 was so successful. The ending of Halloween 4 was brilliant. Michael was dead and Jamie possessed his evil! She’s the new killer! Loomis now has to save her soul! Sounds great right?? Well I hate to break it to you, but that doesn’t happen. Instead, Michael survives and Jamie becomes a mute and they share a telepathic bond? What the fuck is that? This film feels the most like a Friday the 13th film. I hate how it shits all over Halloween 4 and now the two are stuck together.
The director of this film had no idea what he was doing. Dominique Othenin-Girard came in and ruined everything. He made so many stupid decisions that it would take a whole page to get through them. I’ll just name a few. The Myers house is a big blue gothic mansion… I’m not kidding, read that sentence again. The bumbling cops and their wacky theme music? I… don’t understand. He kills off Rachel 20 minutes in and replaces her with Tina, arguably the worst character in the series. She’s annoying and has no bearing on the Myers story. Alongside are her stupid and annoying friends. They feel like Friday the 13th characters. They’re only there so we can watch them get killed by Michael Myers. That’s it. While that’s going on Loomis spends half the film screaming at Jamie while she lays there crying without a voice. THAT’S MOST OF THE FILM. It was Girard’s choice for Jamie to be mute instead of her being evil. What a moron. Why did the producers pick him to direct a Halloween sequel? I have no idea.
I’m not going to lie, this film is a slog to get through. Holy shit is it boring. The script wasn’t even completed while they were filming and it shows. The “plot” is so razor thin. Michael Myers is actually not bad in this film. I like the portrayal by Don Shanks. The problem is his mask and his overall look is terrible. It’s very distracting. Oh wait, I thought of two more positives. I like the farmesque atmosphere in some scenes and the laundry shoot scene is pretty affective.
Look I can go on and on but I already spent too much time on this. What’s hilarious is I have four more Halloween films to talk about.
My rating: 5/10
Rob Zombie’s Halloween (2007)
Rob Zombie did something unique with his sequel but I don’t think he succeeded with this film. The first half of the film is unwatchable. Not just because of the horrible dialogue (we’ll get to that soon) but due to the fact that Zombie tries to humanize Michael by showing his awful childhood. He completely misses the point of the original film. Michae Myers is just evil. There’s no reason for his killings. He was born evil. Simple. Here, Zombie shows us that Michael is evil because he grew up in a terrible white trash home. He’s less scary now because of it.
The dialogue in this film is some of the worst I’ve ever heard. It’s so goddamn over the top and ridiculous that it makes me laugh. This is one of the most unintentionally funny films I’ve ever seen. In fact, if you watch it as a comedy then it really succeeds. My brother and I quote this film all the time because it’s so funny. Ronnie, played by William Forsythe, is my favorite character in the film. He has the best lines. My favorite in particular is “Maybe I'll choke the chicken, purge my snork all over those flappy ass tits.” Absolutely hilarious. The first 3 minutes of this film is my favorite part because of how much it makes me laugh. It shows how bad this film fails because I’m not supposed to be laughing, I’m supposed to be disturbed and frightened.
After that awful 1st act, Michael is now in Smith’s Grove under the care of Dr. Loomis, played by Malcom McDowell. This had potential because we can see how Loomis tried to help and study Michael. Unfortunately this is wasted. There is ONE instance of brilliance in this film and that’s a 30 second scene of Michael and Loomis during a session. No one says a word. Loomis looks defeated and turns off the tape recorder. Wow. Something subtle... What a waste.
One huge problem I have with this film is the fact that Michael isn’t the worst character. For some reason, Haddonfield is full of redneck assholes. One example, in the director’s cut, Michael escapes because two Sanitarium employees bring a woman patient in Michael’s cell and rape her in front of him. Yes, you read that right. I cannot express how awful that scene is. It’s so over the top and fucked up. I don’t understand how anyone would let that be written in a script LET ALONE FILMED. HOW IS MICHAEL MYERS NOT THE WORST PERSON IN A HALLOWEEN FILM!
The 3rd act is nothing more than a violent and gruesome copycat of the original film. It’s the most watchable part I guess. It does have solid moments of tension. Malcolm McDowell, Brad Douriff, and Danielle Harris are the best parts of the film. I do like the look of Michael and he is scary as hell. Rob Zombie’s direction is also a lot stronger in this half of the film.
