Halloween 2

( 33 )

Overview

While John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic Halloween irrevocably changed the style of horror cinema with its simple but relentlessly tense story, it triggered more than a decade's worth of uninspired, exploitative knock-offs, and one could easily list Halloween II among these failures. As with its predecessor, this film was written and produced by Carpenter and Debra Hill, but the terse style and unbearable suspense of the first film are missing, replaced by a more simplistic stalk-and-slash scenario. Directorial...
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Overview

While John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic Halloween irrevocably changed the style of horror cinema with its simple but relentlessly tense story, it triggered more than a decade's worth of uninspired, exploitative knock-offs, and one could easily list Halloween II among these failures. As with its predecessor, this film was written and produced by Carpenter and Debra Hill, but the terse style and unbearable suspense of the first film are missing, replaced by a more simplistic stalk-and-slash scenario. Directorial duties were handed over to Rick Rosenthal, whose lack of expertise is quite evident though he managed to hit his stride two years later with the prison actioner Bad Boys. The plot picks up exactly where the original left off: Laurie Strode Jamie Lee Curtis, shaken and injured from her battle with unkillable psycho Michael Myers, is taken to the Haddonfield Hospital for observation, while Dr. Sam Loomis Donald Pleasence continues his desperate search for his monstrous patient. An interesting plot twist has Loomis' investigations revealing Michael's true identity some of these sequences incorporate footage of young Michael originally shot for the television version of Halloween, which contained scenes hinting at the link between Michael and Laurie. After slashing his way through the town, Myers manages to track Laurie to the hospital, where the remainder of the action takes place. Numerous night-shift employees are slaughtered in a variety of gruesome ways before Loomis catches up with his quarry, leading to an explosive -- and seemingly conclusive -- confrontation. Pleasence is compelling as usual, but Curtis, who made an auspicious debut in the original, is sadly wasted here, her character reduced to shuffling half-drugged through darkened hospital corridors and screaming helplessly. Carpenter's active involvement in the Halloween franchise continued to dwindle steadily from one sequel to the next, getting scarcely a mention by the time producers Hill, Moustapha Akkad and Irwin Yablans revived the series in 1988 for three more sequels.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 9/18/2001
  • UPC: 096898886536
  • Original Release: 1981

    • Rating:

  • Source: Universal Studios
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Jamie Lee Curtis Laurie Strode
Donald Pleasence Sam Loomis
Charles Cyphers Leigh Brackett
Jeffrey Kramer Graham
Lance Guest Jimmy
Pamela Shoop Karen
Hunter Von Leer Gary Hunt
Leo Rossi Budd
Ana Alicia Janet
Brian Andrews Tommy
Lucille Benson Mrs. Elrod
Dana Carvey Assistant
Robin Coleman Medic
Howard Culver Man in pajamas
Cliff Emmich Mr. Garrett
Leigh French Gary's mother
Adam Gunn Young Michael Myers
Roger Hampton Patrolman #2
Alan Haufrect Announcer
Dennis Holahan Laurie's father
Nancy Loomis Annie
Pamela McMyler Laurie's mother
Gloria Gifford Miss Mrs. Alves
Ty Mitchell Young Gary
Tony Moran Michael Myers (age 23)
Tawny Moyer Jill
Jonathan Prince Randy
Ford Rainey Dr. Mixter
Kyle Richards Lindsey
Ken Smolka Patrolman #1
Nancy Stephens Marion
Jack Verbois Bennett Tramer
Billy Warlock Craig
Richard Warlock The Shape/patrolman #3
John Zenda Marshall
Technical Credits
Rick Rosenthal Director
William S. Beasley Asst. Director
Barry Bernardi Associate Producer, Producer
John Carpenter Score Composer, Producer, Screenwriter
Thomas D. Causey Sound/Sound Designer
Peg Cummings Set Decoration/Design
Dean Cundey Cinematographer
Dino de Laurentiis Producer
Mark Goldblatt Editor
Warren Hamilton Sound Editor
Debra Hill Producer, Screenwriter
Alan Howarth Score Composer
J. Michael Riva Production Designer
Skip Schoolnik Editor
Raymond Stella Camera Operator
Jesse Wayne Stunts
Joseph Wolf Executive Producer, Producer
Irwin Yablans Executive Producer, Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 33 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(17)

4 Star

(11)

3 Star

(2)

2 Star

(3)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 33 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 8, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    I Also Recommend:

    Halloween

    Literally continues where the first Halloween left off.

    As Laurie recovers from her horrific ordeal at the hospital, Michael's looking for her, having survived being shot by Dr. Loomis and its revealed why Michael is after Laurie in the first place. I liked part 2. It had some really creepy and weird moments. Plot was interesting acting was good as usual by main leads from the first film. Liked the ending, to be honest it fit more as a conclusion. Anyway if you're a fan of the Halloween movies then definitely get part 2, ignore part 3 though. The theme piano tune is still creepy and fits the atmosphere well.

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Will This Night Ever End??????

    First and Foremost, is the fact that this movie is the continuation of the first with very little actual time passing between the two. I believe they were filmed one. So the tension and fear just keep building up through both parts. Having the original cast and locations is key to the continued buildup of terror. An amazing Part 2, which nowadays is hard to say about a sequel.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

    REAL SCARY

    JUST LIKE THE FIRST HALLOWEEN FROM 1978 3 YEARS LATER THE KILLER IS BACK YEAH SCARY I KNOW SECOND HALLOWEEN REAL GOOD HORROR CLASSICE

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    The Boogeyman Returns...

