Michael Myers continues to pursue Laurie after she is admitted to a hospital.
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Halloween II (1981)Directed by Rick Rosenthal
Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, Dick Warlock, Lance Guest, Charles Cyphers, Jeffrey Kramer, Leo Rossi, Pamela Susan Shoop Sequel to 1978's Halloween |
Halloween II is one of the few horror sequels that doesn't suck, and instead honors the original while still standing on its own as a decenthorror film. It continues right where the first left off, with Laurie in the hospital being stalked by the terrifying Michael Myers.
Setting the film in a hospital helps make the film's atmosphere awfully creepy. No one is safe from Michael's wrath as he viciously ups the gore, even boiling one woman alive. There is far more blood in this film than there is in the first, which is almost like a tease at what is to come in the franchise. While not as scary as the first, Halloween II is easily the best sequel and does not tarnish the original. It's a good horror flick that most definitely stands on its own and helps add to the cult status of the franchise. |
While it's pretty common for horror sequels to suck, Halloween II is one of the few that does a good job of continuing the story. It furthers the mythology of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode in a believable way and literally continues where the last one left off. In this franchise, that's the best kind of continuity we ever get.
The film takes place in a hospital in the middle of the night, making the film decidedly more creepy than it should be. The idea to make Michael Myers the psychotic brother to Laurie Strode actually works for the film. It makes Michael's pursuit of her all the more vicious and terrifying. Donald Pleasance also does a good job of not going full out insane, like he does in later sequels. The gore is upped considerable from the last film. While this takes away from what made the original so effective, it does keep in line with the 80's horror films that were coming out. While obviously not as good as the original film, Halloween II still stands on its own as a continuation of this franchise. Michael Myers is still terrifying and the film is filled with solid horror moments. I also liked how it had a final, definitive ending, until the later sequels came out. Definitely one of the horror genre's better sequels. |