Halloween II (1981 film)

Original Theatrical Poster

Sam Loomis: I shot him six times!  I shot him the heart but... HE'S NOT HUMAN!

Welcome to another October-long celebration on the New Happy Horror.  Yes, it's time for Happy Horrorween again!  This year, with a very few exceptions (including the usual Big Three reviews I originally founded the event on), this time I'm going to try to review all films I've never seen before.  Thanks to Netflix and Frightpix on the Xbox 360, I'll be able to find more than ever before!

So, we start with a review of Halloween II.  I was supposed to cover it last year at the end of the month, but I couldn't locate my copy of the film at the time.  But, I found it so I'm finally bringing it to you again!

The film starts were the first leaves off.  Doctor Loomis (the late, great Donald Pleasance) has saved Laurie (Jamie Less Curtis) from certain death by shooting his former patient, Michael Myers, and sending him out of a second story window.  However, this seems to have barely winded Michael, who vanishes from the yard.  As the paramedics wheel Laurie out, Michael targets another girl in a nearby house, using a knife stolen from an old couple's house.  As Loomis and the police try to track him down, Michael heads for the hospital Jamie's been taken to.

This one was pretty fun.  It was good to get back to an earlier installation of the series... heck, it was good to get back to an earlier film, period!  Halloween's been a constant favorite of mine, series wise. This film was supposed to be the last Michael Myers installation, with director John Carpenter wanting to take the name in a new direction by focusing on a different aspect of the Halloween holiday each year, starting with the masks of Halloween III: Season of the Witch.  How did that idea go?  We'll find out at the end of the month!

The film pushed some interesting ideas, things which would become canon and rather well-known, mostly the link between Michael and Laurie, and the idea that Michael is more than human as he stalks his intended victims.  There are a few hints towards some things that get paid off in the sixth film.

In addition to the main two actors, we had a good cast.  Lance Guest played Laurie's would-be love interest, Jimmy.  He went on to play main character Alex in The Last Starfighter alongside Dan O'Herlihy who played his alien trainer, Grig, and also played main villain Conal Cochran in Halloween III: Season of the Witch.  Mr. Guest also played Michael Brody in Jaws: The Revenge. Speaking of Jaws, the coroner, Graham, was played by Jeffrey Kramer, who played Sheriff Brody's deputy in both of the first two Jaws films.  He also played the Motorist in board game turned movie Clue.  And playing Michael himself, aka The Shape, was Dick Warlock, who has 150 stunt credits to his name.  He was also in Pumpkinhead, Firestarter, and most recently Camp Massacre.

All in all, a good film, easily a 4 out of 5.  Tune in next time for a Japanese film from the 1970s.  It's freaky, in a good way!  Until then, take care of yourselves and this is Red Hawk signing out!