In 1978 a psychotic 21 year old escaped from the mental asylum where he was institutionalized for the murder of his sister and returned to his home town to do his unusual trick or treating on October 31st, namely All Hallows Eve. Hidden under a scary Captain Kirk mask and armed with a "big sharp kitchen knife" he brutally slaughtered many people. It is rumored that about 16 people lost their lives in one single night. The sole survivor of this horrendous massacre was a 17 year old girl who allegedly had a special link with the monstrous killer. After a battle with his doctor, the maniac was nowhere to be found and the girl was found terrorized and paralyzed with fear. She tried everything to get over this shocking night where she witnessed many of her friends being gutted like fish: group therapies, psychologists, meditation. Nothing worked. A few years later the newspapers wrote that she was killed in a car accident. It was over : the only person who escaped the "Halloween Murders" was dead as well.
If all this sounds strangely familiar, you are absolutely right! I bet there is not a movie fan around the world who hasn't at least heard of the tale of the infamous Michael Myers who killed people on Halloween and his unfortunate sister Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis). Laurie could never forget her encounter with the masked Shape and suffered a lot until the car accident which reportedly killed her. Laurie Strode was no more ....... or so we thought. Laurie actually feared that the deranged Myers was alive and still after her so she entered a Witness Protection System to stage her death. She changed her name...her identity...her past...and her haircut!!! Laurie now lives far away from Haddonfield, in a boarding school in California. She is a divorced headmistress and she teaches Literature to the students under the name Keri Tate. She rarely talks to her ex-husband and has developed a drinking problem. She suffers from recurring nightmares about that fatal night and frequently takes pills to ease her pain. Every Halloween she is especially jumpy since she lives in the sheer terror that her insane brother will come back. She has a 17 year old son called John (Josh Hartnett) whom she is overprotective with. It is now 1998: 20 years after the carnage, October 31st is approaching and John is now a grown boy who wants some good healthy teenage activities. They quarrel because Keri doesn't want him out of the house on Halloween. "I am just asking you for ONE lousy night!" But John decides that enough is enough, "NO mom! If you want to stay handcuffed to your dead brother, that's fine! You are not dragging me into this!" Unfortunately for Keri her fears are not at all ridiculous. The demented Myers is indeed alive and eventually manages to track her down, even if it took him 20 whole years. On Halloween night he invades the boarding school. The majority of the students are away on a field trip so Michael sees the perfect chance to terrorize the deserted campus and finish what he started back in Haddonfield. Unfortunately Keri doesn't have much of help. Dr Loomis (played by the veteran Donald Pleasance) has passed away. Her fellow teacher, Will (Adam Arkin), who is also her boyfriend, and the security guard Ronny (L.L. Cool J.) are not prepared for this kind of menace and end up helpless victims. Laurie needs to protect herself as well as her precious son. This means that she will have to confront the killer/brother for one last time.
It is almost impossible to feel for Curtis' heroine and get engaged to the premise if you haven't watched John Carpenter's indie masterpiece Halloween (1978) and the equally atmospheric follow-up Halloween II (1981). I will have to warn the hardcore fans (although you probably are aware of it by now) that the filmmakers and the writers opted to decline from the batch of Halloween 3 - 6 and create an alternative universe where Laurie doesn't have a daughter and Michael has vanished completely for 20 years without anyone hearing from him. There are no hints of druids or thorn curses either. The script returns to the basic roots of the Laurie Strode plotline. Dr Loomis allegedly survived at the end of Halloween II and spent his life trying to find his fugitive patient. A few years ago he died from natural causes. Veteran Donald Pleasance was dead in real life so they had to write out the character. Many fans were displeased with his absence but nothing could be done. Fortunately Jamie Lee Curtis fills in the void perfectly providing a tremendous amount of energy on the screen. Steve Miner was a perfect choice for the helm as he staged some truly chilling scenes. The film opens with a devilishly clever introductory sequence which is so shrewd and wicked that I wouldn't even dare giving it away. Then we have the most haunting opening credits I have ever seen in a film (again you will have to be familiar with Halloween II).
