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| Michael Myers |
In going to the horror movie aspect, you can't have a single horror movie marathon without including at least one of the Halloween films. These films set the archetype for horror films for both me personally and for the horror film-going public. In fact, the original Halloween set the stage for what would later become the "slasher" genre. (For those who don't know, "slasher" films are horror films with a body count).
Anywho, for this year's Halloween, I've taken it upon myself to go ahead and do a quick rundown of the Halloween films. Next year I'm thinking about doing in depth reviews of them, but for now since it's the last day of the horror movie season, I'll just stick with...let's say a countdown of which ones I think are best. I'll split them up into the "5 worth watching" and the "5 worth hating". Let's get this going!
5 "Halloween" Films Worth Watching
1. Halloween
Release date: October 25th, 1978
Directed by: John Carpenter
I mean, right? How can you watch the Halloween films without including the classic that started it all? The original Halloween, as stated, set the bar for how slasher movies should be done. Set in a rural mid-western town on Halloween night, it perfectly sets the tone for the night that's about to go to hell. I won't go too much into the story, I'll save that for a detailed review next year. The film stars Jamie Lee Curtis in her first film role, and as well as Donald Pleasence. The film tells the story of Michael Myers, a six-year old who slaughters his sister Judith on Halloween night, 1963 and how on 1978, he escapes captivity to return home to Haddonfield to kill again. Fantastic start to the series.
2. Halloween II
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| Donald Pleasence as Dr. Samuel Loomis |
2. Halloween II
Release date: October 30th, 1981
Directed by: Rick Rosenthal
The sequel, Halloween II released in 1981 takes place on the same Halloween night as the first movie. In fact, it was marketed as "More of the night he came home". Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence return to their respective roles as Laurie Strode and Dr. Samuel Loomis. While Laurie is transferred to the Haddonfield Hospital to recuperate from her injuries sustained in the first film, Loomis leads a town-wide manhunt in search for Michael. It's a fantastic entry in the series and leaves you wanting more.
3. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Release date: October 21st, 1988
Directed by: Dwight H. Little
The third sequel in the series brings back Michael Myers for the 10th anniversary of the first murders in 1978. After the commercial failure of Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which attempted to take the series in a new direction, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers was produced and released more as appeasement to the fans than anything. Donald Pleasence returns as Dr. Loomis, still on the hunt for ending Myers. Jamie Lee Curtis wasn't brought back, so producers hired young Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd, Michael's niece and new target. Fortunately for the producers, the movie was instantly regarded by many (myself included) as one of the greatest in the series. The ambiance of the movie, the chilling score, and the atmosphere of the quiet town makes for a great fright fest. The 80's was such a great time for horror movies.
4. Halloween III: The Season of the Witch
Release date: October 22nd, 1982
Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace
Say whaaat? Halloween III? That's right, and here's why. Just last Halloween only, I caught it on TV, and I was hooked. Not to the point where I'd run out and buy a copy of it, but it wasn't as awful as people make it out to be. "What? No Michael Myers? BURN IT!" On the contrary, I enjoyed this one. Its its own thing. What had happened was during the production of Halloween II, the producers decided to turn Halloween into a horror anthology series, such as the Tales of the Crypt comic books. It was a great idea, and because of that, we got Halloween III.
5. Halloween
Release date: August 31st, 2007
Directed by: Rob Zombie
When word came around the grapevine that they were going to produce a remake of Halloween, I was skeptical and upset. I never thought for a second that the remake was going to be anything special. When I heard Rob Zombie was named the director for it, I got a little better. The director of The Devil's Rejects remaking one of my favorite horror films? How could it go wrong? You got Malcolm McDowell playing Dr. Loomis and Brad Dourif as Sheriff Brackett. Well it didn't. Rob Zombie's Halloween is one of the best horror remakes you could ask for. Sure, there are some goofy things in it and some stupid things but still, it really could've been a hell of a lot worse. Still, when I do a detailed review later, I'll give you the 4-1-1 on what it is. For now, I say watch it.
