After “Halloween II,” which took place on the same night as the first film, and “Halloween 3,” which had nothing to do with Michael Myers, Director Dwight Little brings us this, “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.” He would reconnect audiences with the masked killer, Halloween atmosphere, and the ill-fated town of Haddonfield, IL. While not as impressive a film as part 1, “Halloween 4” does offer some unique scares, and is a modest entry into the franchise without being too cheesy along the way.
To be fair, the film features a beginning that is creepy enough, as Michael escapes from an ambulance as he is transported from a hospital to a supposed sanitarium. Okay, this is a little off the wall. Viewers of part 2 will certainly know the inordinate amount of burns Michael and Dr. Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasance) sustained in the first one, which would render any man dead. It’s semi-believable that Myers is alive; the script requires it. That Loomis is alive and soon follows Michael as he reaches Haddonfield once again is just plain ridiculous.
Some of the creepier aspects of the first film are present here, first and foremost the tell-tale piano score comprised by John Carpenter for the first film. It seems to have been intensified here; it’s more dynamic and a little more upbeat, updating the movie well.
The town of Haddonfield is also basked in the usual Halloween trappings: scary decorations, desolate small-town streets, fall leaves, and, of course, Michael Myers.
The story here is basically that Michael returns to Haddonfield; this time his sights set upon young Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris), a relative of Laurie Strode from the first two films. Along the way we meet some other players such as Rachel (Elle Cornell) and her parents, who have adopted Jamie. Rachel is more interested in her relationship with her boyfriend Brady (Sasha Jensen) than taking her adopted sister trick or treating, though for the most part is a likable, responsible teenager.
As far as horror movies go, “Halloween 4” has some scary elements, but has for the most part abandoned the stalking, stage-setting motif that made “Halloween” so enthralling. One-by-one teenagers and town denizens become prey to Myers, and Little does present some unique kills. We have some scenes of Myers using knives, guns, and we have one well-done scene where a rabble of townsfolk attempt to hunt down Myers but end up killing a derelict by mistake. Myers even uses a gun once; but this is one of the more disappointing deaths in the film.
The film sets a police-guarded house for its climax, and the stage is set wonderfully. Sheriff Brackett from the original film has since retired, and we have here Sheriff Ben Meeker, played by Beau Starr. He has a daughter (Kathleen Kinmont), who ends up stuck in the house with Brady and Rachel. The whole scene becomes rather creepy, as Myers, with a new, creepy mask, who stalks through the pitch dark house.
Acting-wise the film is okay, with no players really standing out nor taking away from the movie. The teenagers effectively add just enough depth as needed, despite the fact that they are simply cannon fodder. Additionally, Sheriff Meeker is a fun character and comes across as a force to be reckoned with. The only disappointment here lies with Pleasance, whose addition feels as more for sentiment than plot. He still trails Michael, portending to his ‘evil’ and ‘un-humanlike’ qualities, but for the most part doesn’t really stand out. It’s a shame, too, as he was such an integral part of the first film.
All-in-all, “Halloween 4” is an entertaining film, and will certainly not disappoint horror buffs looking for a good time. It may disappoint fans of films like “Psycho,” or the first “Halloween,” as part 4 is more for entertainment than true suspense horror. What does it have? Some unique kills, a higher body count, and more of that Halloween town aura that makes horror movies worth watching. If that’s enough for you, give it a try. If you’re looking for a smarter film, you’re better off sticking with the old classics.
