second film, he’s given some
great dialogue to chew on. A
confrontation between Loomis
and Myers in a gas station is one
of the highlights not just of this
film but the series as a whole.
Loomis, replete with burn scars
from Halloween II’s finale, is now
a tired old man who resorts to
begging Myers to “leave those
people alone.” Few slasher flicks
can boast of such a human moment. As the newly elected heroine of the series, 10-year-old
Harris is a revelation, a child actor who actually acts like a child
rather than a miniature adult.
Director Little does some effective if not earth shattering
work behind the camera. His
two greatest contributions are
the moody shots of farmland
in the credit sequence and a
Vertigo-type zoom in the aforementioned gas station set-piece.
Compared to the hacks who
would take over in subsequent
sequels he does an admirable
job. After collaborations with
Carpenter, composer Alan Howarth strikes out on his own for
this film’s score. While the central themes remain, Carpenter’s
absence is notable and the music isn’t nearly as effective as in
previous films.
Halloween 4 was met with
scorn but, importantly, it won
back the fans with a thrilling
and snappy installment in the
adventures of their favourite
mass murderer. Sadly, the series
was about to enter its wilderness years.
4 stars out of 5
NewJerseyStage.com
2015 - ISSUE 10
44