Halloween 5 (1989) Review – A Relentless Michael Myers

Just one year after its brilliant return, the Halloween series wasted no time in reviving the Shape for another round of slasher fun. Picking up directly from the events of Halloween 4, it isn’t quite as good as the fourth instalment, but there’s enough to enjoy despite that.

In fact, it’s one of the sequels I’ve come to appreciate more as I’ve gotten older.

Let’s rewind back to the ending of Halloween 4.

Michael Myers has been cornered by sheriff Meeker and a group of gun-toting townspeople, who proceed to empty their shotguns into the Shape. Michael takes a beating before being dumped down a mine shaft, where they finish the job by throwing dynamite after him.

Surely that’s the end of Michael Myers?

Of course it bloody isn’t.

Halloween 5 picks up by revealing what happened next. Michael escapes down an underground passage before being washed away. He looks incredibly vulnerable while clinging to the river banks and is exhausted when he reaches the dry land.

An elderly hermit finds him and shelters him as he lies unconscious.

Then, one year later, Michael awakens from his slumber.

And naturally, he kills the old bastard who looked after him for the past twelve months.

Why?

Who bloody knows? It’s Michael Myers.

Perhaps he didn’t like having his mask removed.

Either way, the Shape is back in business and Haddonfield is about to endure another Halloween nightmare.

This time, Jamie Lloyd (once again played by Danielle Harris) is living in a children’s clinic following the events of the previous film. She’s mute and seems to have some kind of psychic connection with the Shape.

Meanwhile, Dr. Samuel Loomis is once more trying to convince everyone that Michael is still out there.

Even better, Donald Pleasence is on absolute form.

Loomis is now certifiably crazy, obsessed with Michael and willing to do whatever it takes to put an end to his reign of terror.

Can you blame the bloke?

He’s chased the man for years, survived an explosion, witnessed the deaths of countless people and repeatedly seen him survive events that should have killed him ten times over.

Loomis may be losing his patience, but that doesn’t change the fact that his intentions are clear. He knows what Michael is truly capable of and he’s willing to do anything to stop him.

One of the major strengths of Halloween 5 is once more Don Shanks as Michael Myers.

He really should be applauded for the effort he puts into the role. He makes the Shape an intimidating prospect.

Unfortunately, we have the same issue as Halloween 4.

The mask.

What the hell happened to Michael’s face?

It looks stretched and far less intimidating than it did in the original. Something about the way it’s shaped just doesn’t look right to me.

It’s a shame because Shanks is an incredible physical presence. He makes the Shape frightening when he’s on screen, even if the mask does let him down.

And when the Shape starts killing, he certainly isn’t holding back either.

One of the early surprises comes when Rachel Carruthers (Ellie Cornell) is dispatched.

Having survived so much in the previous film, I didn’t really expect her to die so soon.

It’s a shame because she was quite likeable and I would have liked to see more of her.

On the other hand, her death serves to highlight the fact that nobody is safe.

There’s a particularly good horror vibe surrounding the Carruthers house, as Michael lurks within, spying on the other characters.

Those moments of him watching the others are exactly the kind of thing I want from a Halloween movie.

You don’t need to see him murdering people to be frightened. Sometimes, it’s simply knowing that he’s around that’s the most terrifying thing of all.

We also meet Tina (Wendy Kaplan), who is very different to Rachel.

She’s the wild one, a party girl who seems more interested in getting drunk and having fun than worrying about the Shape haunting her town.

However, she does become an important ally and protector to Jamie.

And, despite her sometimes ditzy nature, I actually enjoyed her presence in the film.

There are some good kills along the way, including Michael making use of a scythe.

That’s a particularly nasty weapon for the Shape to wield.

Then there’s Tina’s boyfriend, Mike, whom Michael kills before stealing his car and wearing his Halloween costume as a disguise.

It’s almost amusing watching Michael abandon his usual look to pretend to be somebody else.

But the best stuff comes when the film focuses on Jamie and the weird connection she has with Michael.

Harris gives another good performance, even if a large chunk of the movie sees her unable to speak.

Jamie has seen and experienced far more than any child should ever endure and now she’s about to be thrown back into the fray.

There’s also the mysterious Man in Black, who appears throughout the film.

He seems to be watching everything unfold, keeping an eye on Michael Myers.

Who is he?

What does he want?

And what’s his interest in the Shape?

The film isn’t really interested in telling us, leaving his presence as something of an enigma.

It’s an intriguing concept, although I wish there was a bit more to it.

Spoilers ahead.

The action really kicks into gear when Michael goes after Jamie and Tina, with the latter sacrificing herself to save the young girl.

It’s an emotional moment and gives Tina a far more meaningful end than I was initially expecting.

The police turn up, but Michael is clever enough to remain hidden in the woods rather than risking another confrontation.

Loomis knows he’s in the area.

So he decides to lure him out using Jamie as bait, taking her to the old Myers house in preparation for his arrival.

It’s a desperate move, but then again, Loomis is a desperate man.

A distraction ensures the police are kept busy elsewhere, leaving the house exposed. I’ve always wondered if the Man in Black had anything to do with that, but the film never really gives us any answers.

Whatever the case, Michael wastes no time in making his move.

He butchers the officers guarding the house before entering the building itself.

And this is where Halloween 5 delivers some of its best suspense.

The chase through the Myers house is genuinely tense, especially when Jamie is trapped in the laundry chute.

Michael begins stabbing at her through the opening, desperately trying to reach her. It’s a claustrophobic sequence that makes you feel Jamie’s terror as she tries to escape.

But there’s another moment that stands out.

Jamie manages to reach out and touch Michael’s face on what appears to be an emotional level. He even removes his mask for a moment.

For a brief second, it almost looks as though there’s something human left in the man.

And then he snaps.

Whatever connection Jamie thought she had with the Shape is gone and he resumes his attempts to kill her.

It’s an interesting little sequence because it challenges the notion that Michael is simply an unstoppable killing machine.

In the end, Loomis manages to subdue him using a tranquiliser and a piece of wood, beating him before restraining him.

And Donald Pleasence makes the whole thing utterly exhausting.

Loomis is broken, having fought the Shape more times than anyone else.

And you can see the toll it’s taken on him.

It looks as though the nightmare might finally be over as Michael is placed in police custody.

But then it turns out this is Halloween.

The mysterious Man in Black arrives at the police station, opening fire and leaving devastation in his wake.

When Jamie arrives, Michael’s cell is empty. He’s escaped again.

And that’s where the film ends, leaving us with more questions than answers.

Now, I can understand why some fans may have been frustrated by this. The movie raises questions, only to leave us hanging when it comes to resolving them.

However, I actually enjoyed the mystery.

It left me wondering where the filmmakers wanted to take the story next, even if it could have been handled slightly better.

Ultimately, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is a sequel that has grown on me over the years.

It isn’t as good as Halloween 4 and I still can’t get over the way that mask looks. Rachel’s early exit is disappointing and the whole Man in Black business serves more questions than answers. But there’s plenty to enjoy as well.

Don Shanks makes for an imposing, relentless Michael Myers, while Donald Pleasence lends an increasing sense of desperation to Loomis. Danielle Harris is once again effective as Jamie Lloyd, providing the vulnerability needed to evoke sympathy. The kills are entertaining, the atmosphere suitably eerie and the chase through the Myers house is one of the film’s standout set-pieces. It’s not the most polished entry in the series, but that doesn’t put me off. The mask may look ridiculous, but beneath it is the face of an utter monster.