Out on DVD: Halloween II (2009) (18)
By Anna RobertsMarch 03, 2010
Stars Weird Al Yankovic, Tyler Mane, Danielle Harris, Margot Kidder, Brad Dourif
Halloween brought the world Mike Myers – the evil serial killer, not the Austin Powers funnyman.
About 30 years on the franchise which shot Jamie Lee Curtis to stardom is still running – but that is not to say it should be.
The early Halloweens, including the first in the series released back in 1978, were classic horror films.
The plots of each one were simple. Myers, a psychotic murderer institutionalised since childhood, escaped from his sanatorium and embarked on a mindless rampage killing lots of people.
In the first Halloween the story was left open so that Myers could return. Which he did time and time again – you would think his potential victims would eventually learn.
Halloween II was released in 2009 and should not be confused with the second Halloween film released in 1981 which – rather bizarrely – was also called Halloween II.
The more recent Halloween II – two hours of blood, gore and repeated stabbings – is directed by the wonderfully named Rob Zombie. It tells you something when that is the best thing about the film.
It is difficult to describe the plot of Halloween II (2009) because there really isn’t one – it is just a lot of dream sequences, bloody chases and violence. As a consequence it is not a film for the faint-hearted or easily squeamish.
Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton, pictured above) is in hospital recovering from her evil brother Myer’s fatal attack on their parents and attempted assault on her.
A year on, it is Hallowe’en again and Laurie, plagued by terrible nightmares about her psychotic brother, is attempting to get on with her life.
Everyone believes Myers is dead, a foolish assumption considering his past record, and they can finally put the past behind them.
But – and this was predictable from before the film had even started – everything is not as it seems.
Years ago, Halloween was a respected horror franchise.
But, like Myers, the directors should have given up the ghost long ago.
The latest instalment in the seemingly never-ending franchise is dull, boring, long-winded and, in parts, inexplicable.
Let us hope this time Myers really is dead and buried – it does not seem likely though.
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