5 "Halloween" Films Worth Hating
1. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Release date: October 13th, 1989
Directed by: Dominique Othenin-Girard
Halloween 4 was a such a great success upon release, that the producers rushed the next sequel into production and had it out less than a year later...and believe me, it looks like something I'd turn in for homework, it's got such a bad "rushed feeling". Donald Pleasence is back for his fourth round as Dr. Loomis, and Danielle Harris returns as Jamie Lloyd. This movie takes place exactly one year after the events of Halloween 4. Michael continues to hunt Jamie, but now, a mysterious man in black shows up in Haddonfield and starts following Michael and Loomis around. The ending is horrifically ambiguous, and just sets up another sequel. Without going too much into detail, let me just say this: You can watch this one. After all, it's one I own. Just know, to both the common Halloween film and the average film goer, it'll be nothing special.
2. Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Release date: September 29th, 1995
Directed by: Joe Chappelle
The sixth film in the series is often considered, especially by me, to be the second-worst or worst (depending on who you talk to) entry in the series. Released six years after Halloween 5, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers tries its damnedest to follow up on the previous film's ambiguous ending, and fails. It doesn't fail miserably, but let's just say the first time the film was test-screened, the studio hated it so much it was put back into production with orders to film new scenes and completely change the plot. Donald Pleasence, frail as he was, returned for the fifth and final time as Dr. Loomis. When the film was ordered into reshoots, Pleasence died before reshoots were to commence, so the studio had no choice but to use existing footage and awkwardly cram it into the film. So the film is half what it was supposed to be, half what the studio tried changing it to. It creates a jumbled, confusing mess that solves next to nothing in the mythos. I know there's more to talk about...next time...For now though, skip it.
3. Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later
Release date: August 5th, 1998
Directed by: Steve Miner
Despite the fact Donald Pleasence died, the studio pressed on and another sequel was commenced. This time, they were able to convince Jamie Lee Curtis, star of Halloween and Halloween II, to return to the series. The film also marks the first time a Michael Myers-centered film didn't take place in Haddonfield. Instead, it takes place in a boarding school in California. Michael's mask looks utterly stupid in this film, but it's totally overlooked by the fact that Laurie is back and kicks so much ass. This time, they also tried an ending that would end the series for good. By the time the 90's began (certainly by 1998), the cheesy 80's slasher genre had become tired and stale. Halloween H20 was no better off than any of the other Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street sequels coming out at the time, and because of that, while being a financial success, the film was panned by both critics and group of fans. I say give it a try, but don't expect too much.
4. Halloween: Resurrection
Release date: July 12th, 2002
Directed by: Rick Rosenthal
Even though they tried to end the series with Halloween H20, this partial abortion known as Halloween: Resurrection still found its way to theaters. Released the same year as Jason X, proving that 80's slasher genres had now completely given up, Halloween: Resurrection tried to be a lot, and failed. It added an MTV-style reality show touch to it, it had both Busta Rhymes and Tyra Banks in it, and it featured a fresh new cast with no ties to the original films. Except of course Jamie Lee Curtis' cameo in the beginning with her fourth roundabout as Laurie Strode. She's killed. Yep, that's right. She stars in the first ten minutes, just to be whacked. It's not fair to her character, but you know...Hollywood's nothing more than cum-guzzling whore at this point. I'd say skip this one...skip it or just watch it whilst treating it as a spoof.
5. Halloween II
Release date: August 28th, 2009
Directed by: Rob Zombie
I'm still not exactly sure how Rob Zombie found it in himself to make one of the best horror remakes in film history with Halloween, and then make a sequel to it that sucked so much ass, we treat Halloween II as a partial abortion we had to finish off. I know that's sick and morbid, but there's nothing even remotely cheerful about this film. The story is depressing, the characters are depressing, and even the ending doesn't solve any of it. It's just a giant, depressing crap fest. The principal actors from the first film return, but that only helps slightly. If none of the actors from the first film were there, I probably wouldn't even count this movie as a Halloween movie, nor would I even consider it worth watching. I mean, all Laurie does is cry, all Annie does is die, all Loomis does is turn into a conning bullshit artist, and Brackett is the guy there trying to keep it all together. Then there's the whole "White horse" bullshit that makes the film feel like an acid trip. The movie just tries to be far too many things. It just doesn't work. The things it tries to be don't mesh well together. Just skip this one. Skip it for the love of humanity.
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