Review of Halloween II (1981) by Whit W — 05 Oct 2013

As much as I love the original "Halloween", I can't bring myself to say much of anything positive about "Halloween II". Maybe it lacks the directorial brilliance of John Carpenter.

Perhaps it's the deer in the headlights look on the face of Donald Pleasance every shot that he's in. Maybe it's the wig that Jamie Lee Curtis is wearing. Whatever the reason, "Halloween II" is not a good movie.

I have to give it points for picking up at the exact moment the original closes on. There are some interesting shots by director Rick Rosenthal but the characters and the story are fair at best. There are a few decent kills by Michael Myers but he is not nearly as menacing here as in the original.

His walk and overall physical presence in this movie are no comparison to the first. You would also think that the isolated hospital where the story takes place would set up some scares but it just never happens.

We end up with stupid nurses and even dumber ambulance drivers hanging around just waiting to become Michael Myers' latest victims. In the end, this potentially stunning tale screeches to an uninspired conclusion after such an incredible start courtesy of Carpenter.