Written by Josh Brewer, October 21, 2016, at 10:45 p.m. Tweet to: @theJWBrewer
Title: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Director: Dwight H. Little
Writer: Alan D. McElroy
Release: Oct. 21, 1988
Cast: Donald Pleasence, Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Sasha Jenson, Beau Starr
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers Cliff’s Notes
Michael is back and ready to rumble! Guy wakes up to find out he’s got a niece in good old Haddonfield and decides that this time to fall off the not-killing-his-family-wagon and lays waste to everything around her. Crazy violence ensues.
Lecture
And we’re back! After taking Part 3 off, for some idiotic reason, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers gets the series back on track and gives us one of the strongest entries in the series. And what an entry it is! Almost all of the solid elements from the previous films are back in place and the flick rocks because of them.
The entire film takes parts from the franchise and steps them up. Michael is on a rampage here, meaning the kills and chaos are in top form. Likewise, the flick manages to toss in a slew of fun chases and horror bits. The actors here are in top form, and the direction is super solid, which means the artists at work are actually matching the output of the story. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but with the other entries in the series being iffy because folks aren’t on the same page, it sure is nice to see it work.
That doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. Slasher films have a tendency to pull family members out of thin air to press stories along (Jason’s family can kill him, Freddy goes toe to toe with his daughter, and the entire Scream series is one giant inbred throwdown) and this is no exception. It’s a little more forgivable because of the plot of the series, but it does seem a little desperate.
That, plus a tendency to lean towards events that seem outside of the scope of the series – Michael takes out a gas station and power plant en route to Jamie – and a few pacing issues in the early part of the flick, do drag Halloween 4 from a higher rating.
Acting
Pleasence is back and doing what he does best: playing the most neurotic Good guy to ever grace the screen. Jenson and Starr are solid and do everything they are asked to. Cornell rocks. She plays her final girl to perfection and is, outside of Jamie Lee Curtis, is my favorite heroine of the series. Harris is a revelation here. She give the flick her all and shows a range that child actors often lack. She becomes a series mainstay for a reason.
Directing
Little rocks the style bits. He’s got a thing for cool colors and groovy angles. He also manages the chase scenes with aplomb and gets the most out of his strong cast. Sure, the pacing isn’t perfect, but overall his work shines, especially compared to some of the other entries in the series.
Script
McElroy manages to take the original elements and drive them into new directions. The new characters, especially Rachel, are well crafted enough that the actors can take them and run. The plot here is solid and there are a wonderful collection of chases and scares. This puppy doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it just makes one that works.
Effects
Halloween 4 went through re-shoots to get a few extra gore shots in here and the flick shines because of them. Stabbings, impalings, a thumb in forehead, all for the win! Might by my favorite gore set up in the franchise.
Highlights
Loved the school chase, but my favorite is the roof scene. All kinds of goodness for the win.
Lowlights
Just kind of a thing… Jamie is supposed to be how old? The whole timeline seems off.
Halloween-iness
Halloween 4 is certainly aware of its background. Loomis, Michael, and Jamie rock the house, teens die, and the score is back for the win. However, the influences of the decade make an appearance as well. Michael has more in common with Jason – or if I’m being honest, the T-100 – but the flick still drips Halloween.
Final Thoughts
By far my favorite of the sequels and one of the highlights of the series, Halloween 4 gets the series back on track for the win.