’HALLOWEEN II’ REWATCH REVIEW

’Halloween II’ is considered a classic among horror fans and many die-hard franchise fans will put this movie right up with the original. To some, it’s the other half of the original and one can’t be enjoyed without the other. For this reason, it is a critical part of two timelines as this one included a twist that immediately added layers of lore to Michael MYERS and Laurie Strode for generations to come even though none of it existed in the original.

I cover it at this point since we are now entering the h20 timeline in my rewatch review binge series for the ‘Halloween’ franchise and this is the final timeline that utilizes this film in the canon.

The film is fine enough and there’s definitely things to enjoy here. Ultimately, though, it’s a film full of plot holes, unlikeable characters, unnecessary twists and includes what may be the worst hospital in America. Like Jamie Lee Curtis’ wig in this film, it aims to echo the original but instead stands out for all the wrong reasons.

warning! - Spoilers Ahead

Listen, I love ‘Halloween II’ - I rewatch it frequently - and has been near and dear to my heart for a variety of reasons. However, if I remove the rose tinted glasses that are smudged with nostalgia, the reality is that this movie has a pretty weak foundation and as a story, it’s not great. John Carpenter even admitted that not only did he not really want to make this movie, but the big twist he added to it was an idea he had while drunk and it plagued the franchise for decades afterward.

The movie begins right where the original left off. Dr. LOOMIS runs outside to see if he can figure out where Michael ran off to after being shot and falling off of a second story balcony. Chaos ensues, though, when the police arrive and the details of Michael’s slaughter of Laurie’s friend group begin to reveal themselves. Deputy Hunt accompanies LOOMIS on his search after Sheriff Brackett has to leave when the police discover his daughter Annie’s body.

Laurie’s crush Ben Tramer, who was name dropped in the original film, is seen out wearing essentially the same outfit as Michael and is hit with a police car and killed after being mistaken for Michael.

Laurie is taken to the hospital and takes a turn for the worse after she has a reaction to the medication they administer her. Michael hears where they took Laurie thanks to a passing radio and takes a nice stroll to the hospital to finish the job.

We spend the bulk of the film with a small group of hospital staff at what is maybe the sketchiest hospital I have ever seen. There is not a single patient to be seen other than Laurie and for some reason they keep the hospital dark at night? (What?)

The staff are also entirely made up of young paramedics, candy stripers and nurses for some reason. Is HADDONFIELD made up of only teenagers?

While trying to survive the medication that keeps Laurie on the shelf for most of the movie, she has bizarre memories of visiting a boy in some sort of facility and being told that her mother is not her mother. Meanwhile, LOOMIS is investigating the elementary school where Michael allegedly broke in to write some scribbles about Samhain. The nurse from the first film - Marion Chambers - returns (randomly) to retrieve Dr. LOOMIS to answer for his shenanigans while hunting Michael. On their way out of HADDONFIELD, Marion reveals that there was a piece of Michael’s history that he was never made aware of and was covered up at the request of the family. Laurie is actually Michael’s little sister, given up for adoption soon after Michael killed their older sister, which assumedly pushed the MYERS family to their breaking point. LOOMIS then forces a u-turn realizing the key to finding Michael is locating Laurie.

Michael wipes out the hospital staff for some reason. There’s really no reason to and especially since nobody works at this f***ing hospital, he probably could have gotten Laurie pretty quickly and easily and been asleep at his house within the hour. But we need him to kill people in the movie and unfortunately the setting is super shaky so here we are. Laurie eventually makes it out of the room finally coherent (mostly) and Michael pursues her throughout the hospital. This sequence is actually really fun and is a terrific chase scene.

Dr. LOOMIS and Marion arrive at the hospital and rescue Laurie just in time. The US Marshal that was escorting Marion and LOOMIS gets too close to a seemingly dead Michael and gets killed. Marion has already left to call for help and so Michael and Laurie are forced to confront Michael themselves. Their final showdown takes place in an operating room. LOOMIS shoots Michael in the eyes (his aim is good enough to make him a Daredevil villain - also - none of the future movies acknowledge he’s blinded here but okie doke) and Michael begins swinging aimlessly trying to kill his victims. Laurie fills the room with flammable gas. Dr. LOOMIS sacrifices himself (except he doesn’t because the franchise needs him) and attempts to take out Michael and himself in a fiery blaze of glory.

A flaming Michael MYERS still pursues his little sister down the hallway before finally collapsing on the floor to burn to death (or not).

Laurie then invents the final girl ambulance trope wrapped in a magic blanket where now we know she’s gonna be just fine. But they are taking her to a different (and hopefully fully staffed) hospital.

Ultimately, this is a fun movie. Definitely watch it. But if you’re looking for anything beyond the shallow and if you like a movie where not a lot happens for stretches of time, this one will be a favorite of yours.

5/10

You can catch ‘Halloween II’ streaming on Peacock right now.