House of Horror (Archive)

Tag: Ellie Cornell

  • Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

    Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
    Tagline: Terror Never Rest in Peace!
    Released: 1995
    Starring Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, Marianne Hagan, and Mitch Ryan
    Directed by Joe Chappelle
    Written by Daniel Farrands and Joe Chappelle (uncredited)

    Format: DVD
    Distributed by Dimension Films
    DVD Release Date: October 10, 2000

    Features:
    Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1)

    Premise: For pulse-pounding suspense and relentless thrills, nothing can match Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers – one of the most frightening chapters in the chilling Halloween series! In a single horrifying night, Michael Myers’s masked reign of terror changed Halloween forever! Now, six years after he was presumed dead in a fire, Myers has returned to kill again – and this time there’s no escape! As the homicidal fury builds to a spine-tingling climax, the long-hidden secrets of the screen’s most maniacal murderer are revealed… with shocking results! Starring a thrilling cast, including legendary Donald Pleasence (Halloween, The Advocate) and Paul Rudd (The Cider House Rules, Clueless).

    Plot Breakdown (spoilers): Six years have passed since the events of Halloween 5. Michael Myers, his niece Jamie Lloyd, and the mysterious stranger have all disappeared after the conclusion of the last film; now thought to be dead. Unbeknownst to the public however, the mysterious “Man in Black” had actually kidnapped Jamie and had her impregnated. Jamie (J.C. Brandy) gives birth to a baby boy on Halloween Eve, and with the help of her midwife, manages to escape into the night with her infant. While on the run, she is able to call into a nightly radio show requesting help. Michael Myers, who had been in pursuit since Jamie escaped, eventually catches up to her and finally murders his niece.

    Meanwhile, Tommy Doyle (the child Laurie Strode babysat for in the original film, portrayed by Paul Rudd) has his eye on the family who’s moved into the old Myers house. The family living there are extended relatives of Laurie Strode’s adoptive family. Tommy has become obsessed with Michael Myers over the years and plans to be ready if he ever returns. After hearing Jamie screaming for help on the radio show, Tommy retraces her steps, finds the baby, and hides him. Also listening to the radio show was Dr. Loomis, who now retired, is writing a book about his experiences with Myers. Dr. Loomis, along with his old colleague Dr. Terrence Wynn from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, return to Haddonfield to follow up on Jamie’s plea.

    While Loomis and Wynn follow the police trail to Jamie’s body, Michael stalks the Strode family. Danny, the illegitimate son of Kara Strode, has been hearing voices similar to ones Michael heard when he was a child. The voices tell Danny to murder his family, unbeknownst to be the influence of the Man in Black. While Kara and Danny are away at school, Michael murders Kara’s mother, then later her father, brother, and his girlfriend.

    Tommy, concerned for the baby, takes him to Haddonfield’s hospital where he runs into Dr. Loomis, who recently arrived with Jamie’s body. He explains to Loomis that Jamie was not the last of Michael’s bloodline and Loomis should meet with him later so he can explain further. Tommy hastily leaves, only to end up confronting Kara Strode about her house’s past. Tommy reveals that Michael has been marked with a runic symbol called Thorn (or Thurisaz), an ancient Druid curse that drives those who are marked with it to wipe out their entire family for the good of civilization. For their safety, Tommy escorts Kara and Danny back to his apartment, and tells them to stay with the baby until he is able to meet with Loomis.

    Later, Jamie’s autopsy confirms she recently gave birth, prompting Loomis to meet with Tommy immediately, with Wynn in tow. Tommy and Loomis meet, only to find the baby missing. The plot takes a turn when the Man in Black is revealed to be Dr. Wynn. Wynn, part of a Druidic cult which has been experimenting with pure evil all these years, has kept their work secret within the bowels of Smith’s Grove Sanitarium (where Michael was held for most of his youth). The cult captures Kara, Danny, and the baby, taking them to Smith’s Grove, leaving Loomis and Tommy unconscious.

