"Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Kolbar]

Ten Years Ago HE Changed The Face Of Halloween. Tonight HE'S BACK!

"Ten years ago, he tried to kill Laurie Strode. Now he wants her daughter." - Dr. Loomis

Release Date: October 21, 1988
Studio: Trancas International Films
Director: Dwight H. Little
Starring: Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, Danielle Harris, Beau Starr, George P. Wilbur, Sasha Jenson, Kathleen Kinmont, Michael Pataki, Jeff Olson, Karen Alston, Gene Ross, Carmen Filpi, Raymond O'Connor, George Sullivan, Nancy Borgenicht

Plot Summary: Michael Myers is being transmitted from Richmond Mental Institute, when he breaks free, and goes after Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris). Jamie is the daughter of his late sister, Laurie Strode (the heroine of the 1st 2 installments). Due to her parent's deaths, Jamie is adopted by the Carruthers family, and Michael stalks out the teenaged Rachel (Ellie Cornell), and the young Harris. Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) returns again to stop Michael's reign of terror.

Comments?

• Related Discussion:
• "Halloween" (1978) Talkback
• "Halloween II" Talkback
• "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" Talkback
• "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers" Talkback
• "Halloween: Resurrection" Talkback
• "Halloween" (2007) Talkback

[Damien]

Pretty good start to this particular storyline. If the latter half of 5 and all of 6 had followed suit, the Thorn trilogy wouldn't have been ignored by the later movies (because, obviously, they wouldn't have Thorn in them).

One of the better films of the franchise.

[Hanshotfirst113]

The Thorn trilogy?

[Damien]

That's just what I call 4-6. The Thorn aspect didn't actually start till 5, but 4 started the Jamie storyline.

For those who haven't seen 5 or 6, in 5 you see a man in black stalking around Haddonfield. At the end, he busts Michael from the slammer. During the film, you see that both this man and Michael have a mysterious symbol on their wrists. In 6, we learn through Tommy Doyle that the it is the mark of Thorn, a Druid rune that means that person is cursed and must kill their whole family. During Halloween nights, Michael comes out and kills when the constellation appears in the sky. So, don't worry, kids; Michael Myers is seasonal.
Oh...and the head doctor of Michael's hospital is the mystery man, and he not only controls Michael, but wants to raise Jamie's baby into another killer.



Still, 4 is great as a stand-alone. Or rather, a stand-alone sequel.

[Michael24]

Halloween 4 is my second favorite of the series, though is actually the one I watch the most often. Like the original, the gore is kept to a very minimum, relying more on style and suspense. Visually this film is my favorite. It just looks so good, particularly the nighttime scenes during the second half. The direction by Dwight H. Little is very nice, and Rachel Carruthers is my second favorite character of the series behind Dr. Loomis. This also has my favorite score of the series. The opening credits are creepy, and when the "Halloween Theme" kicks in for the first time, as Michael's gurney is wheeled out to the ambulance waiting in the rain, it really gets you in the mood.

It was an interesting set-up they had at the end of the film, too. Michael was really supposed to finally be dead, but because Jamie had touched his hand, his evil had transfered to her, and she was supposed to have been the killer in Halloween 5. But fans, while enjoying the film and making it #1 at the box office for two weeks straight, reacted negatively to that idea, so Michael was again brought back for the next film.

[Robin2099]

Part 4 is probably my second favorite part of the movie. The movie was more in spirit with the original, and factoring in how short of a period it was written in, it's amazing it didn't suck. The performances were very strong, especially Danielle Harris as Jamie, and the concept was just incredibly cool. I mean what would be scarier then being looked in a house with Michael Myers and no power? ****/*****

[Movie06]

Now this one is one of my favorite films in the Halloween series, Moustapha Akkad finally realised that Halloween III was and still is a mistake.

[Michael24]

I don't think Akkad has ever said he regretted doing Halloween III. At the 25th anniversary convention in 2003, he did say he liked the film but they just shouldn't have called it Halloween III.

[Movie06]

I don't think Akkad has ever said he regretted doing Halloween III. At the 25th anniversary convention in 2003, he did say he liked the film but they just shouldn't have called it Halloween III.

Oh so regrets calling it Halloween III, him and me both; it's a terrible idea to call Season of the Witch a Halloween film when it doesn't have Michael Myers in it.

[Michael24]

Of course, under Carpenter's original idea, the title still makes since. He wanted Halloween to become the name of the series, with the subtitle being the name of the actual film. So in that regard, it makes sense. It only seems odd nowadays to people who are unfamiliar with the reasoning behind the film.

[Movie06]

Of course, under Carpenter's original idea, the title still makes since. He wanted Halloween to become the name of the series, with the subtitle being the name of the actual film. So in that regard, it makes sense. It only seems odd nowadays to people who are unfamiliar with the reasoning behind the film.

But of course he didn't know when you have Halloween int the title, people are going to be expecting Michael Myers. But just out of curosity, did John Carpenter ever knew that Michael Myers is that popular or he didn't?

[Michael24]

He knew Michael Myers was popular, I'm sure. But he felt there was no more story to be told. He once said, in order to come up with a story for Halloween II, he "bought a case of beer for the weekend, got drunk, and came up with some bull**** about Laurie being Michael's sister." He felt the Michael Myers storyline had run its course with the first film, and he admitted to having to stretch in order to make something up for a second. So when Universal wanted a third film, he only agreed on the condition they let him take the series in a different direction instead of just repeating what they had already done twice before. (He even went so far as to write a Halloween III script with Michael Myers that was deliberately overblown and far more expensive than the previous films in order to better coax Universal toward his new direction.)

[Movie06]

He knew Michael Myers was popular, I'm sure. But he felt there was no more story to be told. He once said, in order to come up with a story for Halloween II, he "bought a case of beer for the weekend, got drunk, and came up with some bull**** about Laurie being Michael's sister." He felt the Michael Myers storyline had run its course with the first film, and he admitted to having to stretch in order to make something up for a second. So when Universal wanted a third film, he only agreed on the condition they let him take the series in a different direction instead of just repeating what they had already done twice before. (He even went so far as to write a Halloween III script with Michael Myers that was deliberately overblown and far more expensive than the previous films in order to better coax Universal toward his new direction.)

Well that whole "Sister" plotline worked and still does and ok, I respect that John said that there was no more story to be told but the audience just wanted to see more of him since he's so damn fascinating and I think Rob Zombie accelerated that fascination I might add.

[DBZALLSTAR]

I finished watching this film for the first time tonight, and like the other Halloween movies, I enjoyed it. It reminded me of the first film in a couple ways. Rachel was this film's Laurie in that she was more innocent than her friends. We had another Anne in the sheriff's daughter, Kelly, who was just as promiscuous. We had another scene where Michael chased his victim, in this case victims, around a house. This film had the same feel as the original.

Seeing Michael get shot up at the end was cool. It didn't keep him "dead" for long, but it was nice to see him get taken down a peg. The drunks with the shotguns probably should have taken away from the movie, but they added a touch of comedy. I enjoyed seeing the look of surprise on Kelly's face when she realized that it was Michael sitting in the rocking chair. The ending was also an interesting way to set up a sequel. Even if they didn't run with it, it was interesting to think that Michael could transfer his evil. Poor Loomis never got a break.

I plan on watching Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers tomorrow. I'll be posting my comments in the appropriate thread after its viewing. For someone who's seeing these films for the first time, this is quite a treat.