Overall, this had potential but Zombie ruined most of this film due to his writing. I like his filmmaking style but it doesn’t fit the Halloween story. He does his own thing in the sequel and that’s why I like it. Here, it just doesn’t work.
My rating: 5/10
Halloween (2018)
This may be another controversial take since this film is so loved amongst the Halloween fandom. I’ll admit, I was hyped when this film was announced. Jamie Lee Curtis AND John Carpenter returning? Carpenter even doing the score? Carpenter hasn't been involved with this series since Halloween III: Season of the Witch. I was really amped to see this… Unfortunately, I left the theater disappointed. I’ve only seen this once and that was in theaters. I really have no interest in seeing how the next two films turn out. I’ll still see them anyway since I am a fan of this franchise.
I’m glad John Carpenter did the score because it’s fucking awesome. It helped make this film feel like a Halloween film. Michael’s mask is one of the best in the series. It looks amazing. Jamie Lee Curtis is great. I like what they did with Laurie, I just wish there was more of her. My favorite scene is when the journalist characters play a tape recording of Loomis talking about killing Michael. The score and the voice acting gave me chills, it’s a great moment. One of the best in the series.
I was disappointed with everything else. The writing is not good. The film tries desperately to be a worthy sequel to the fans and the series. Yes there is fan service and I did like that stuff but it's just fan service. It doesn't fit with the narrative. Besides an awful twist, there's nothing special about this film. The big twist at the end of the 2nd act is so fucking bad I couldn't believe what I was watching. The script needed a way for Michael to get to Laurie and that's what they came up with? Plus it goes nowhere. What the fuck?
The daughter and granddaughter characters are awful. Not only are the performances not good but they really don't do much besides take up some screen time from Laurie. Judy Greer as Karen is so bad in this film. I love her as Cheryl in Archer but she’s just not good in this. She should’ve been played by Danielle Harris. Yes I know they “ignore” every sequel but they copy so many parts from each sequel that it doesn’t matter at this point. GIVE US DANIELLE HARRIS. The granddaughter's subplot goes absolutely nowhere and easily could've been cut from the film. I wish they focused more on Laurie instead of her family. I get it's important to show how her trauma has affected her home life but it focuses way too much on that instead of Laurie herself.
The film feels like it wants to be suspenseful like the original but brutal like Zombie's films but it fails to do either. There really is no suspense and the gore is cartoonish. It's bizarre. This film lacks the atmosphere that the original, II, and III have. Carpenter's score sort of helps but it's not all the way there. It feels like a bland Netflix slasher film with Michael Myers. The comedy in this film is jarring. I'm not saying horror films need to be all serious. Some comedy is fine but this film puts comedy in places that completely ruins tension. Some of the comedy isn't funny, it's cringey. The direction is all over the place. David Gordon Green has never directed a horror film before and it shows. There were some attempts at some cool shots but overall it just feels bland. Like the rest of the film. This film needed a more seasoned horror director to really make it special.
I hate this new trend of calling new reboots/sequels to horror classics by the original’s name. Why is this called Halloween? If this is a sequel to Halloween (1978) then why is it not called something else? It's just confusing and stupid.
The creators could have looked at all the problems this series has gone through and made something truly amazing but they ended up doing nothing special. The best word to describe this film is bland. How disappointing.
My rating: 4/10
Halloween Resurrection (2002)
This is universally the most hated film in the Halloween franchise. I don’t know a single Halloween fan who enjoys this unironically. This is usually at the bottom of everyone's ranking… not mine. This film is a piece of shit. It’s a stain on the franchise and it fails in every aspect. One positive, I do like Michael’s mask in this film. It’s better than others in the series. I can’t deny that this film is entertaining as hell. I’d call this a “so bad it’s good”. What I mean is this film is so awful that it’s a fun time. This is a film you watch drunk with friends to laugh at. Busta Rhymes kicking Michael Myers karate style and shouting bangers like “Trick or treat motherfucker!” C’mon, this film is hilarious! It’s a joke, but it’s a funny one.
