Review of Halloween II (1981) by Justin A — 21 Oct 2014

Just for the record, I watched the TV version that comes with the special edition blu-ray set. So my review may be a bit off base since there was no profanity, nudity, or blood.

That said, I was still pleasantly surprised. Is this movie as good as the first? No. It's not even close. Halloween II is just a solid slasher movie that came out when there was already an overcrowded pool of slasher movies. Still, this movie stands out a bit thanks to a seemingly more menacing Michael Myers and a creepy hospital location.

This was the first time I had sat down and watched the movie since I was much younger (outside of maybe watching parts of it on TV over the years). I didn't realize Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't do much of anything the entire first hour of the movie. It's her lying in a hospital bed while the Last Starfighter visits her occasionally. I wonder why they felt it necessary to bring her back when they could have started fresh with a new victim for Michael to terrorize. I mostly criticize this for the unfortunate story that plays out in this movie. This is the movie where it is revealed that Laurie Strode is Michael Myers younger brother. What a dumb mistake it was to write that into the story.

What made the first Halloween movie scary was this sense that anyone could be a potential victim. In fact, if you watch the first movie, Michael spends far more time stalking Annie than almost any of the other girls. Annie was also probably the closest thing to his sister in his eyes since she was promiscuous. She's the first girl he kills and she's the one he sets under Judith's tombstone near the end of the movie. I got the impression with the first Halloween that if Laurie had never even walked across the street she never would have even been attacked by Michael Myers. That's really how it should have been too, since it gives the audience the impression that anyone is a victim to this "boogeyman". If his goal was to kill Laurie all along, why did he bother with Annie that whole time?

That's just one of the major mistakes with this movie. There is also a flashback with Laurie and Michael, and it's confusing how Laurie wouldn't remember this since she looks to be about 10, maybe 11-years-old. How she could forget being related to Michael Myers (a town legend) is beyond me.

Another odd part of Halloween II is exactly when does this movie take place. Yes, I know it's the same night, but my point is this must be the longest night in recorded history. At the end of the first movie it seems like the town has settled in for the night as no one is out trick or treating and the kids are in bed when Laurie goes to investigate across the street (so I was assuming about 1 in the morning). Halloween II, however, still has plenty (practically the entire town) of people out and about in the middle of the night. It's bizarre. The entire first movie would have to take place very early and wrap up quickly for Halloween II to make any sense from a timeline perspective. I understand it's far creepier taking place in the dark, and a movie with "Halloween" in the title should probably take place on Halloween and not November 1st, but it's just one of those odd "only in the movies" things that I noticed. It's not really a harsh criticism because as a self contained movie it's fine.

As a sequel, Halloween II drops the ball. As a slasher movie though, it's not too bad. It's as good as some of the better slasher movies that were coming out around this time and had a unique, dark setting that I found to be the biggest selling point of the movie. The idea of being trapped in a hospital while a killer stalks people is a great idea. I am wondering where all the other patients were though. Hmmm maybe I should stop thinking when it comes to this movie and just enjoy the setting and Michael Myers aspect.