Halloween II (1981) – Film Review

After failing to kill survivor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and taking a bullet or six from former psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) has followed Laurie to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, where she’s been admitted for Myers’ attempt on her life. The institution proves to be particularly suited to serial killers, however, as Myers cuts, stabs, and slashes his way through hospital staff to reach his favorite victim.

Ever since I first saw Rick Rosenthal‘s Halloween II many, many years ago, it’s fascinated me how many people seem to hate the movie. Is it as good as its predecessor that was released three years before? Absolutely not. Rosenthal isn’t nearly as good as director as John Carpenter is and it’s definitely not as chilling as the first, but as a direct sequel to the 1978 film, it does a remarkably good job at continuing the story and moving it forward.

Screenwriters Carpenter and Debra Hill definitely could have done a bit more to make sure that this film had some shocking plot twists or something – the movie doesn’t really have too much to say whatsoever and in some ways feels like an epilogue to the first film – but it’s not completely devoid of a story. To be fair, the first movie didn’t really have an amazing story either as much of a masterpiece as it is.

It followed a young high school girl who gets stalked by a masked killer on Halloween night. Halloween II is kind of the same idea. Laurie is now getting treatment at the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital all while deranged serial killer Michael Myers stalks the streets killing more innocent people before eventually heading to the hospital where Laurie is stationed. It’s actually an extremely fun movie even though it takes its time leading up to the kills, which I actually appreciated.

It’s nice to see that Carpenter and Hill wanted to flesh some characters out a bit more here as well as take some time to build-up to the kills. I absolutely loved the most recent entry Halloween Kills which is by far the most bloody in the franchise to date, but I also love how Halloween II doesn’t pride itself on kills too much. There is only a handful to be found here, but they’re all incredibly well-done and effective. By far my favorite here has to be one involving a hot tub early on.

Dean Cundey – who did the cinematography for the first film – returns for this sequel and it shows. It’s actually kind of astonishing how a movie that came out in 1978 has some of the best cinematography in film history. Just like the first film, the cinematography in Halloween II is absolutely gorgeous. Almost the entire film feels cold and uninviting. You get the feeling that pure evil is stalking the streets of Haddonfield, looking for its next victim.

And yes, of course, the musical score from Carpenter and Alan Howarth is like candy to the ears. While not as eerie as the score for the first film, it’s definitely still incredibly memorable and I commend Carpenter and Howarth for creating something new while also retaining the heart and soul of the first film’s musical cues.

Halloween II is nowhere near as good as its predecessor, but it’s nevertheless a highly entertaining follow-up filled with eerie moments.