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 fter "Halloween"
proved to be a critical and commercial hit, a sequel may have been
inevitable, but it's doubtful anyone ever expected it to be such a quality
outing. While not in the same league as the original classic, the second
entry in the "Halloween" series is still a well-made film that
will inspire many to go lock their doors.
"Halloween II" picks up right where the
first film left off, with Michael Myers pumped full of bullets courtesy of
Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence). But while he may be down, he's anything but
out, and has followed Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) to Haddonfield
Memorial Hospital where she's receiving treatment for her injuries.
Haunting the hospital's deserted hallways, Myers makes use of medical
equipment on whomever he finds in ways that the AMA certainly wouldn't
approve. While Laurie tries to evade her would be killer, Dr. Loomis
obsessively hunts Myers, leading to a fiery conclusion.
Taking over for director John Carpenter, Rick Rosenthal (who would return
to the franchise more than 20 years later with "Halloween:
Resurrection") lacks the style that made the original
"Halloween" so memorable. Nevertheless there are some scary and
gruesome incidents as Michael dispatches of the hospital staff in his
search for Laurie. In fact, the sequel is a bit gorier than its
predecessor, adding more to the shock value quotient. Rosenthal also uses
POV shots as effectively as Carpenter did, adding to the illusion that
we're seeing events through Myers' eyes. Rosenthal also knows how to use
shadows and darkness, making things seem scarier than they are.
The script by John Carpenter and Debra Hill essentially gives us more of
the same. The setting is changed to a hospital, and it's revealed that
Laurie is Michael's sister, but little else is added to the night Myers
came home. As for the concept that Michael Myers is possessed by the
Celtic Lord of the Dead -- that innovative concept is mentioned, but never
really explored. Had the script been more imaginative and developed the
ideas better, "Halloween II" would have been an amazing sequel.
Unfortunately it seems as if the writers were content to shortchange the
audience with a half-hearted effort, and the film suffers for it.
Still, at least plenty of care was put into the character of Michael
Myers. He's shown to be not just an insane killer, as he avoids killing an
elderly couple and walks the streets of Haddonfield trying to look
innocuous. Myers is shown to be quite intelligent, coming across as a man
with a mission. This added trait makes him stand out from the pack of
lunatic imitators, and sets him up as an iconic horror character.
Jaime Lee Curtis is fair as Laurie Strode, but she shows none of the
spirit she had in the original, and mainly looks like she's having some
sort of out of body experience. Lance Guest does a good job as her
would-be boyfriend, projecting sensitivity and compassion that makes him a
likeable character. Too bad he dies by slipping on a pool of blood and
hitting his head; it was bound to happen sooner or later in these films.
But it's Donald Pleasence, as Dr. Loomis, who steals
the film. Pleasence has the right blend of desperation, single-mindedness
and fear that makes him the centerpiece player in the franchise. You can
even feel his commanding presence even when Loomis is off screen. Another
character to watch for is young Tommy Doyle, who gets a brief introduction
in the film. He may be young now, but he'll grow up to have a major part
in the "Halloween" mythos.
The second "Halloween" film, while not as good as the first, is
still an entertaining entry. More importantly, it sets up ideas that come
into play in future sequels. Overall, "Halloween 2" is a scary
and effective treat.
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