With the release of Rob Zombie’s Halloween, there is now a total of nine movies in the Halloween franchise. I’ve sat through all the good, bad, and ugly moments, and this is how I see them rank against each other.
The original Halloween not only launched the careers of Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpenter, it started the slasher-horror genre. From the first introduction of the uber-creepy Michael Myers mask (William Shatner-inspired I might add), to the tension building soundtrack - the original Halloween has some of the creepiest, most memorable scenes in horror movie history.
Jamie Lee Curtis begins her career
After getting through the lengthy, yet disturbing, childhood of Michael Myers (which opens the film), Rob Zombie’s vision is spot-on. Michael Myers is big, mean, and evil! The movie does borrow some scenes directly from its predecessor (such as the bed sheet ghost scene), but adds a lot of freshness that was lacking. It will never beat the original but does blow all the sequels away.
Rob Zombie ups the violence
The first sequel is right up there with the original Halloween when it comes to the creepy factor. Starting right where Halloween ended, It has an even weirder vibe to it as most of the movie is set in a hospital. Just thinking about Michael Myers looking through the hospital room window at Jamie Lee Curtis gives me a shiver.
It took the studio 20 years to figure out how to make another successful sequel to the Halloween franchise: take the movie seriously and bring back Jamie Lee Curtis. Halloween H20 is a solid film with a decent script and cast (it turned Josh Hartnett into a star). Watch this along with the original Halloween and Halloween 2 and you have a great trilogy.
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
This is not a good movie. This is not even a good sequel. Why do I rank it so high? Because this is an over-the-top hack and slash film that I enjoy watching. There is an insane amount of violence, Paul Rudd stars, and the storyline features a cult that worships Michael Myers.
Halloween 4 (1988) & Halloween 5 (1989)
Since I can never tell these two sequels apart they might as well be grouped together. They only real difference - part 4 is titled Return of Michael Myers, and part 5 is Revenge of Michael Myers. They both suck and tarnish the Halloween name.
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Here’s a horrible idea - let’s make a reality show on the Internet with Michael Myers! I guess they were going for a Blair Witch style with the web cams, but this movie just stinks! Also, Busta Rhymes should never be allowed near a horror movie franchise again.
Busta Rhymes kills the franchise!
Halloween 3: Season of the Witch
Having nothing to do with Michael Myers (or anything else in the first two films), Season of the Witch instead takes on the possessed Halloween mask story. It is a cheap horror film that slaps the title of Halloween on to it to sell tickets.
By Brian McKechnie
Agree? Disagree? Email Brian at brian@bamcat.com
Yes, number four was dreadful - although when I saw it at 12 I thought it was the best. Definitely have to check out H20 - by the looks of it it's the only decent one I haven't seen.
Posted by: Cate Jones | September 03, 2007 at 09:44 AM
This Is How It Goes!
Best To Worst
Halloween 1
Halloween 2
Halloween 4
Halloween H20
Halloween 3
Halloween 5
(I Can't Believe They Killed Rachel)
Halloween 6
Halloween Resurection
Overall The Storyline Works If The Series Whent Like This
Halloween
Halloween 2
Halloween 4
Halloween 5
Halloween H20 (This Was Weird Because It Didn't acknowledge The Events Of Halloween 4-6
Hate 6 and Resurection, The Remake Was Alright
Posted by: TJ | June 13, 2008 at 12:45 AM