Okay. So I’m a huge fan of Michael Myers and the “Halloween” franchise, which might render headlines like the one above superfluous. But, even as a fan, we should judge films on their own merit…and unfortunately, “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” is one of the series’ weaker entries, though it still has its charms. All the same players are back: Michael Myers, Donald Pleasance, Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, etc., and the plot remains largely the same. Myers, thought killed a year ago, returns to Haddonfield a year later to try his hand once again.
What we have here is a standard production slasher. Well, I guess that’s not true. The film is actually a collage of the standard ‘80s slasher combining with a mythos for Myers that is confusing—and, in my estimation, unnecessary. I find that films are more effective when the best parts are left in mystery, and not explained away. “Halloween 5” would be the first “Halloween” film to hint at some otherworld control of Michael, which weakens the franchise. Michael’s base, unexplained evil is scary enough and we don’t need this.
But, slasher-wise, the film is okay. It has enough inventive kills (some of the most sinister a three-pronged gardening tool and a scythe), and the film, directed by Dominique Otherin-Girard, has some creepy set pieces such as a barn party on Halloween night and quiet family streets. Myers himself (played here by Donald L. Shanks) still has that same immovable quality he always does, and his mask, denigrated by many horror fans, really isn’t that bad.
The teens think it’s funny to dress up as Michael Myers this time around. Photo: Trancas International Films.
The characters themselves are hit or miss. Cornell’s Rachel was one of the best heroines of the franchise in “Halloween 4,” and she performs apt here as well. The other main characters consist of Tina (Wendy Kaplan) and her friend Samantha (Tamara Glynn), who are likable and fun. They busy themselves with normal teenage things like parties and hooking up. They’re followed around by thinly-written love interests (Jonathan Chapman and Matthew Walker, respectively), who are included, doubtless, for cannon fodder.
The best parts of the film are the acting of Danielle Harris, returning as Jamie, and her connection with Tina. Some of their scenes—such as when Jamie feels Tina is in danger or when Tina explains love to her in a childlike and appropriate way—are touching, and add to the film in unique ways. They save the film from complete obscurity and garner a good amount of sympathy for their characters.
Where the film suffers, however, is in its continued inclusion of Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance, reprising his role), and the addition of a ‘man in black’ (also played by Shanks). Both of these seem ill-suited and somewhat irritating. Loomis spends most of the franchise pontificating on Michael’s evil nature, and none of that is lost here.
Donald Pleasance and Danielle Harris in “Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.” Photo: Trancas International Films.
However, what doesn’t work about Loomis is the plot surrounding him. He spends a lot of time in a children’s center (Jamie is remanded there after the trauma she endured in the last installment, and cannot speak) and gets rather aggressive with Jamie to tell him where Michael is. “Halloween 5” spends a lot of time building a telepathic connection between Myers and Jamie…and, like I said, a lot of it can be tremendously distracting and hard to swallow. This is never more true than the film’s ending. Without offering spoilers, the scene feels like a direct homage to James Cameron’s “Terminator” series. It also inserts all manner of occultism and magic into a franchise hitherto built around a sole serial killer.
But, on par, “Halloween 5” is not all bad. It still includes a rather terrifying Michael, it still includes him returning to Haddonfield on Halloween, and has a number of creepy sequences that produce an eerie effect. It runs a little too long, and includes a climax involving Loomis and Michael that jumps the shark somewhat…but at the end of the day, it’s a “Halloween” film. If you like Michael Myers and all things related, you’ll probably enjoy it. The same is true if you quest after your standard slasher. Others, who are looking for a deeper look into John Carpenter’s original story, will likely walk away disappointed.
“Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” is available to watch on iTunes, Prime Video, and most other streaming platforms.
