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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers review by Terry Wickham
Michael Myers has been recovering from severe burns for 10 years in Richmond Mental Institution. They decide to transfer him. While in the ambulance, during the move, a doctor mentions that Michael has a young niece, Laurie Strode's daughter. This awakens the boogeyman and he stops at nothing to find his relative. From the opening titles, Director Dwight Little establishes a mood that had been missing since the first film. Choosing rich autumn colored landscape images, like a sheet ghost hanging from a tree or a wooden barn with a skeleton on its wall, Halloween 4 has a wonderful atmosphere. The Salt Lake City locations work well and Director of Photography Peter Lyons Collister excels shooting there. Donald Pleasence returns horribly scarred from the same fire that engulfed Michael Myers at the end of Halloween II. There are a few moments where Pleasence's voice is so in the moment that it will demand your attention. To his credit, Pleasence establishes a real connection between his character, Dr. Sam Loomis and the evil Michael Myers, who he has been observing for twenty-five years. I love the scenes where they are alone together and Loomis tries to get trough to Michael. These are the pivotal moments that the entire series builds towards. The other cast members make good impressions. Danielle Harris is excellent as Jamie Lloyd, a little girl whose life has been consumed with fear and turmoil. None of her scenes are particularly easy to play and the small actress brings the character to life. Beau Starr, who plays Sheriff Ben Meeker makes a formable policeman and blonde actress Kathleen Kinmont lights up the screen with her sensuality. Alan Howarth, who uses John Carpenter's established themes, does an fine job of giving Halloween 4 it's own identity, within the context of the series. Howarth takes the main theme, branches it out wide and then other times slows down the familiar notes to almost an evil whisper. His contribution is huge in this film's success. My only real criticism is that they couldn't get the mask to look anything like the first one. It's amazing really how different a simple white mask can look. Halloween 4 runs a sleek at 92 minutes and provides the necessary qualities we look for in a horror film.
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