31 DAYS OF HORROR DAY 7: HALLOWEEN: H20 (1998)
Christmas 1996 in the shadow of the N 64 coming out and Jerry Maguire mania I sat in an empty theater on a Saturday night by myself and watched Horror change forever. Scream. Whether anyone admits it or not horror was dead in the 90’s. It was Scream that brought back real terror, humanity and humor into the horror genre. Scream is one of the best films of the 90’s. It still holds up today. As time passes Scream stands neck and neck with Fargo as the best film of 1996. It very well maybe Wes craven’s best work.
In the wake of Scream horror was hot again. And while Scream brought up a ton of slashers, they really put over Halloween as the king. And so a year and a half later we had H20 grace our screen. A big budget star-filled tribute to Michael Myers the first 2 films and all the movies that inspired it and were inspired by it.
First thing to mention is that this film may have the best cast of any Halloween film. Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Janet Leigh, Michelle Williams, LL Coool J and Josh Hartnett? Can you imagine this cast doing a Halloween film today? I do think they missed a huge opportunity of having michael chase Michelle Williams around for a good 10-15 minutes. Now let’s get to the story:
Pretty much laurie faked her death in the car crash mentioned in 4 and has been living in a secluded private school with her son. Michael discovers his sister is still alive by a file in Loomis’s old house with the label of “laurie Strode.” Good thinking there Sammy! After killing off levit and the nurse from part 1, Michael travels to the school and finally faces his sister again...and then he gets his head chopped off.
A lot of fans are missed this film ignores 4-6. However I have always maintained 4-6 happened. The film never states “THERE WAS NEVER A JAMIE LYOD” so fuck you they all count. Maybe she placed Jamie up for adoption before she faked her death. This was 1998 before facebook. She probably shut herself off from Haddonfield news and missed the part where he raped and killed her daughter. Fuck you every film count even 3.
Anyway I loved this movie. Some people didn’t and that’s because they went in wanting a slasher film. This is not a slasher film. This is about a victim taking control of her life. When we get to the film’s climax we start to mirror scenes and dialogue from Halloween 1. Here when Laurie yells at his son and his girl “Do as I say’ it’s with purpose, it’s with power. After 20 years of being a victim Laurie takes back her life. She robs Michael of his power. My main problem is with the last 6 Halloween films it was always a man that sweeps in and delivers the final blow to end the film. Here Laurie takes the revenge she’s been due 20 years.
The film is very 90s and for people in hiding Laurie and her son sure do scream about Michael alot in the street and to people they’re having sex with. Also ending the film with creed...not cool. Especially when the score was so amazing. I loved the Halloween theme in this. Still I loved it. Don’t go in expecting a slasher. Go in expecting a drama about a woman taking back her life. I think you’ll be surprised at how well the film holds up.
Finally if you spent all week watching the first 6..if you don’t smile when “Mr.Sandman” hit at the start your a soulless dick.