Many have accused the movie for being a Scream derivative. Yes, it is obvious that Kevin Williamson had a small contribution and left his footprint on the project but his treatment was just the pre-credits scene (again altered) and the whereabouts of Keri/Laurie. The screenplay went through major changes and Robert Zappia was one of the many of the recruited writers. The script could have been written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill themselves since it does not rely on gore. Unfortunately nothing was as scary as the beginning. Fortunately instead of being wasted in slashing (regressing to a Friday the 13th clone) the movie has an extremely low body count and very little blood. Most of the deaths are off-screen! The film spends most of the time psychoanalyzing Laurie Strode and treating her like a real person. Her horrifying experience in 1978 didn't just conclude with the end credits of part II and the "Mr. Sandman" song. She spent her life hiding until one day she realized that she would have to get over it and stand up. There are many false scares and Miner does an exceptional job: from the first frame to the dream sequence the director shows his professionalism. The film was very successful not only concentrating on drama instead of violence but on finally revealing the essence of horror as depicted in all scary movies. When you see Myers stabbing someone it is not so scary. The truly terrifying part is the deserted takes in the beginning with the air of threat whiffing on the screen. The IDEA of danger is much more frightening than the danger itself. Laurie sees the crossing line when she realizes that her brother is not the boogeyman but a psycho killer that CAN be destroyed. She has to stop running but protect her son and her life as well . Although a bit rushed this is the most logical transition for her character after 2 movies and 20 years of hiding in dark corridors waiting pathetically to get it from the knife. There is a frequent complaint that the film is way too short with little action. Moustapha Akkad & Co. decided not to make another horror movie but a tribute to Halloween. Gosh, how successful it was! The film is full of lines and scenes which refer to the original. Watch carefully and you will see the homage (people hiding in the closet etc).
Jamie Lee Curtis actually doesn't try to give a strong performance since her character is powerful enough to work on its own. The best acting is accomplished by a young Josh Hartnett who is convincing as a normal young man who wants to live his life and tries to keep his mother's reason intact as he believes her phobias are groundless. The rest of the young cast is unfortunately underdeveloped and you end up not caring for them. Adam Arkin has little screen time but plays very well and L.L. Cool J. tries to entertain us in the inevitable funny role. This is a one woman show though and Curtis is the host. Oh, there is also a pointless cameo from Janet Leigh (Curtis's real life mother) as Keri's secretary who serves as an indifferent Psycho tribute.
The finale was the most perfect that could be conceived and suited the franchise. The producers had the boldness to end the story once and for all and wrap smartly the series. It was a great disappointment therefore that they had to make Halloween Resurrection (2002) and ruin the good effort. Even now I believe that any true fan will stick to this memorial final chapter and joy over the closure of the series. H20 despite its quirky title is a Halloween small classic which gives you some chills and will most probably satisfy you. Congratulations to anyone involved to this decent try. A good moment in 90's modern horror films.
HALLOWEEN H20 : Twenty Years Later 8 / 10
If all this sounds strangely familiar, you are absolutely right! I bet there is not a movie fan around the world who hasn't at least heard of the tale of the infamous Michael Myers who killed people on Halloween and his unfortunate sister Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis). Laurie could never forget her encounter with the masked Shape and suffered a lot until the car accident which reportedly killed her. Laurie Strode was no more ....... or so we thought. Laurie actually feared that the deranged Myers was alive and still after her so she entered a Witness Protection System to stage her death. She changed her name...her identity...her past...and her haircut!!! Laurie now lives far away from Haddonfield, in a boarding school in California. She is a divorced headmistress and she teaches Literature to the students under the name Keri Tate. She rarely talks to her ex-husband and has developed a drinking problem. She suffers from recurring nightmares about that fatal night and frequently takes pills to ease her pain. Every Halloween she is especially jumpy since she lives in the sheer terror that her insane brother will come back. She has a 17 year old son called John (Josh Hartnett) whom she is overprotective with. It is now 1998: 20 years after the carnage, October 31st is approaching and John is now a grown boy who wants some good healthy teenage activities. They quarrel because Keri doesn't want him out of the house on Halloween. "I am just asking you for ONE lousy night!" But John decides that enough is enough, "NO mom! If you want to stay handcuffed to your dead brother, that's fine! You are not dragging me into this!" Unfortunately for Keri her fears are not at all ridiculous. The demented Myers is indeed alive and eventually manages to track her down, even if it took him 20 whole years. On Halloween night he invades the boarding school. The majority of the students are away on a field trip so Michael sees the perfect chance to terrorize the deserted campus and finish what he started back in Haddonfield. Unfortunately Keri doesn't have much of help. Dr Loomis (played by the veteran Donald Pleasance) has passed away. Her fellow teacher, Will (Adam Arkin), who is also her boyfriend, and the security guard Ronny (L.L. Cool J.) are not prepared for this kind of menace and end up helpless victims. Laurie needs to protect herself as well as her precious son. This means that she will have to confront the killer/brother for one last time.
