Review of Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) by James G — 23 Dec 2007

So-so Halloween instalment which fails to capitalise on the potential implicit in Halloween 4's climax. The idea of Myers passing on his psychotic bloodlust to his sole surviving relative would have made for a twist on the formula.

Nevertheless, Danielle Harris is once again superb as the troubled neice of Michael, acting her socks off in every scene without ever once falling pray to the usual "irritating child actor" sins (unlike one or two of her co-stars) and having her character struck dumb for most of the film adds to her vulnerability so all in all its not a unpleasing development.

Donald Pleasance once again brings some dignity and urgency to proceedings. There's also the first sighting of the curse of Thorn and the man in black, both of which become central to Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers, and Myers' unmasking, symbolically a significant moment but undercut in realisation somewhat.

It's not up to the standard as the previous films, but somehow feels a bit more fresh than other long-running horror franchises of a similar vintage, and does at least try and keep the story going rather than lamely rehashing the same old formula ad nauseum.