My rating: 3/10
Halloween Kills (2021)
Pointless. That’s the best word to describe this film. I honestly gave this a chance but it only pissed me off. I wasn’t a fan of the 2018 film but at least that one tried SOMETHING. This sequel doesn’t do anything but show us Michael killing people. That’s it.
Before I continue on this rant I want to share my positives. For one, Michael is fucking awesome. I loved his look and the performance by James Jude Courtney. I thought he was brutal and scary. The film got him right at least… too bad he’s in this shit film. I also liked the flashback sequences. I know those were fan service but I thought they were well executed and Dr. Loomis really looked like Donald Pleasence. The Halloween III masks were also a joy to see but again it’s only fan service.
This film felt like one big 2nd act. The pacing was way off. It was long and pointless and that’s because this is the second chapter of this trilogy. Just like Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, this felt like a “filler” movie just so we can get to the “Final Chapter” of the story. It felt like the filmmakers put in as many kills as possible because there wouldn’t be anything else to this story. There really isn’t even a story. We just see Michael killing people while the citizen’s of Haddonfield react in the stupidest ways. Speaking of which…
There’s a subplot involving an angry mob hunting down Michael, and where it ended up was baffling. At first, they split up to kill Michael but one group gets slaughtered, because they’re idiots, and that’s it for that. The rest of the subplot involves the mob taking over the hospital and trying to kill another escaped lunatic from the bus crash from the 2018 film. I don’t understand this choice besides the fact the filmmakers are trying to preach how Michael is turning the citizens into monsters. That’s an actual line of dialogue from Brackett and I literally groaned when he said that. Not subtle in any way. The film is trying to say that becoming an angry mob only leads to bad results but in the most pretentious way possible. Completely and utterly pointless.
Laurie does absolutely nothing in this just like in Halloween II (1981). She’s in the hospital the whole time and she spouts fucking awful lines of dialogue. Her daughter and granddaughter are once again terrible but at least they do more in this shit than in 2018.
This film brings back some old characters from the original film but again they do nothing. Tommy Doyle, played by Anthony Michael Hall, had the most screen time and I liked the performance, but he was wasted. Every old character was wasted and it only made me more angry. Why bring them back if you’re not going to use them? Pointless.
There was absolutely zero tension and atmosphere. I knew coming in that there’s another film after this so I knew Michael wasn’t going to die. Why announce another film before this is even released? That’s terrible marketing and it ruined any tension this film could’ve had.
The writing sucks. The comedy is back and it ruins some of the only scenes that had a tiny bit of tension. Every single character’s dialogue was so over the top and “Hollywood like” that it was distracting. Also all the character’s make the stupidest decisions and it was frustrating to watch.
My biggest issue was the ending. BY FAR the worst ending of the series. When the mob ganged up on Michael, I actually sat up in my seat with anticipation. Of course, it goes nowhere and Michael slaughters them while Laurie delivers a terrible monologue. The film ends in the most unsatisfying way possible.
It’s disappointing because Michael Myers was so good in this but they waste him in this fucking awful film. I hate to say it but even the score was underwhelming. I will never watch this again.
My rating: 1/10
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Yes, this is my least favorite of the series. Unlike Resurrection, this is universally loved by the fans of this franchise. I do not understand why. Not to sound dramatic, but this is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. To me, there’s nothing redeeming about it. Nothing. I hate this film to my core. I can’t wait to rip it apart.
This feels nothing more to me than a weightless cash grab. Jamie Lee Curtis came back after 20 years and that’s all the studio needed. It made a lot of money because she’s in it. She’s not even that good in this. The writing is so bad because, to me, she doesn’t feel traumatized from the events of the original. She seems “annoyed” the whole time. Apparently she’s an alcoholic despite the film showing her drinking not one but two glasses of wine at brunch. Ooooh wow she’s so addicted to alcohol wow so sad. Her relationship with her son is so underwhelming. His character is nothing more than “character development” for Laurie.
The script is shit. Not only is Laurie poorly written, but the other characters are also horribly written. The teenage characters are nothing more than horror stereotypes. They only talk about sex and get killed by Michael. How boring. They feel like ripoff Scream characters. Speaking of Scream, this feels like a Scream knockoff. Scream came out in 1996 and was very successful so every horror film after feels like it’s trying to capture what Scream did. That style doesn’t work for Halloween and this film shows that. Michael feels like a bumbling ghostface killer but not as interesting.
