Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Director:

Dwight H. Little

Writers (WGA):

Danny Lipsius (story) &
Larry Rattner (story) ...

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Ten Years Ago HE Changed The Face Of Halloween. Tonight HE'S BACK!

Plot:

Ten years after his original massacre, the invalid Michael Myers awakens and returns to Haddonfield to kill his seven-year-old niece on Halloween. Can Dr. Loomis stop him?

Plot Keywords:

Michael Myers | Halloween | Murder | Ambulance | Knife

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Sam Loomis
Ellie Cornell	...	Rachel Carruthers
Danielle Harris	...	Jamie Lloyd
George P. Wilbur	...	Michael Myers
Michael Pataki	...	Dr. Hoffman
Beau Starr	...	Sheriff Ben Meeker
Kathleen Kinmont	...	Kelly Meeker
Sasha Jenson	...	Brady
Gene Ross	...	Earl
Carmen Filpi	...	Rev. Jackson P. Sayer
Raymond O'Connor	...	Security Guard
Jeff Olson	...	Richard Carruthers
Karen Alston	...	Darlene Carruthers
Nancy Borgenicht	...	Woman Attendant
David Jensen	...	Man Attendant

Also Known As:

Halloween 4 (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia) | New Zealand:R13 | Finland:K-16 | Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG (cut) | France:-12 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Midvale, Utah, USA

Company:

Trancas International Films

Trivia:

In Jamie's introduction, she's sitting in the living room staring outside at the ambulance. Later, it shows the ambulance has disappeared. In the script, Jamie was staring outside at the rain, and the ambulance appeared after she had turned away. This was changed in editing for unknown reasons.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Rachel and Jamie slide down the roof, they look down and a bike can be seen on the ground. When Jamie ends up running to Rachel later on, the bike is no longer there.

Quotes:

Deputy Logan: What are we doing?
Sheriff Ben Meeker: Making sure no one can get in here.
Deputy Logan: Isn't all this a little paranoid?
Sheriff Ben Meeker: If you'd seen that police station, you wouldn't even ask.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Angry Video Game Nerd: Chronologically Confused About Sequel Titles (#1.15)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Halloween Theme

One of the Best Sequels in the Series

"Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" gets the franchise gets back on its feet after a disappointing part 3 with probably the best entry save the original.

**SPOILERS**

Michael Myers breaks out of Ridgemont Psychiatric Hospital and heading off to Haddonfield, where his target now is Laurie Strode's daughter, Jaime (Danielle Harris) is now living with the Corruther's, Mom (Karen Alston), Dad (Jeff Olson) and daughter Rachel (Ellie Cornel). Jaime is plagued by nightmares of her uncle, Michael Myers, despite constant reminders that he is dead. When Myers escapes, Dr. Loomis goes out on the hunt and nearly gets fried by Myers at a rural gas station. Back in Haddonfield, Jaime is out trick-or-treating when suddenly Myers attacks, forcing Loomis and the police, led by Sheriff Meeker (Beau Starr), to intervene. They back to the sheriff's house, where his daughter Kelly, (Kathleen Kinmont) is getting it on with Rachel's boyfriend, Brady (Sasha Jenson). With Loomis out searching the neighborhood and Meeker investigating a local posse report, the rest turn the house in a fortress and prepare to defend it against Myers. He still breaks into the house and kills all but Rachel and Jaime. They escape, but Rachel is seriously hurt in the process. Loomis returns and finds Jaime running alone from Myers. They go to her school, where now Loomis is hurt by the invading Myers. Rachel returns and halts Myers momentarily and escapes with the posse. Heading out of town, Myers returns and kills the posse, and is then blown into a mineshaft by the police at the last minute. They return home, and meet with a striking case of déjà vu.

The Good News: What an ending! That was easily the highlight of this fast-paced entry. It set up the premise of part five and got the last great moment of the movie. By now, Myers had become very Jason Voorhees-esquire in that no matter what was brought to bear on him, he would still survive. The fast pace makes the movie seem much shorter than it really is, and is misleading since the action flies fast and free. This movie generates several good shocks and in fact rarely misses, something unusual in horror movies. The opportunities are varied, but this movie still gets about 80% of the shocks it set up, quite a high number considering the low number of shocks in movies today. The movie also does something only the original took pride in doing; it decided suspense could go into a horror movie and make it work. True, this one of the bloodiest entry's, but suspense, at least for me, makes a horror movie. The first dream sequence brings this point up exactly. The sequence goes for several minutes, and Myers is never seen until the last thirty seconds. Shopping for the Halloween costume is also a nice display of suspense. Harris actually turns in a believable appearance, and so does the rest of the cast. Pleasance is still the shining light in the cast, but the rest do respectable jobs for the genre. Also, the large cast allows for many killings, and the gore is nicely done. This is the bloodiest entry, except for 'H2O,' which is the goriest.

The Bad News: The stupidity of the town's people over Myers. If they didn't learn anything from the first two movies, then they should be killed. So much convincing on the part of Loomis is needed to get them to move into action that it nearly detracts from the movie. Several cast members could have thrown out for uselessness, as they just seem to wander around with giant target signs on their backs.

The Final Verdict: Almost a perfect movie. Combines a fast pace with suspense, gore, some humorous lines, and a feeling of enjoyment. Perfect for any occasion of horror movie buff.

Rated R: Graphic Violence, Brief Nudity, adult language, and some drug use