Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers 1988

Now onto the money-grabbing, pointless horror sequels, Bob! Yes, after the uproar of disappointed horror fans complained about the third film, Season of the Witch, the filmmakers decided to scrap the idea of making an anthology series and brought back Michael Myers in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. In the process, they pretty much destroyed all the good parts about the franchise and turned it into something immensely predictable and typical while introducing endless plot holes simultaneously! Let’s get into it.

In Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, you learn that it’s backward day in Hollywood. The people you thought were dead are alive and the people you thought survived are in fact…dead. Yes, that’s right, Michael Myers survived being shot multiple times, including getting his eyeballs shot out, and he survived burning alive! You know who else survived getting burnt alive? Detective Loomis, who was in a gassed room that completely exploded. Yeah, okay, Wylee Cayote. For some unknown and unexplained reason, Laurie is now dead and the only remaining member of the Michael Myers family left alive is his niece – Laurie’s daughter. Upon hearing the news, Michael Myers sprung back to life, ignoring the fact that he should be blind, should be dead, and his muscles should be atrophied at this point. Let’s just kill some folks.

At this point in the franchise, we’re supposed to believe that in some way or another, Michael Myers has crossed over into the supernatural realm and evil is the only thing fuelling this body. Okay fine, but it doesn’t really go out of its way to try to explain that, you just have some guess work to do. Instead, it invents a ton of plot holes JUST so the audience can have their favorite villain back on screen. Why? So more people can figure out a different way to kill him, only this time, it’s in more of a coming full-circle type of way.

Now, I can completely respect coming full circle…if this were the last film of the franchise. I can even forgive them reviving the character one last time…if this were the last film of the franchise. However, because it isn’t, you have even more to complain about. Laurie isn’t dead, you know this because she shows up in the final two movies. Which probably means she faked her death to escape the unevitable return of Michael Myers…that’s fine…but look, more plot holes. Why would she fake her own death and leave her completely defenseless young daughter as bait? The facts simply don’t add up.

Yeah, they show the kills a little more clear here than they have before, but again…the kills seem to be awfully random. They are supposed to be kills because they are in his way, and I feel like he goes out of his own way to kill people – going against the entire idea of the original two movies. I’m sorry but I’m sensing a whole lot of negative elements in this movie, which is what I’ve feared before even starting this franchise. Here’s the kicker…I’m not even halfway done. Oh boy.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers was a movie made seemingly just to appease the fans that complained about the third movie. Nothing about it really screams greatness, nor that it was taken seriously. I actually believe this film disrespects the original intent and direction the first two films offered, and all it really is…is a reunion special, bringing back a beloved villain. But when you do that for money, you lose whatever integrity and honor it started out with.

It's disappointing that the Halloween franchise didn't continue building on the course change it took with "Halloween III: Season of the Witch". Imagine the fun that could have been had with a new tale of Halloween horrors every year. But NO! Everyone had to see Michael Myers again! And "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers" is what we got.

Michael's back to kill his little niece, Jamie Lloyd. He's escaped (surprise!!!) while being transported from an institution and spends a few kills collecting what he needs, coveralls, mask, etc. He does a little detective work to figure out what Jamie looks like and then he's off. Of course, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is hot on the trail again, warning anyone and everyone that Michael has returned to Haddonfield.

None of this works very well because the threat of Michael's return isn't given time to build. Loomis pulls into town and the next thing you know, trick or treating is cancelled and the town is practically evacuated. The Sheriff, Loomis, and others go to find Jamie who's out trick or treating. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's own daughter is killed at his home by Michael, and at movie's end, he hasn't yet found out that she's dead. It bothered me that she's fresh kill for Michael while her Dad is out saving the precious Lloyds.

Anyway, Michael Myers is on the loose. The state police and surrounding towns send reinforcements, a lynch mob hops in their trucks and joins the hunt, the military prepares to drop a nuclear bomb on Haddonfield. Okay, that nuke thing, I made up, but I think you get my point.

In the end, there's a twist that is kind of satisfying and only because Donald Pleasence lets out one of the most terrified moans of denial ("No! No! No! No!") in the history of the Movies. I'm giving "Halloween 4" an extra star just for that.

I admit, it's difficult to be objective when you're watching a movie this old and outdated. Here we have a movie that's 35 years old and I'm trying to be kind and gentle and nice and polite and objective but man, this thing just reeks. The acting is so awful, the dialogue is atrocious, the whole storyline... I mean, I know it was a hugely popular franchise in its day but it's hard to fathom this being "good" even 35 years ago when you're watching it in the "here and now". I mean, they couldn't even get the tune right with the old "preacher" in the truck singing Shall We Gather At The River ? How difficult could it have been to find someone who actually knew the song and could teach them (or, in worst-case scenario, do a lip-sync version) to sing it correctly? I could understand if they were trying to portray him as singing it "drunk" or tipsy or whatever...but this was neither; this was simply an actor given a script with a bit part where he sings a few lines from an old hymn and they don't even spend the time or effort to find the actual tune. Stuff like that is inexcusable regardless of how old a film is. Watching this now, it's hard to explain but it's almost like watching the "spoof" movies ( Scream , Scary Movie , et al) in reverse. I keep telling myself that movies like this one are the reason movies like those started showing up: the storyline is so predictable, the acting so wooden, the gruesome kill scenes at the height of a teen sex scene all became so commonplace and repetitive during the late-70's through 80's horror genre that someone decided to make money by poking fun at it. Only now, watching these movies, it's almost like watching the satire itself: you know what's going to happen, and you want to laugh...but wait, this is supposed to be a real "horror" movie, not a comedy. The story had SO. MANY. PLOTHOLES. that it was atrocious. Still no explanation of Michael Myers' "superpowers" (he's indestructible and unstoppable, in any event, along with having superhuman strength that still remains unexplained.) Nor is any reason ever provided as to why he wants so badly to kill any and all family members, no matter how far removed down the line they are. (I've been wondering about that since watching the very first one, and there's yet to be an explanation.) In any event, I watched it (and yes, regretted watching it) and whether it's "objective" or not, I still have to rate this one as yet another stinker in the Halloween franchise. Avoid this one. You'll thank me.