Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Director: Dwight H. Little
Where to get it: Anchor Bay
It’s October 30, 1988 and Michael Myers has been in a coma since his pursuit of Laurie Strode, 10 years ago, was finally stopped (events of H1 and H2). However when he is transfered from Richmond Mental Institute to Smith’s Grove he awakes when he hears that he has a niece in Haddonfield and after killing the transfer crew he escapes. In Haddonfield, the niece, Jamie, has been adopted by the Carruthers family but keeps having nightmares about Michael (but she doesn’t know who he is). On Halloween night, Jamie goes out trick and treating, little knowing that her murdering Uncle is following her and her step-sister Rachel. Rushing to her aid is Dr. Loomis and with the help of Sheriff Meeker starts to search the town for Michael and to find Jamie to protect her. But can anything stop Michael this time?
The look of Halloween 4 sure matches the look and the feel of the original and Michael himself gives you the creeps as he should, I just wish he had a better mask here. The movie also packs some dreamy type sequences that just go to add to the overall feeling you get of “weirdness” as you watch. I still think one of the best scenes in the movie is the one where Jamie first has visions of Michael in her bedroom. It’s well shot and really creepy. Also added to the mix this time around with Jamie is her foster sister Rachel played by Ellie Cornell. Rachel fits in well here and would prove to be a favorite of the Halloween fans. She’s a classy character and that’s only fitting as Halloween at this point was still over-all a classy franchise. Ever notice how classy Halloween movies seemed to be back then? Little vulgarity at all yet it still comes across just as well as most hard R horror films of its time. We can almost forgive them for writing out Jamie Lee Curtis the way they did with the performances of a young Danielle Harris here.
One thing I don’t like however is some of the supporting cast of characters in this one. I never cared for Sheriff Ben Meeker or his daughter. Nor did I ever like Rachael’s boyfriend either. One minor problem Halloween movies always did have is while it seems like a more polished slasher the people in it make the same dumb mistakes as every other horror movie and I think in this one their stupidity can come across even worse. I wish there was more blood, I wish the story at times didn’t come across a little flat, but over all very suspenseful and the time flies while watching it. Also well worth a watch for the performances of Dr.Loomis and Jamie. You also get a pretty passable transfer here on the blu-ray. Just don’t go into it expecting too much in that aspect of it. It is very good for what it is.
(6.5/10)
Features
– Audio Commentary with actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris
– Audio Commentary with Director Dwight H. Little and Author Justin Beahm
– Halloween 4/5 Discussion Panel
– Theatrical trailer
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