"Halloween 4" reestablishes the Michael Myers tone and environment absent from "Halloween III: Season of the Witch." The premise of the film is well set up, but "Halloween 4" falls victim/perpetrator to common horror clichés of the 1980s. Just when you think it's taking the high road, avoiding the Freddy and Jason trademarks, and is trying to be something really special, "Halloween 4" veers into the lowest, easy route in its development of action, death scenes, and suspense. It has good intentions but not good discipline.
Of any film of the series, it's the most seduced by Hollywood's influence, which ends up undermining its own credibility. Danielle Harris steals the show, emphasizing the victim hood of the protagonist, Jamie Lloyd. The twist of focus in the characters and plot from the first two films may sound convoluted, existing as a way to write around Jamie Lee Curtis's lack of involvement in the project, and it is totally that.
However, the film uses the new story to create a chilling arc, and due to that, "Halloween 4" boasts the strongest ending of the ten films. It's smart, sadistic, and perfectly rooted in the series' trademark familial story. On its best day, the conclusion of "Halloween 4" compensates for its flaws.
Of any film of the series, it's the most seduced by Hollywood's influence, which ends up undermining its own credibility. Danielle Harris steals the show, emphasizing the victim hood of the protagonist, Jamie Lloyd. The twist of focus in the characters and plot from the first two films may sound convoluted, existing as a way to write around Jamie Lee Curtis's lack of involvement in the project, and it is totally that.
However, the film uses the new story to create a chilling arc, and due to that, "Halloween 4" boasts the strongest ending of the ten films. It's smart, sadistic, and perfectly rooted in the series' trademark familial story. On its best day, the conclusion of "Halloween 4" compensates for its flaws.