Halloween II (1981) Review

Written by: Gardenofstone10   

Believe it or not, boys and girls, THIS movie is my Halloween tradition.  I, of course, watch the original before it, but this movie is more fun to me on Halloween and I can't explain why because I like the original movie better.  Anywho, we all know that movie so I'm not going to review it (not yet at least) but I am rewatching this for sake of review.  Surprisingly enough, not many people have seen this movie.  Channels like AMC will only play 4 and 5 and people go off of that.  So I'm here to educate. Hallowen 2

The movie starts with a recap of the end of the first movie.  We have Jamie Lee Curtis ready to go to the hospital and Michale Myers being shot by Sam Loomis (or Donald Pleasance).  Of course, once MM gets shot out of the balcony and falls to the ground, he is no longer there when Sam goes to see if he is really dead.  SUSPENSE.  Also, we cut to the intro video and the pumpkin that is so eerily looking at us slowly splits into a skeleton, amazing if you ask me. 

The original plans for this movie were to have it take place a few years after the original movie (similar to what Zombie is doing for his H2 remake).  This movie isn't directed by John Carpenter, but is written by him and the lovely, late and great, Debra Hill.  Also, (I love my sidenotes) Dana Carvey (of Wayne's World fame) got his movie start being a paramedic in this film. 

BAAAAAACK to the movie.  The first real scene of the movie is FREAKY, we have Michael Myers lurking around Haddonfield, stealing a knife from an elderly couple and then looking at some random girl on the phone.  Keeping Michael Myers in the background is what makes him creepy.  To be honest, without the music and the MM in the background, these movies wouldn't be scary and would be just another slasher.  I totally forgot Michael jumps out of nowhere and kills that girl who was on the phone, I just jumped so high and spilled Moutain Dew all over my lap, but totally worth it. 

Breaking apart what makes this film worth being called a great sequel is that it happened mere minutes after the climax of the previous movie.  This leaves us in suspense and most of all, exhaustion.  When we feel exhausted, it gets more sympathy for the the characters and adds an adrenaline rush to the movie that leave us thirsty for more!

The only real flaw with the movie that bothers me is when The Don thinks he sees Myers and a cop rams "Myers" into a parked van and it explodes.  Now, the car wasn't a Pinto, lol, so how it could have exploded is beyond me.  When it's cool because as a red blooded man, explosions are HOT. 

From about the 20 minute mark to the 50 minute mark, the movie doesn't have much happening.  We get story padding, if you will.  We follow The Don around town acting like one of those crazy old people who believe the militia is real, lol.  We also get some hospital scenes where Michael Myers is floating around.  On top of that, camera shots.  Rick Rosenthal did a splendid job with this movie adding eerie camera shots of the hospital's empty hallways at night. 

Next up: Boiling humans!  That's right folks, our dear friend, Michael Myers shows us what happens when you boil humans.  Before that action, we get a nice boob shot.  What great horror movie doesn't have a pair of boobies to flaunt off!!!!  Anyways, Michael kills the random guy trying to get with the hot chick with nice boobs, then boils the babe.  I love it when the skin is boiled off the face. 

What do you get when you put your eye socket, Michael Myers and a syringe full of air?  Death, lol!!!!

Michael finds Miss Curtis and chases her throughout the hospital.  With the help from The Don, MM and The Don explode into a firey mess.  Thus concluding John Carpenter's vision on the Halloween series as this was intended to be the last. 

Overall, this one was bloodier than the original and stuck true to all the things that made it great.  We have eerie and unsettling music, Michael Myers appearing out of the shadows slowly and omniously and of course, our heroin backed into a corner sure to meet death only to be saved by The Don.  I love this movie and feel that it is almost as good as the original.