Halloween 4 was released in theatres and spent two weeks in the number one spot at the box office. Michael Myers was back and dominating the box office, and pretty much right away a sequel was given the go ahead. Halloween had returned, and like it's many imitators it officially entered the realm of the slasher film serial drama.
At the end of part four, Michael was dead and his niece, in a twist ending, had taken his place as 'pure evil'. The series was poised to move into new places and new realms of terror. 1989 came and saw the release of more Sleepaway Camp's, Nightmare on Elm Street's and Friday the 13th's. But as Halloween had returned to its roots and Michael Myers joined the echelon of horror movie icons, things began to change.
Audiences, it seemed, were growing somewhat tired of the slasher genre. The idea of seeing the same story play out again and again, with very little, if any, originality was starting to get old. The fifth Nightmare (in as many years) and the eighth Friday, just didn't play as well as the movies that came before. Audiences, it seemed, were ready for something new. And Halloween 5 was poised to do just that.
On October 13th, 1989, almost exactly one year after Halloween 4 was released, Halloween 5 debuted in theatres. The film opens up with the death of Michael Myers in part four, only this time you see he doesn't actually die. And although things had seemed like they would be different, within the first five minutes, it becomes clear that Halloween 5 is just going to deliver more of the same. After the abismal fourth entry in the series, and the poor (er) performances at the box office for Halloween's rivals, more of the same might not of been a good idea.
But surprisingly, Halloween 5 delivers more thrills and chills and entertainment than it's predecessor and makes for a rather enjoyable hour and forty minutes. Halloween 4, unlike the original and first sequel, seemed more like Friday the 13th (without the gore) than a Halloween movie. Halloween 5, on the other hand, feels like a true Halloween movie (with Friday the 13th gore).
In the first Halloween, Michael lurked in the backgrounds and shadows, hiding and watching and waiting for the right time to strike. This is what made Michael Myers scary. Part four ignored this aspect and had Michael up front, in the foreground, barely in shadows and thus much less terrifying. Part five brings back the shadows and the darkness, the lurking and the following, the scariness and the tension.
As well, unlike the fourth film, the man behind the mask, the man who played Michael Myers, actually felt imposing, and large and frightening. He moved right, he walked right, he wielded knives the right way and most importantly he tilted his head just the right way. Not since the first film did Michael Myers feel and act so right.
Other than the man behind the mask, the whole surviving cast of part four returns here, and again, unlike the fourth film, the acting isn't half bad. Donald Pleasance is his usual great self as Dr. Loomis and Danielle Harris brings out a stronger and more well rounded performance as Jamie then she did a year previous. She carries the picture and is a joy to watch. Not all of the acting is as good as hers but it is a sure improvement over the last entry. The main reason for this, it seems, is the director.
Helmed by Frenchman, Dominique Othenin-Girard, Halloween 5 is a rather well directed slasher flick. It has moody atmosphere, some great (not as good as Dean Cundey's glorious work in the first three films) cinematography and lighting, and decent editing. It has a cohesive, if not great, story and it flows well from the opening moments until the closing moments of the film.
The story has Michael once again chasing after Jamie, but thrown into the mix is a psychic connection between the two of them and a mysterious 'man in black' who keeps popping up in unexpected times and places. Who is this 'man in black' and what is he up to? The answer, it seems, will be told in the next film or films in the series.
There are many weak spots in the story though, like the inclusion of Rachel (Jamie's 'sister' from part four) 's friend, who for no reason is incredibly attached to Jamie and vice versa. Or that many incidents from the fourth film are forgotten, ignored or disregarded to make this film work. Probably the biggest and most frustrating inconsistency is the Myers house. The first two movies made Michael's house legendary and in this film the house makes another appearance, only the viewer at first doesn't know it. It looks different in shape, colour and design, and since not much exposition is given, it is kind of confusing as to where people are when they first get there.
But Halloween 5 does have some good gory deaths. It has nudity and sex. It has Michael Myers acting like Michael Myers. It has great atmosphere and creative and interesting camera work. It has decent acting and scary moments. It has unexpected deaths and an unexpected ending. It has all the right touches to make Halloween 5 a worthy sequel in the Halloween saga and a worthy entry in the sky high pile of slasher films. Even though it didn't deliver on the promise of something new that part four left the audience with, it still did what part four didn't and couldn't do. It brought Michael Myers back home.
Film Rating: 63%
Breakdown (How Halloween 5 scored 63%):
Production Design: 7 out of 10
Cinematography: 7 out of 10
Re-playability: 6 out of 10
Originality: 5 out of 10
Costumes: 5 out of 10
Directing: 7 out of 10
Editing: 7 out of 10
Acting: 7 out of 10
Music: 7 out of 10
Script: 5 out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment