Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
Tagline: Michael lives… and this time they’re ready!
Released: 1989
Starring Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, Danielle Harris, and Wendy Kaplan
Directed by Dominique Othenin-Girard
Written by Michael Jacobs, Dominique Othenin-Girard, and Shem Bitterman
Format: DVD
Distributed by Starz/Anchor Bay
DVD Release Date: September 5, 2000
Features:
Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1)
Full-Frame Presentation
Theatrical Trailer
Inside Halloween 5 – Documentary featuring rare behind-the-scenes footage, a cut scene, and interviews with Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Executive Producer Moustapha Akkad, Cinematographer Rob Draper, and Don Shanks who played Michael Myers.
Premise: Following her mysterious behavior at the conclusion of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, young Jamie (Danielle Harris) is committed to the psychiatric care of Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence). Meanwhile, Michael Myers is presumed dead following a shootout with the Haddonfield Police and a fatal fall down a mine shaft entrance. But all is not as it seems. A well-meaning derelict nurses Michael back to health, and one year later he is back to kill again! Jamie finds herself the object of Michael’s murderous rage, and along with new friends and Dr. Loomis, she tries to prevent Michael from continuing his bloody rampage. However, there is a new visitor in town – a man dressed in black who quietly walks the streets with an unknown but sinister purpose. Why is he here? What is his connection to Michael? By the end of Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, many will be dead – you will be screaming!
Plot Breakdown (spoilers): The film begins with a recap of Michael Myers being shot and falling into the mine shaft from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Michael finds a way out shortly after falling and stumbles into a nearby river. After floating downstream, he staggers into a small shack by the river owned by a local hermit. Once there Michael collapses and remains in a comatose state for a full year. On October 30th, 1989, Michael reawakens, revealing a mark of the rune Thorn (or Thurisaz) on his right wrist, and kills the hermit. He then returns to Haddonfield, where his young niece, Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) continues to live after nearly being killed by Michael the year before.
Jamie has been unable to speak since attacking her foster mother in a state of shock at the end of part four, but exhibits signs of a telepathic link with her evil uncle. Dr. Sam Loomis realizes that this link exists, and plans to use it to put an end to Michael. Michael begins stalking Rachel (Jamie’s foster sister, portrayed by Ellie Cornell), and her friend Tina (Wendy Kaplan). After both are killed, Jamie agrees to put herself in danger to help Loomis stop Michael for good. With Jamie’s help, Loomis lures Michael back to the old Myers house.
Michael makes many attempts to kill Jamie, finally getting the chance to kill her in the attic. In a desperate move, Jamie tries appealing to Michael’s humanity by saying “Uncle.” This causes Myers to pause. When Jamie asks to see his face, he takes off his mask. A lone tear runs down his face. Jamie reaches up to wipe it away, and Michael is thrown into a rage. The killer pursues Jamie who runs into Loomis. The good doctor seems to turn on the girl as he shouts for Michael to come and take her. It turns out that he has used the girl as bait and Michael walks beneath a heavy chain net that is dropped over him. After two ineffectual shots from a tranquilizer gun, Loomis ends up beating him repeatedly with a 2×4. They take Michael to the local police station. However, a mysterious stranger, dressed in all black and marked with the same Thorn rune, has come to Haddonfield. Jamie, sitting in a patrol car outside the station, hears multiple guns shots, followed by an explosion. Jamie gets out of the car and walks through the station, finding bodies of dead police officers. She goes over to Michael’s jail cell to discover that it’s empty. Jamie begins to sob, realizing Myers is once again able to get to her.
The Good: Halloween 5 is a modern 80’s slasher film, in that it leaves much of what worked in the previous films for a more upbeat pace. Othenin-Girard’s directing is solid, with some excellent shots for contracted scenes. The cast (majority of which returning from the previous film), all provide adequate performances, though Harris’s acting really outshines them. Loomis’s confrontation with Michael during the film’s climax is also a highlight, as is the cliffhanger ending, which leaves audiences hungry for the next entry.
Inside Halloween 5 is in the same vein as Anchor Bay’s Halloween 4 documentary, a short featurette focusing on the film’s production and subsequent release. Akkad, Cornell, Harris, and more all provide recent interviews, sharing stories from the set and anecdotes about the film’s production. Anchor Bay did a quality job on this short, informative documentary.
The Bad: Logic errors abound, this film has a lot that can be criticized. From the extremely liberal set for the Myers house (that of which looks nothing like the house used in Halloween and Halloween II), Michael’s whereabouts until the (then) current year, and Loomis’s obstinate belief that Michael will return regardless of proof, leaves a bad taste with the viewer. Much of this film lacks plot direction, filling time until the climax. The mysterious stranger dressed in black obviously has a tie to Michael, though it is not explained or elaborated upon by the film’s conclusion – a true deus ex machina to supply the cliffhanger ending.
Final Comments: Halloween 5 is a mediocre horror film with just enough thrown in to keep the audience’s attention. The plot lacks focus, and problems with logic tend to overshadow some interesting story developments. Anchor Bay’s DVD release is a treat for fans, featuring a quality film transfer and an interesting documentary.
Grade: C- (film) | B (DVD release)
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