Halloween 2 (1981)
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30% of critics liked it
(33 reviews) -
66% of users liked it
(74,530 ratings)
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… More 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. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi
- Directed By
- Rick Rosenthal
- Genres
- Drama, Horror
- In Theaters
- Oct 30, 1981 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 22, 1998
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Rick Rosenthal, who directed this 1981 sequel, doesn't have Carpenter's expansive, affectionate way with stereotypical characters, and without it they're empty shells -- bodies waiting for the slaughter.
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Variety Staff, Variety
This uninspired version amounts to lukewarm sloppy seconds in comparison to the original film that made director John Carpenter a hot property.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
The result won't make any converts, but Jamie Lee Curtis is as good as ever.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It's a little sad to witness a fall from greatness, and that's what we get in Halloween II.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
Halloween II is good enough to deserve a sequel of its own.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Jamie Lee Curtis
as Laurie Strode
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Donald Pleasence
as Sam Loomis
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Charles Cyphers
as Leigh Brackett
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Jeffrey Kramer
as Graham
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Lance Guest
as Jimmy
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Pamela Susan Shoop
as Karen
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Hunter von Leer
as Gary Hunt
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Leo Rossi
as Budd
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Ana Alicia
as Janet
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Brian Andrews
as Tommy
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Lucille Benson
as Mrs. Elrod
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Dana Carvey
as Assistant
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Howard Culver
as Man in pajamas
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Cliff Emmich
as Mr. Garrett
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Leigh French
as Gary's mother
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Alan Haufrect
as Announcer
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Dennis Holahan
as Laurie's father
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Nancy Loomis
as Annie
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Pamela McMyler
as Laurie's mother
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Gloria Gifford Miss
as Mrs. Alves
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Ty Mitchell
as Young Gary
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Tony Moran
as Michael Myers (age 23)
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Tawny Moyer
as Jill
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Ford Rainey
as Dr. Mixter
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Kyle Richards
as Lindsey
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Ken Smolka
as Patrolman #1
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Nancy Stephens
as Marion
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Jack Verbois
as Bennett Tramer
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Billy Warlock
as Craig
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John Zenda
as Marshall
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Jonathan Prince
as Randy
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Richard Warlock
as The Shape/patrolman #3
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Roger Hampton
as Patrolman #2
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Robin Coleman
as Medic
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Adam Gunn
as Young Michael Myers