Speaking of Michael, he’s the worst here in the entire franchise. Chris Durand is so awful as the shape. He looks like a fucking teenager. He hunches over and walks like he needs to take a shit. Michael’s masks are the worst in the series. Yes, masks. They used multiple masks in this, including a CGI mask. Yes, read that again. EVERY SINGLE MASK IN THIS FILM IS ATROCIOUS. The main one is the worst of the three. It’s too tight on Durand’s face, the hair is spikey and too short, and you can see Michael’s fucking eyes! Did no one on set see the original? You are not supposed to see his eyes. That’s one reason why he was so scary in the original. In this piece of shit, his eyes are shown 99% throughout and it’s distractingly bad. It’s so awful. I don’t know how anyone can watch this and not laugh at how awful Michael looks. Also he doesn’t do much in this film but drives through the first two acts. He shows up for like 20 minutes in the 3rd act.
This sequel is not scary. There are dozens of jump scares and there’s absolutely zero tension. The jump scares get so old so fast. I didn’t feel one ounce of suspense while watching this. The awful score doesn’t help either. The score is orchestral and it’s so out of place. It doesn’t feel like a Halloween film. Speaking of that, the film takes place in California, not Haddonfield. This is the only film that doesn’t take place in Haddonfield. There’s no atmosphere. NONE. This feels like a shitty 90s horror film with Michael Myers.
Tom Kane voices Loomis in the beginning and I’m sorry but it sounds nothing like him. The introduction is not as bad as the rest of the film. Nice to see Nurse Marion Chambers back but she’s barely in this. Also the title of this film is fucking stupid. The full title is “Halloween Halloween 20 20 Years Later”. What the fuck is that?
The ending of this film is awful. Laurie has Michael cornered and is about to kill him but LL Cool J comes out of nowhere and prevents her. Why! Just fucking kill him! Anyway, the cops show up and put Michael in a van. Laurie then decides she needs to do something. She steals a cop's gun and forces herself into the van and takes off. First off, that’s like three felonies so I hope it was worth it. She drives off with Michael. Where’s she going? I don’t know. What’s her plan? No fucking idea. She sees him moving in the body bag and instead of stopping the van and unloading every bullet into him from the gun she stole, she continues driving. He eventually escapes and that’s when the van rolls down a hill and Michael is flown from the vehicle and gets pinned between the van and a tree. Laurie chops Michael’s head off and the screen cuts to black. I get why people like this ending but for me it’s ridiculous and fucking terrible. Sure, it looks cool I guess but it makes zero goddamn sense.
What makes me laugh is how Resurrection shits all over this film. This ending is retconned in the most hilarious way possible and it makes me laugh so hard.
If you like this film, good for you. I’m not saying you’re wrong for liking this. I’m just explaining why I despise this film and why it’s my least favorite of the franchise. It’s awful in every single way. I hate it and I never want to watch it again.
My rating: 0.5/10
There’s my ranking of the Halloween franchise. What I love about this franchise is that everyone’s ranking is always different. Not one is the same since this series is very inconsistent. There are multiple timelines in this series so below I’ll go over all of them.
Halloween (78) - Halloween II (81) - Halloween 4 - Halloween 5 - Halloween 6
Halloween (78) - Halloween II (81) - Halloween H20 - Halloween Resurrection
Halloween (78) - Halloween (2018) - Halloween Kills - Halloween Ends
Rob Zombie Halloween (07) - Rob Zombie Halloween II
Halloween III: Season of the Witch
If I had to name my favorite of these timelines, I’d go with the Jamie Lloyd timeline. It's also titled the thorn trilogy (4, 5, and 6) which I never understood. Halloween 4 has nothing to do with the curse of thorn. Halloween 5 is the one that introduced that and Halloween 6 went full blast with it. I wish Halloween 4 wasn’t included with those because it does it’s own thing. Halloween 5 ruins that film unfortunately. Still I wish we got to see the Halloween Anthology series take off.
Those are my thoughts on the Halloween franchise. I’m happy I finally wrote about this series because I’ve always wanted to. It’s the best horror franchise of all time.
