"HALLOWEEN H20" Review By R.L. Strong
Dimension Films presents a Nightfall Production of a Steve Miner film Jamie Lee Curtis HALLOWEEN H20 Michelle Williams Josh Hartnett Adam Arkin Jodi Lyn O'Keefe Adam Hann-Byrd Janet Leigh and LL Cool J Cinematography by Daryn Okada Music by John Ottman Production Designer John Willett Costume Designer Deborah Everton Edited by Patrick Lussier Associate Producer: Malek Akkad Executive Producer: Moustapha Akkad Produced by John Carpenter, Paul Freeman, and Debra Hill Original story by Robert Zappia Screenplay by Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg Directed by Steve Miner
Well, we knew it was going to happen. When a franchise is doing even remotely well, it behooves the producers to continue running the series into the ground. We've seen this with almost every horror franchise since the original 'Frankenstein'. Now there have been exceptions to the rule. Such films as "New Nightmare" and "The Bride of Frankenstein" have actually been superior to their originators. But the 'Halloween' has not been so lucky. While trying to breath fresh blood into the series, Moustapha Akkad had created an increasingly absurd complex scenario. What makes this entry in the series is two remarkable things. Firstly, the return of Jamie Lee Curtis to the role that started her career, and secondly (and most importantly) a script that disavows the previous sequels.
The film opens on October 29th. 1998. Nurse Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens, returning from the original film) arrives home to find her home broken into. She gains the assistants of her two teenage neighbors to call the Police. One of the boys investigates the home and finds Nurse Chambers' study ransacked. Returning home, the boys leave Ms. Chambers to wait for the Police. She finds that her study has indeed been vandalized and more importantly that the file of Laurie Stroud has been stolen. Seeing a stranger in the hallway, she narrow escapes to her neighbor's house. There she finds that the two boys have already been murdered. The Shape (AKA: Michael Myers) attacks and kills the nurse as the police arrive.
We are then introduced to Jamie Lee's character Laurie Stroud. She is the Dean of a private school in Northern California. Divorced and suffering from anxiety from her earlier experience, she has taken on a false identity after faking her own death in an attempt to hide from her murderous brother. Well, her son has recently turned 17, the same age Laurie was, when Michael he escaped from the asylum back in '78. Laurie attempts to deal with her fear by irrationally trying to protect her son from danger. Well in due time, Michael finds his siblings, and the battle begins.
Horror films for the most part are very, very predictable. You know all of the set ups by heart. Lights the don't work, cars that refuse to start when danger is near, etc., etc. All of these are in ample supply here. The difference between this film and others of it's ink is Jamie Lee Curtis. Ms. Curtis has always been a fine if not a remarkable actress. her past performances have always been enlivening and enjoyable (think 'True Lies', she was the only shinning light in that ponderous and misogynistic film). Here, Ms. Curtis is center stage, and she carries the film with a strength and determination that is refreshingly honest to the character.
The screenplay by scribes Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg (with un-credited assistance from Kevin Williamson of 'Scream' fame) is very tight, with a nicely set up premise and credible (for the most part) situations. The inclusion of Janet Leigh as Norma (the maintenance director of the private school) complaining about the drains in the Girls' shower room being clogged is a marvelously funny tribute to 'Psycho' and a smack in the face to every other filmmaker who has ripped off that famous scene. References to other works are remarkable very slight in this film. It's not as jokey as the "Scream" films, in that "Halloween H20" takes itself seriously. While most of the characters are not very deeply written, they don't need to be as these people are recognizable to most of us. What is most refreshing here is that this film does it's best to do away with the body count mentality of most horror films. Situations are set up wherein a character is placed in mortal danger and is not killed. This simple idea leads to a lot more suspense, and identifies the audience with the main characters more intimately. Michael Myers is after one person, he only kills those that get in the way of his goal.
Directed with a sure and steady hand by Steve Miner, Halloween H20 has lots to offer it's audience. Mr. Miner is no stranger to the horror genre having helmed the (arguably) best entry in the 'Friday the 13th' series ("Friday the 13th: 3D"). Having moved onto more mainstream films ('Forever Young' also with Ms. Curtis, and 'My Father is a Hero') Mr. Miner shows a true love for the trappings of the genre, making grand use of lighting and shadow throughout the film. His handling of his actors is fine, with surprising performances put in by relative newcomer Josh Hartnett as John Tate, Laurie Stroud's son. Adam Arkin is fine as school counselor Will Brennan, bringing a light touch of humor to the proceedings.
Halloween H20 is a fine entry in the horror sweepstakes and a fitting end to a series that was starting to wear out it's welcome. There's a lesson to be learned here for Hollywood. It's the writing.. dummies!
On a scale ***** "Halloween H20" rates ***=
Copyright ) 1998 R. L. StrongNothing in this article may be quoted or re-printedwithout the expressed written permission of the author.
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