October 29, 2024
'Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers'
The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan awaken on Halloween Eve and return to Haddonfield to rewatch 1988's 'Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,' starring Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, and Danielle Harris.
Cast
Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis
Danielle Harris as Jamie Lloyd
Ellie Cornell as Rachel Carruthers
George P. Wilbur as Michael Myers / The Shape
Kathleen Kinmont as Kelly Meeker
Sasha Jensen as Brady
Michael Pataki as Dr. Hoffman
Directed by: Dwight H. Little
Written by: Alan B. McElroy
Music by: Alan Howarth
Notes
- Budget of $5 million, grossed $17.8 million. 88-minute runtime.
- Script written in only 11 days by Alan B. McElroy before the writers' strike hit.
- Filmed in Salt Lake City instead of Pasadena; production had to import leaves and fake pumpkins to create an autumn feel.
- John Carpenter was approached to return and direct with Joe Dante attached, but producer Moustapha Akkad rejected them. Carpenter and Debra Hill then sold their ownership rights.
- George P. Wilbur (The Shape) wore hockey pads under the costume to look more physically imposing. Would take his mask off after every scene to comfort young Danielle Harris.
- Ellie Cornell (Rachel) cut her stomach open on a nail while sliding down the roof during filming. She chose this role over Nightmare on Elm Street 4.
- The original 'Halloween' mask was thrown out and couldn't be recreated, resulting in the much-maligned mask that changes appearance (including hair color) across scenes.
- Donald Pleasence was a famous drinker – allegedly drank 2 bottles of wine before filming a big scene in 'Halloween' 1. Was married four times with five daughters.
- 1988 was a banner year for horror franchises: Nightmare on Elm Street 4, Friday the 13th Part 7, 'Halloween' 4, Child's Play debut, and Hellraiser 2.
- The director and Akkad found the violence too soft, so they commissioned an extra day of 'blood filming' – the neck twist and two of the craziest kills were late additions.
- Body count of 19 (including the dog). Myers kills more people in this film alone than the combined total of the first two films.
- The Vincent Drugstore where Jamie buys a costume is the same location used in 'The Sandlot'.
- Melissa Joan Hart auditioned for Jamie; Rebecca Schaeffer auditioned for Rachel.
Categories
Most re-watchable scene
- Van: The roof battle – Rachel and Jamie fleeing Myers across the rooftop.
- Chris: The trick-or-treating night sequence – Rachel losing the kids, running around dark houses, atmospheric.
- Bill: The gas station scene.
The most 1988 thing about this movie
- Gas station pumps, cash registers, vigilante mobs, no cell phones.
- Chris: The sheriff's daughter Kelly Meeker and everything around her character, including the 'Cops Do It by the Book' T-shirt.
What aged the best?
- The autumn/Halloween atmosphere – horror movie set in fall done right.
- Danielle Harris's performance as Jamie – a really great child horror performance.
- Loomis wading into the water under a bridge to check for Michael, then hitchhiking.
- Little kids being cruel (tormenting Jamie about being an orphan). The sense of humor and comedic tone.
What aged the worst?
- The mask – bad and inconsistent, changes appearance (including hair color) across scenes. The blonde-wig schoolhouse scene was never reshot.
- Laurie Strode being dead between films 2 and 4 with little explanation.
- Brady not knowing who Michael Myers is despite everyone else (including children) knowing.
- Loomis's burn scar makeup changing throughout the movie due to no continuity Polaroids.
Most cinematic shot
Chris: Homage to Night of the Hunter – the sheriff's deputy in the rocking chair with a shotgun, then Rachel moves revealing Michael in deep focus in the background.
Best needle drop
- The 'Halloween' theme during the ambulance transfer scene early in the film.
- Alan Howarth's score throughout – praised for tracks like 'Jamie's Nightmare,' 'Return of the Shape,' and 'Police Station.'
Weak link of the movie
- Chris: Dr. Hoffman (dismisses the danger at the asylum then disappears from the movie).
- Van: Dr. Loomis – 'useless,' 'makes me sick,' blames him for everything.
- Bill: The actor playing The Shape – not athletic enough, wearing padding, moves like a mummy.
The hottest take award
- Van: Myers is the hero of this movie – a natural force enforcing natural selection; everyone who dies is so stupid they deserve it.
- Chris: If this had been the last 'Halloween' movie, it would have been the second best in the franchise (better than 'Halloween' 2).
- Bill: Donald Pleasence's real-life alcoholism should have been written into Loomis's character – a disgraced, fired, alcoholic former doctor still obsessed with the case.
Casting what-ifs
- John Carpenter was approached to direct with Joe Dante attached, but Moustapha Akkad rejected them.
- Melissa Joan Hart auditioned for Jamie. Rebecca Schaeffer auditioned for Rachel.
- Re-casting Rachel suggestions: Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty, Jennifer Aniston.
Best "that guy"
- Michael Pataki as Dr. Hoffman – also Drago's trainer in 'Rocky' 4 and one of the Malachi brothers in the famous Happy Days episode.
- Sasha Jensen (Brady/Don Dawson from 'Dazed and Confused').
Apex Mountain
- 'Cops Do It by the Book' T-shirts – consensus pick.
- Dwight H. Little and Kathleen Kinmont also discussed.
Cruise or Hanks?
Cruise wins
Cruise – specifically 'Old Cruise' as Dr. Loomis. The image of 73-year-old Tom Cruise raving about watching Myers for 15 years was the winning pitch.
Over-acting award
- Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) – overacting throughout.
- The crazy religious hitchhiker/preacher who picks up Loomis – didn't know his lines, director kept coaching him. Described as 'in another movie.'
- Kelly Meeker (Kathleen Kinmont) – 'in a different movie' (a sex comedy while everyone else is in a horror film).
Picking nits
- Why was Myers being transferred in the first place? Sent with only 2 paramedics, no chains, no handcuffs.
- Myers somehow knows how to drive, navigate town, find the power station – despite being locked up since age 6.
- The mask changes from blonde to brown hair across scenes.
- Rachel losing all 8 trick-or-treat kids. Myers driving 119 miles and parking downtown unnoticed.
(Probably) unanswerable questions
- Bill: Why didn't they make Jamie the killer in 'Halloween' 5?
- Chris: What is Dr. Loomis's jurisdiction? He bosses around cops and carries a semi-automatic weapon.
- Van: Was the sheriff trying to get Brady killed? (He knew Brady was sleeping with his daughter.)
Best (or worst!) life lessons from the movie
- Don't tell everyone you adopted the town murderer's niece.
- If you're transferring a notorious killer in a 10-year coma, check his physical condition first.
Best double feature for this movie
- Bill: 'Halloween' 2 (you need to know why Pleasence's face is burned).
- Chris: 'Halloween' 1 (the only narrative context you need).
- Van: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.
Who won the movie?
- Chris: Danielle Harris – breathed new life into the franchise; the final shot of her holding scissors is terrifying.
- Van and Bill: Michael Myers.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
Bill and Van: The 'Cops Do It by the Book' T-shirt.