The Boogeyman Returns Once More in ‘Halloween 4’
On a chilled October night in 1988, the boogeyman of Haddonfield emerged yet again from the shadows in ‘Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers’. With his all too familiar white mask and ominous overalls, Michael Myers was back to wreak havoc on his hometown, indiscriminately targeting another relative in his murderous rampage.
In this spine-tingling installment, the niece of infamous ‘final girl’ Laurie Strode finds herself in Myers’ crosshairs. Young Jamie Lloyd, portrayed with convincing innocence by a 7-year-old Danielle Harris, escapes the silent killer’s clutches by a hair’s breadth, her primal screams piercing the darkness as she flees his menacing blade.
Reprising his role as the obsessive Dr. Loomis, horror icon Donald Pleasance masterfully depicts a man haunted by his failure to stop Myers’ original killing spree. Though frail and world-weary, Loomis remains determined to protect Jamie at all costs. Meanwhile, plucky teenager Rachel Carruthers, played by Ellie Cornell, finds her protective instincts awakened when Jamie lands on her doorstep, forging a sisterly bond amidst the encroaching terror.
With its familial connections and familiar boogeyman, ‘Halloween 4’ retains an eerie allure for fans, while also evoking a sense of community between those who stand strong against the darkness. Though the film eschews creator John Carpenter’s original vision of a more psychological thriller, it delivers on blood-curdling suspense and chilling imagery that has become synonymous with the revered horror franchise.
As the residents of Haddonfield once again find themselves at the mercy of Michael Myers, ‘Halloween 4′ creates an immersive world where trusted authority figures are powerless, ordinary citizens transform into courageous heroes, and the roots of evil run deeper than anyone could have imagined. While later films may have strayed from the series’ hooded origins, this sequel recaptures the creeping unease and nerve-shredding tension that leaves viewers jumping at shadows long after the credits roll.
This is the plot to Halloween 4:
“There’s Michael Myers! Run for your life!”
“Why?”
“He’ll kill you if he catches you!”
“Are we related?”
“Well…no, I don’t think so.”
“Well, alright then. I’m cool.”
“Darn it, I never thought of that.”
That, ladies and gentlemen is the plot of Halloween 4. Don’t get me started on the acting. There’s none of that in this movie, either. Well, I take that back. Donald Pleasance is still the king of psycho psychiatrists and Danielle Harris does a pretty darn good job in her first starring role, which means she isn’t too annoying for a screaming 7 year-old kid.
Halloween 4 should have been subtitled “The Myers Family Reunion.” Hell, I think maybe they should have all been called that.
Trivia
Series creator John Carpenter wrote a treatment for this film, that was a more ghostly psychological approach to the Michael Myers mythos. It concerned the town of Haddonfield and what effect the events of the first two films have had on the it’s citizens. This concept was later rejected by the producers in favor of the typical slasher fare, at which point in time John Carpernter bailed out of the film, making this the first film in the series to have no participation from him.
The girl who drove Rachel and Jamie to the costume store was named Lindsey and is approximately 17 years old. In Halloween, Jamie Lee Curtis babysat a seven year old named Lindsey.
Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) of The Brady Bunch was the production assistant. His wife, Kelly Lookinland, played the dead waitress.