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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
DVD/APPROX. 88 MINS/1988/USA R18+
DVD/APPROX. 88 MINS/1988/USA R18+
7.5
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It has only been fairly recently that I have become a fan of the Halloween series. I remember seeing Halloween and Halloween 2 during the
eighties when I was a mere teenager, but Michael Myers had always seemed to be less than the other slashers, like Jason Vorhees, Cropsey, and
Madman Mars, so I tended to ignore him. The tragic Halloween 3 did nothing to make me want to see more, so I tended to ignore any article
about Halloween in Fangoria, and lived blissfully without really being too conscious of Halloween 4, 5 and 6. It wasn’t until Halloween H20 came
out in 1998, that I became fully aware that I had missed three entire adventures of Mr. Myers. When I decided to review this movie it became
apparent that I needed to see Halloween 1 and 2 again to refresh my Myers Memory, and have been pleasantly surprised, maybe there is
something in my adult mind that appreciates it more now, I’m not sure, but The Shape has quickly become a personal favorite.
Halloween 4 – The Return of Michael Myers takes place about ten years after the events that took place in Halloweens 1 and 2. After the
severe burns he received as a result of the explosion at the end of Halloween 2, Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) has been laying a coma in a
mental institution. Against Doctor Loomis’ (Donald Pleasance) advice, the director of the institution, Doctor Hoffman (Michael Pataki) has let the
comatose Myers be transferred from his hospital to another. While in transit, Myers overhears a conversation between two nurses that his sister
Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, seen in this film as a photograph only) has a daughter, who lives in Haddonfield. Of course, he has a sudden
recovery, and makes his way to Haddonfield, searching for his niece, Jamie (Danielle Harris), who seems to have some kind of psychic link to him.
She has been fostered to the Carruthers’, and tonight, Halloween night, is being looked after by her foster sister Rachael (Ellie Cornell). Killing
everyone in his path, Myers is pursued by Loomis, who enlists help from the local sheriff Ben Meeker (Beau Starr), and sets about stopping him.
Much carnage ensues…
Certainly not as good as the first two (and let’s just pretend Halloween 3: Season of the Witch doesn’t exist for our purpose of following the
Michael Myers story), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, though unnecessary, is a decent entry into this series, and never really sinks
into the ‘silly’ arena that the Friday the 13th series sometimes descended into…reanimated by a lighting bolt indeed. What probably does make
this film special is the introduction of Danielle Harris. Normally, when you see a child in a movie they seem to either overact, or are treated like a
family pet. Well Harris is put through hell in this movie, and seems to have the acting chops to back it up. Unfortunately this film had one of those
‘shock endings’ which gave a hint as to what was going to happen next in the series, that was then ignored, which is a shame, but that’s horror
films for you, status quo seems to be preferred to inventiveness, which is probably the fault of we, the fans.
The reviewed disc is the Anchor Bay Divimax Special Edition which has a host of extras, including 2 commentaries, one by Cornell and Harris, which
feels more like a couple of old friends having a chat and not a commentary at all, and the other by writer, Alan B. McElroy, who has a discussion
about the movie with Andrew Massey from Halloweenmovies.com, this commentary is far more organized and is informative as well.
There is a Halloween 4 and 5 discussion panel taken from a convention, which mainly focuses on Danielle Harris and Kathleen Kinmont (who plays
the sheriff’s slutty daughter in Halloween 4, every small town needs one!), and why not, Danielle Harris has grown into a beautiful woman and
should get more roles than cameos (like the Goth chick in Urban Legend). The discussion panel isn’t very informative, and the picture is average,
but has a few points of interest.
The Making of Halloween 4: Final Cut is one of those fluffy 15 or so minute long makings of that doesn’t really journey into the nuts and bolts of the
making of the movie, but hosts recollections from cast and crew about the movie.