It is almost impossible to feel for Curtis' heroine and get engaged to the premise if you haven't watched John Carpenter's indie masterpiece Halloween (1978) and the equally atmospheric follow-up Halloween II (1981). I will have to warn the hardcore fans (although you probably are aware of it by now) that the filmmakers and the writers opted to decline from the batch of Halloween 3 - 6 and create an alternative universe where Laurie doesn't have a daughter and Michael has vanished completely for 20 years without anyone hearing from him. There are no hints of druids or thorn curses either. The script returns to the basic roots of the Laurie Strode plotline. Dr Loomis allegedly survived at the end of Halloween II and spent his life trying to find his fugitive patient. A few years ago he died from natural causes. Veteran Donald Pleasance was dead in real life so they had to write out the character. Many fans were displeased with his absence but nothing could be done. Fortunately Jamie Lee Curtis fills in the void perfectly providing a tremendous amount of energy on the screen. Steve Miner was a perfect choice for the helm as he staged some truly chilling scenes. The film opens with a devilishly clever introductory sequence which is so shrewd and wicked that I wouldn't even dare giving it away. Then we have the most haunting opening credits I have ever seen in a film (again you will have to be familiar with Halloween II).
Many have accused the movie for being a Scream derivative. Yes, it is obvious that Kevin Williamson had a small contribution and left his footprint on the project but his treatment was just the pre-credits scene (again altered) and the whereabouts of Keri/Laurie. The screenplay went through major changes and Robert Zappia was one of the many of the recruited writers. The script could have been written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill themselves since it does not rely on gore. Unfortunately nothing was as scary as the beginning. Fortunately instead of being wasted in slashing (regressing to a Friday the 13th clone) the movie has an extremely low body count and very little blood. Most of the deaths are off-screen! The film spends most of the time psychoanalyzing Laurie Strode and treating her like a real person. Her horrifying experience in 1978 didn't just conclude with the end credits of part II and the "Mr. Sandman" song. She spent her life hiding until one day she realized that she would have to get over it and stand up. There are many false scares and Miner does an exceptional job: from the first frame to the dream sequence the director shows his professionalism. The film was very successful not only concentrating on drama instead of violence but on finally revealing the essence of horror as depicted in all scary movies. When you see Myers stabbing someone it is not so scary. The truly terrifying part is the deserted takes in the beginning with the air of threat whiffing on the screen. The IDEA of danger is much more frightening than the danger itself. Laurie sees the crossing line when she realizes that her brother is not the boogeyman but a psycho killer that CAN be destroyed. She has to stop running but protect her son and her life as well . Although a bit rushed this is the most logical transition for her character after 2 movies and 20 years of hiding in dark corridors waiting pathetically to get it from the knife. There is a frequent complaint that the film is way too short with little action. Moustapha Akkad & Co. decided not to make another horror movie but a tribute to Halloween. Gosh, how successful it was! The film is full of lines and scenes which refer to the original. Watch carefully and you will see the homage (people hiding in the closet etc).
Jamie Lee Curtis actually doesn't try to give a strong performance since her character is powerful enough to work on its own. The best acting is accomplished by a young Josh Hartnett who is convincing as a normal young man who wants to live his life and tries to keep his mother's reason intact as he believes her phobias are groundless. The rest of the young cast is unfortunately underdeveloped and you end up not caring for them. Adam Arkin has little screen time but plays very well and L.L. Cool J. tries to entertain us in the inevitable funny role. This is a one woman show though and Curtis is the host. Oh, there is also a pointless cameo from Janet Leigh (Curtis's real life mother) as Keri's secretary who serves as an indifferent Psycho tribute.
The finale was the most perfect that could be conceived and suited the franchise. The producers had the boldness to end the story once and for all and wrap smartly the series. It was a great disappointment therefore that they had to make Halloween Resurrection (2002) and ruin the good effort. Even now I believe that any true fan will stick to this memorial final chapter and joy over the closure of the series. H20 despite its quirky title is a Halloween small classic which gives you some chills and will most probably satisfy you. Congratulations to anyone involved to this decent try. A good moment in 90's modern horror films.
HALLOWEEN H20 : Twenty Years Later 8 / 10