    Made three years after the original... Halloween picks up right after the original ended. Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence return and provide good performances. The rest of the cast performs pretty well under Rick Rosenthal's direction. Trivia note... Jimmy (Lance Guest) is Jamie Lee's brother in law in real life... Michael Myers continues his mayhem (lots of it this time around... not as focused as the original... more in line of "how many people and ways can we dispatch someone?" Well made... with Dean Cundey's terrific lensing and John Carpenter/Alan Howarth scoring adding to it. The ending (until Michael returns in Part 4) is quite good... "It's time, Michael..."

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  • Posted October 1, 2010

    more from this reviewer

    They should have stopped at 2

    I think it wasn't that bad, they should have stopped at 2. I mean everyone wacthed him burn so keep it that way, now its just ridiculous. But it was cool how they kept up with the nite of not 2 years later but the very same nite. Although i find it kind of werid a hospital is empty and 5 people work there, but it kept my on the edge of my seat. One of the only goof horro sequels out there. SO PLEASE NO MORE HALLOWEEN, FREDDY OR JASON!!! ITS GETTING OLD!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Michael Myers, the other 364 days

    What does Michael Myers do on the other 364 days a year? Halloween 2 is much, much too violent.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A reviewer

    The hospital setting was kind of lame. Where was the staff & other pts? I have worked nights @ a hospital & this wasn't even realistic!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Awesome!

    All I say is this is a awesome sequel!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Jiggsaw Reviewer.

    Okay I liked this movie although this movie was mostly set in a hospital it wasnt very scary,and people died really fast/I give it a 4.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    HALLOWEEN II: THE NIGHTMARE ISN'T OVER!

    IF ANY MOVIE MARCHED TO THE BEAT OF THE ORIGINAL, IT WOULD BE HALLOWEEN II. CONTINUITY IS THE NAME OF THE GAME HERE. HALLOWEEN BUILDS THE TENSION, WHILE HALLOWEEN II ENDS IT IN FIRE! MAKING THIS MOVIE A CLASSIC IN IT'S OWN RIGHT.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Cannot sleep at night...

    After watching so many times one would think you could sleep after words. Heck no I still can only watch all the Halloween episodes during the day.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Halloween 2

    This movie I totally didn't like as much but it was okay so I liked it a little but expected more and probably a different perspective of the story instead of just trying not to get kill while being taking care of in the local hospital. Two or three of the characters were dumb and useful and thought that they derserve to get cut off but you wonder why do they want to go quickly with the movies and not just take time on what they have so far and what they should really do to please the fans since the first already pleased many and many people. This okay to the addition but not as good as the original. I was a bit disappointed though, they could have done better if they just actually not went ahead thinking it would please anyone.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Methods of death sick.....

    Average movie...his methods of murder are sick! I know I have to watch out for junk like that in these kinds of movies but scalding peoples faces and stabbing people in the eyes? gross. The first one is MUCH better!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    MUST ACCOMPANY FIRST HALLOWEEN!

    This picks up right where Halloween left off. This film is much more bloody than the first, has a much higher body cout, and actually caused a man (appearantly on drugs) in Californa to go out and murder an elderly couple after seeing the film. It takes place mostly in a hospital and even attempts to explain the meaning of Halloween night. This title is still my favorite Halloween sequel to date. The tape transfer to DVD is the clearest version of the film around, even though Universal didn't include any extras here (hence the low price). It would,ve been nice to see some of the deleted television scenes. But the movie has held up very well over time and will be around for many more Halloween's to come. It must be viewed with the first Halloween movie to get the whole picture. The story continues with an interesting connection between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, excellently written by 'the man' John Carpenter.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 5, 2003

    BETTER MOVIE!

    This movie had several times of suspense. It was much more suspensfull rather than scrary. One and two are MUCH better than ANY other halloween movies.Go buy it now if you haven't. You'll love it!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Halloween is back!

    This movie is one of the best movies that lives up to the original.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Halloween II: A Neverending Thriller

    Halloween II is my favorite Halloween movie so far out of the whole series. Every living minute of it is all full of mystery and suspense that will scare you to death. The thrill will never end throughout the movie, and you will always be on the edge of your seat!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Halloween II is a great addition to the prequal.

    This movie is a must have if you've enjoyed all the others in the Halloween series. I strongly urge you purchase this movie. You will laugh, scream, and beg for more. It's a great film, and if you loved the other Halloween movies, you'll love this one. Plus, it has Jamie Lee Curtis in it, so why should you miss that? Don't waste your time, buy this movie.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    WHY HALLOWEEN 2 IS COOL

    Halloween 2 is creepy, it made me grip the chair that I was sitting in, I saw Halloween 2 when I was 10 years old. It scared me, thrilled me, shocked me, amazed me at how scary a guy in a William Shatner mask can be especially when the killer was once a normal kid just like all the other kids. Go see Halloween 2 if you haven't you will like it I know I did.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Wicked movie!

    This is the best halloween yet! This one is the best because it has the most of donald pleasence shooting michael.

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 33 Customer Reviews