All in all, this was quite a good movie. What could have been a tragic mess was saved by not only the legendary Donald Pleasance, but also by
(then) newcomer Danielle Harris, not to mention a special appearance by Kathleen Kinmont’s ample bosom. Anchor Bay has put together a really
nice package that I would describe as essential for fans of the series…If only the Friday the 13th movies would get treated with the sort of
respect that Anchor Bay has given this DVD release.
eighties when I was a mere teenager, but Michael Myers had always seemed to be less than the other slashers, like Jason Vorhees, Cropsey, and
Madman Mars, so I tended to ignore him. The tragic Halloween 3 did nothing to make me want to see more, so I tended to ignore any article
about Halloween in Fangoria, and lived blissfully without really being too conscious of Halloween 4, 5 and 6. It wasn’t until Halloween H20 came
out in 1998, that I became fully aware that I had missed three entire adventures of Mr. Myers. When I decided to review this movie it became
apparent that I needed to see Halloween 1 and 2 again to refresh my Myers Memory, and have been pleasantly surprised, maybe there is
something in my adult mind that appreciates it more now, I’m not sure, but The Shape has quickly become a personal favorite.
Halloween 4 – The Return of Michael Myers takes place about ten years after the events that took place in Halloweens 1 and 2. After the
severe burns he received as a result of the explosion at the end of Halloween 2, Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) has been laying a coma in a
mental institution. Against Doctor Loomis’ (Donald Pleasance) advice, the director of the institution, Doctor Hoffman (Michael Pataki) has let the
comatose Myers be transferred from his hospital to another. While in transit, Myers overhears a conversation between two nurses that his sister
Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, seen in this film as a photograph only) has a daughter, who lives in Haddonfield. Of course, he has a sudden
recovery, and makes his way to Haddonfield, searching for his niece, Jamie (Danielle Harris), who seems to have some kind of psychic link to him.
She has been fostered to the Carruthers’, and tonight, Halloween night, is being looked after by her foster sister Rachael (Ellie Cornell). Killing
everyone in his path, Myers is pursued by Loomis, who enlists help from the local sheriff Ben Meeker (Beau Starr), and sets about stopping him.
Much carnage ensues…
Certainly not as good as the first two (and let’s just pretend Halloween 3: Season of the Witch doesn’t exist for our purpose of following the
Michael Myers story), Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, though unnecessary, is a decent entry into this series, and never really sinks
into the ‘silly’ arena that the Friday the 13th series sometimes descended into…reanimated by a lighting bolt indeed. What probably does make
this film special is the introduction of Danielle Harris. Normally, when you see a child in a movie they seem to either overact, or are treated like a
family pet. Well Harris is put through hell in this movie, and seems to have the acting chops to back it up. Unfortunately this film had one of those
‘shock endings’ which gave a hint as to what was going to happen next in the series, that was then ignored, which is a shame, but that’s horror
films for you, status quo seems to be preferred to inventiveness, which is probably the fault of we, the fans.
The reviewed disc is the Anchor Bay Divimax Special Edition which has a host of extras, including 2 commentaries, one by Cornell and Harris, which
feels more like a couple of old friends having a chat and not a commentary at all, and the other by writer, Alan B. McElroy, who has a discussion
about the movie with Andrew Massey from Halloweenmovies.com, this commentary is far more organized and is informative as well.
There is a Halloween 4 and 5 discussion panel taken from a convention, which mainly focuses on Danielle Harris and Kathleen Kinmont (who plays
the sheriff’s slutty daughter in Halloween 4, every small town needs one!), and why not, Danielle Harris has grown into a beautiful woman and
should get more roles than cameos (like the Goth chick in Urban Legend). The discussion panel isn’t very informative, and the picture is average,
but has a few points of interest.
The Making of Halloween 4: Final Cut is one of those fluffy 15 or so minute long makings of that doesn’t really journey into the nuts and bolts of the
making of the movie, but hosts recollections from cast and crew about the movie.
All in all, this was quite a good movie. What could have been a tragic mess was saved by not only the legendary Donald Pleasance, but also by
(then) newcomer Danielle Harris, not to mention a special appearance by Kathleen Kinmont’s ample bosom. Anchor Bay has put together a really
nice package that I would describe as essential for fans of the series…If only the Friday the 13th movies would get treated with the sort of
respect that Anchor Bay has given this DVD release.
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