    After regaining consciousness, Tommy and Loomis follow to Smith’s Grove, where Tommy manages to free the imprisoned Kara, and Loomis confronts Wynn. Wynn reveals to Loomis that the baby is to be Michael’s final sacrifice, with the curse being passed on to another, Danny. Wynn then has Loomis knocked out, while he and fellow cult members continue with an experiment, with Danny and the baby held close by. Tommy and Kara, now on the run and with Michael close behind, free Danny and the baby, but not before Michael murders the cult members in a gory bid for the group to expose themselves. In a desperate attempt to hide from Michael, the group takes refuge in a room geared for genetic engineering. Michael soon finds them, though Kara escapes with Danny and the baby, leaving Tommy to confront Michael. Tommy manages to inject Michael with various chemicals, and bludgeons him numerous times with a lead pipe, leaving him for dead. Afterward, the group plans to leave “far away from here,” while Loomis stays behind to “take care of some unfinished business,” never to return.
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  • 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.
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  • Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

    Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
    Tagline: Ten years ago he changed the face of Halloween. Tonight he’s back!
    Released: 1988
    Starring Donald Pleasence, Ellie Cornell, Danielle Harris, and Beau Starr
    Directed by Dwight H. Little
    Written by Alan B. McElroy

    Format: DVD
    Distributed by Starz/Anchor Bay
    DVD Release Date: October 9, 2001

    Features:
    Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1)
    Halloween 4 “Final Cut” – An all-new 17 minute documentary Produced and Directed by Mark Cerulli
    Theatrical Trailer

    Premise: It is a decade after the original Halloween massacre in Haddonfield, and Michael Myers lays comatose in a maximum security prison hospital. But when he learns of the existence of his young niece Jamie (Danielle Harris), he escapes to return home and fulfill his destiny of destruction. Can Michael’s relentless killing spree be stopped by Dr. Loomis (the legendary Donald Pleasence) or will this inhuman evil again survive the most frightening night of the year? Halloween 4 marked the triumphant rebirth of the series and is considered by many fans and critics to be the best of all the sequels. This is the Return of Michael Myers like you’ve never seen or heard it before, now loaded with extras and better than ever!

    Plot Breakdown (spoilers): Michael Myers has been in a coma since the events of Halloween II, when his massacre was stopped by Dr. Sam Loomis. At the beginning of this film, Myers is being transferred from Ridgemont Federal Sanitarium back to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium. He awakens when he hears that Laurie Strode, his sister, is deceased, but her daughter is alive and well in Haddonfield. He kills the ambulance crew and escapes. Dr. Loomis, disfigured from the events of Halloween II, races to Haddonfield in an attempt to bring Myers’s killing spree to an end once and for all.

    In Haddonfield, his niece Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) has been adopted by the Carruthers family. She has frequent nightmares about Michael, though she does not know who he is. On Halloween night, Jamie goes out trick-or-treating dressed as a clown (a costume that is very similar to the one worn by young Michael Myers at the beginning of the original Halloween) with her teenage foster sister Rachel Carruthers (Ellie Cornell). Her uncle, Michael, follows them.

    Meanwhile, Dr. Loomis arrives in Haddonfield after an exhausting journey, and contacts the police department to inform them of Myers’s escape. He and Haddonfield’s new Sheriff Ben Meeker (Beau Starr) begin to search the town for Michael and Jamie. They find that Myers has singlehandedly annihilated the entire police force and taken out the town’s power. After Loomis manages to locate the two girls, they are taken to the sheriff’s house for protection. While the sheriff attends to the chaos ensuing due to the lack of police coverage, Loomis returns to the Carruthers’ home, thinking Michael will go there looking for Jamie. Soon after, Michael finds Rachel and Jamie at the sheriff’s house, though they manage to elude him and leave Haddonfield. Unbeknownst to them however, Myers managed to hide in the back of the pick-up truck they used to escape. Michael soon emerges and tries to kill Rachel while she frantically tries to drive the vehicle. Eventually, Michael is thrown from truck and Rachel hits him head on, throwing him off the road and knocking him out. After Rachel stops the vehicle, Jamie gets out, goes over to Michael and holds his hand. When Michael rises, the Illinois state troopers catch up to them and shoot Michael relentlessly. He falls into an abandoned mine shaft which collapses on him when the troopers throw dynamite down the shaft.

    Back at the Carruthers house, Jamie puts on her clown mask and stabs her foster mother. Dr. Loomis attempts to shoot her, but Sheriff Meeker prevents it. The film ends with a shot of Jamie, wearing the clown mask and the holding bloody scissors, reminiscent of young Michael Myers after killing his older sister Judith.
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