After a surprisingly satisfying ending from Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Halloween: Resurrection was released in 2002. However, it completely ruined one of the best endings to the series. Whilst I did enjoy this film when I initially watched it, I now believe it to be a terrible film. It has not aged well at all and whilst there are a few parts that were enjoyable, it is definitely one of the worst Halloween films.
The film begins by showing us what happened after Halloween H20. Laurie Strode has been sectioned into a psychiatric institution after killing an innocent paramedic. In a flashback we learn that Michael Myers had crushed the paramedics throat so he couldn’t speak, then changed into his clothes and escaped. The emotional ending where Laurie takes control of her life and chops Michaels head off was actually her decapitating someone who was trying to get help. Whilst this is a clever way to keep the series going, it ruins everything they had been building up to. Laurie doesn’t survive the opening scene. She gets stabbed by Michael and tumbles off the rooftop. It feels like a bit of a let down after everything she has been through.
Since Laurie is no longer in the film, we get the main plot. A group of teenagers are stuck in the abandoned Myers house on Halloween night whilst being streamed live online. Freddie Harris (Busta Rhymes) has organised this with his Dangertainment company. Tyra Banks also plays his business partner Nora. It is a cross between Big Brother and Halloween. Whilst this sounds like an interesting idea in the early 2000s, it feels very outdated now. The characters are wandering around the house with cameras on, completely oblivious to the fact that the real Michael Myers is there. None of the characters are particularly memorable and there isn’t much tension.
Tyra Banks is another odd choice. I was expecting her to have a bigger role due to her popularity at the time. However, she isn’t really involved in the film and is quickly killed off screen. It feels like a missed opportunity. None of the kills are particularly impressive either. Jen’s decapitation is probably the most memorable kill but overall there isn’t much excitement. There is one kill that I did enjoy. Michael bursts through a mirror and stabs a mans head with a knife. It is a great scene. There is also a scene where the camera pans around a dark room and Michael is standing in the shadows. These are the scenes I would have liked to have seen more of.
I will say that Brad Loree does a decent job as Michael Myers. I thought he moved very well and looked like he was doing. He didn’t look like Dick Warlock in Halloween II with a shit in his pants. He moves with purpose and makes Michael quite scary. Although he isn’t as good as Don Shanks in Halloween 5 or George P. Wilbur in Halloween 6, he still does a good job. It is a shame the film doesn’t give him any memorable scenes.
Busta Rhymes is another odd choice. His character watches martial arts films throughout the film and decides to use his kung fu skills on Michael Myers. It is ridiculous but I found it funny. There is also a scene where Freddie dresses up as Michael and confronts the real Michael. He then starts shouting at him like he is another member of the crew. Whilst this is funny, we are 8 films into the series and Michael Myers is one of the scariest killers in horror film history. To see him standing there whilst Busta Rhymes tells him off is not scary at all.
The film can also be quite messy. There are a few errors that get quite annoying. In the opening scene, Michaels hair changes completely. When he is chasing Laurie through the corridors his hair is all over the place but when he gets to the rooftop he has apparently stopped to put his Brylcreem on and slick that mop back. There is also an awkward error with the character ‘Dekkard’ watching the stream. His friend appears to be in the room with him during a tense scene but in the next scene he just walks in and asked what’s happening. Whilst these are small issues, it makes me feel like the film was rushed.
The streaming aspect plays a role with Sara and ‘Dekkard’ who are internet dating? or messaging, something like that, anyways, He tries to help her navigate the house by texting her. Whilst this is a decent idea, it doesn’t really get exciting. It starts to feel like a throwaway teen slasher from the early 2000s.
Interestingly, Rick Rosenthal directed this film. He also directed Halloween II back in 1981. However, this doesn’t help the film. It feels like they were more focused on the reality TV aspect rather than creating the atmosphere and tension that made the original so good. The ending also feels like another forced attempt at leaving the door open for a sequel. Michael appears to be defeated but then opens his eyes whilst lying on an examination table in the morgue. I couldn’t help but think where could they possibly go next? Luckily we never got a direct Halloween 9 as I don’t think we needed it.
Overall, I enjoyed this film much more when I was younger. However, it is a very poor film. Brad Loree does a decent job as Michael Myers and there are a couple of good kills. Busta Rhymes also provides some unintentionally funny moments. However, the unmemorable characters, outdated streaming aspect, errors and ruining the ending of H20 makes this a frustrating sequel. Laurie Strode is killed off within the first few minutes which doesn’t help.
Michael Myers deserved a better 8th film and Laurie Strode deserved a better send off.
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