Halloween V: The Revenge of Michael Myers

[GL]

On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the worst, 5 being the best.

[GL]

“Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers” is about in the middle in comparison with the rest of the series.

**SPOILERS**

This one starts out at the end of part four, with the police looking for Myers after they shot him down the mineshaft. Myers escapes and is nursed back to health by an unlucky farmer. After a year, Jaime (Danielle Harris) is living at a children's hospital and is rendered mute by the previous year's ordeal. Occasionally, stepsister Rachel (Ellie Cornel) and her friend Tina (Wendy Caplan) visit, but as Halloween approaches, they get word of a party not far out of town. Tina's friend Samantha (Tamara Glynn) and their boyfriends, Michael (Jonathan Chapin) and Spitz (Mathew Walker), respectively, decide to join in. however, Jaime begins having day-mares that Myers is still alive, something Dr. Loomis knows too well. After Rachael has been killed, Loomis is convinced they are real, he and Police Chief Meeker (Beau Starr) decide to play it safe and keep an eye on the party. After some practical jokes, Myers strikes, killing Samantha, Spitz, and nearly killing Tina, using a disguise borrowed from a newly killed Michael. Snapping out of her mute state, Jaime and Loomis trick Myers back to his old house for a last showdown.

The Good News: This is one of the few movies in the series that actually concerns itself with continuity, something most horror movie series don't adhere to. Parts 1 & 2 and 4 & 5 of the Halloween series do that, each one picking where the other one ended. This is nice and is a nice change of pace. The decision to now make Jaime psychically linked with Myers, which now renders her mute and in a nut-house for children is pretty creative. The fear Myers instills in her is also creatively played out in two key scenes; when she runs through the hospital from what she thinks is Myers, and when she comes out of her mute state as Myers is about to murder a friend, and warns the police about Myers. Harris is showing signs of some great acting, as she easily steals the show from Pleasance, who is now reduced to barking at the police force about Myers. A first for this series: there were some great action scenes in the movie. The chase through the hay field, the entire air duct sequence, and the conclusion were all great parts that kept a slow pace lively for several minutes. The trap for Myers in his house was done nicely, and played out logically, if ruined only slightly by Jaime and Myers in the attic. The comic lines from the police officers are also a welcomed break and are actually funny, something many horror films either shy away from or don't pull off.

The Bad News: Okay, enough! I love suspense as much as the next horror movie buff, but the barn house was just too much. After several minutes of watching these two teenagers try to scare each other by dressing as Michael Myers and stalking the other, I got excited. Then, whenever I thought Myers was the one of the screen, they pull the mask off to reveal the other teenager. I got so pissed at that scene that after the third false revelation, I got bored as they kept pulling the same stunt. I didn't care when the real Myers appeared. Also, they should have cut the scene when Jaime is confronting 'Uncle' Myers in the attic. Michael shows a tender side to himself by dropping his knife and taking off his mask. Even the tear was uncharacteristic and then he allows her to get close to wipe the tear away. I'm glad he went in a rage and went after her again. That was true Michael Myers instead of those other two scenes. As in part four, the locals have a hard time trusting Loomis' threats that Myers is still out there. It is getting tiresome to have to watch Pleasance stand for several minutes shouting, until I'm sure, at his age, would throw out his voice, to uncooperative ears that Myers is in Haddonfield. It is uncreative. A true new revelation in the script would be that they actually believe Loomis from the past and immediately set out to find Myers.

The Final Verdict: As long as you don't get annoyed at the barn or the unoriginal convincing of the town to track down Myers, this is a good entry that has the following quibbles that prevent it from reaching the greatness of parts four and six.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, Graphic Language, and several sexual situations

[CK]

3/5 Let the corniness begin. Not the worst but far from the best.

[GL]

Yes, not bad, but because the others are so much better, this falls into the bottom by default. It's hard to love it, but harder not to like it.

[HNT]

2 this was where the series really went down hill

[GL]

Agreed. Low one on the totem pole for me.

[Conan]

I don't know what it is about this one, but It only got a 3 from me.

[GL]

That's what I gave it. About a 2 or 3, only because the other sequels are so good.

[Nobody]

I have always enjoyed this one. The film slows down and gets a little funny with some of the acts pulled by Jaime, but I still like it. 4 out of 5.

[GL]

Still not a huge fan of this one, but I would still like to have it in the collection just because it's a Halloween movie.

[Nobody]

Indeed. I need to get back on track. I have been meaning to start a little Halloween collection forever.

[GL]

With the Divimax releases, now's the best time to start. You also have an excellent release for the first one out in the 25th Anniversary Edition out.

[Nobody]

Yea I know. I only have Part 2 and H20 right now on DVD. I wish they would release a better edition for part 2.

[GL]

There was talk a year ago about wanting to do a special edition with Part 2 with behind-the-scenes footage, commentaries, interviews, the whole nine yards but haven't heard anything since. Guess it never happened, which sucks as Resurrection has a fairly decent DVD package, and if that one can get one, why can't a better film get one.

[Nobody]

Yea I know. Guess we will just have to wait.