Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) has been in a coma for 10 years ever since that incident that he tried to kill his biological sister Laurie.
He nearly died in a gas explosion at the Haddonfield Hospital and now he is being sent to a maximum security prison for the criminally insane.
Laurie died in a car crash all those years later but has a daughter named Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris) who is now being raised by a foster family down in Haddonfield.
After finding out about this, Michael awakens, kills the transfer crew in the ambulance he lied in and returns to Haddonfield on Halloween night to try and kill his niece.
Jamie is having nightmares about her uncle. Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance) travels down to Haddonfield hitching to any transportation there and tries to reach the centre before it's too late.
He tries to contact Sherrif Brackett but he has retired and has the aid of a new head lawman named Ben Meeker (Beau Starr) who tries to help him out find Michael before he goes on another killing spree in Haddonfield.
Loomis helps Jamie out by staying in Meeker's house while a pack of redneck hunters are trying to track him down but Michael makes his way in killing everyone in his way.

This film return to the roots of the Michael Myers films and a good thing it does. There's a nice beginning in the film showing a farm road area saying the year as well as showing Michael's burned body in sheets with some attendendants moving his body into an ambulance and then the terror starts when Michael arises finding out that he has a niece which was well put in for the story making an excuse at to why he will rise once again. It also explains to how Dr. Loomis survives the explosiopn too showing burned scars on his face and using a cane to keep his balance.
The story looks interesting with Loomis checking out a crashed ambulance in the river and getting obsessed worrying about Michael returning to his home in Haddonfield even if the surroundings with all of this looked a bit cheesy.
What also was exciting to watch is when Loomis tries to confront Michael at a gas station after he killed the employees there taking a jumpsuit and his face is all bandaged up which is such a bummer since we all want to know what he totally looks like. It shows a nice temptation to the story with Loomis pleadaing him not to go back to Haddonfield and taking him instead. Then afterwards the film shows some great actions with certain things blowing up proving some good effects to the film.
While Loomis' car has exploded he is in the middle of nowhere walking to Haddonfield which is miles away leaving a painful feeling while watching this wondering if he will suffer walking all that way while trying to get a lift but with luck he gets a life from a drunken religious nutcase preacher making you ownder if he will cause him any danger. But at the same time Loomis is having enough trouble already and things couldn't get worst anyways. The scene written in was nice and effective to the story.
Of course we have poor little orphan Jamie Lloyd who is trobuled since her parents deadly car accident which also looks quite hearwarming when she tries to be close to her foster family. There's also great nightmare and hallucination sequences on Michael trying to kill and attack her which will make you jump at times when things are silent and suddenly BOOM! He's out to get her. There's even some neat hallucination sequences when she sees a clown costume (Which Michael wore as a child when he killed his sister which looked cheesy but fun to watch too.
Plus there's mean school kids picking on her due to her family background which can be disturbing to watch that they do it so much to make her cry and try to get away from this. You just feel like slapping these kids for being so cruel since kids are naturally mean.
The story gets going good when Loomis enters the sheriff's office asking for Leigh Brackett from the first two films as I wondered whatever happened to him since he lost his mind after finding out that his bitchy daughter was killed. But of course it's under a new lawman named Ben Meeker due to retirement years ago which you can understand after not able to handle his job since that awful incident.
There's also the hearthrob in the film Brady who is the typical boy next door teen dating Jamie's older foster sister Rachel but then it;s jeapardised when he catches him with the popular highschool bitch Kelly while Rachel takes Jamie trick or treating and she is in a nightgown and Brady coming down the stairs of her house. This seemed to work very well for one of those slasher films hoping that Michael will do her in for being such a homewrecker as well as acting stuck up towards others.
Plus there's redneck hunters looking for Michael which works incredibly well since we've seen these types in other slasher flicks too when the killer is famous for terrorising a small town. There's some dark humor involved with what they do especially killing the wrong resident since during this time period alot of dark comedy was used in slasher films.
You also see a power worker as a hydro place being electroctued to death caused a power outage in the small town which also gives the film a great feel on the killer roaming around and can't get caught cause it's too dark to see.
There's a nice bonus plotline with a group of teenagers circling around Loomis and Ben Meeker wearing Michael Myers mask to pull a prank since lots of kids like to pull jokes on Halloween night if if the case is extremely serious. I got a kick out of watching this.
Of course there's nice one liners with Ben Meeker giving Brady an idle threat if he ever laid his hands on his daughter which seemes to blend in well with a head lawman in the county making anyone scared to fool around with a daughter of his by getting overly protective.
Yet Brady tries to be a hero using a shotgun but trying to load the rifle while Michael is slowly walking up the stairs and he is standing still while doing this which is a big no no in order to survive a slasher or any other horror flick. Which shows that these types are never meant to make wise decisions.
There's a near suicide stunt trip with Rachel and Jamie climbing up a roof in order to get away from Michael which seems to be the traditional escape in a film while trapped in a house with a killer as this was a nice dark and suspenseful touch to the story.
Bottom line is that the film was an improvement to the triteful part 2 even if it was a bit cheesier with alot of scene's jumpinjg from one suspenseful moment to the other and I enjoyed quite a few scenes of the film as well as the end of this film which really begs you for another sequel too.
However, it's nowhere near as exciting or entertaining as the first one but again sequels rarely ever are.

The acting is fairly well done but sometimes it is stale with certain cast members. Lead actress Ellie Cornell (Rachel Carruthers) really got into her role as the understanding and likeable teenager in the film. She brings out alot of her characteristics and showing some good energy as well as making her part believeable too. Especially when she doesn't act impressed with certain negativities towards others.
Donald Pleasance (Dr. Samuel Loomis) of course is wonderful as always playing Michael's shrink Dr. Loomis bringing out alot more intensity in his role as well as his low speaking on situations about Michael Myers. He was believeably outrageous and obsessive about the whole scenario not dropping any ounce of energy at all.
Young Danielle Harris (Jamie Lloyd) really does well in her role as Michael's niece in which she really portrays a total likeable and sensitive type of character that you'd really want to protect from danger. She brings out all sorts of nice and innocent characteristics too. Sometimes she's a little too over the top with her intense crying though but at the same time she really brings it out.
Beau Starr (Sherrif Ben Meeker) brings out a great seriousness into his role as the head of the county law in Haddonfield. He's also terrific by acting strict that he could be intimidating when he wants to if it has anything to do with his daughter especially. He brought everything together and was no disappointment at all.
Sasha Jenson (Brady) is a good actor regardless ever since I saw him in my favourite film Dazed & Confused. He brings on a nice charm to his role as well as acting quite outgoing along with comin g across as someone who is unfiathful too. All in all he came across perfectly as one of those typical teenagers who is part of a popular crowd. Kind of a hearthtrob to the story in the film if you know what I mean.
Kathleen Kinmont (Kelly Meeker) really knew on how to play a bitch of a role since she was a nice key role to the story since we need one of those stuck up skanky homewrecking types. She brings it all to life by trying to act innocent but yet having a cocky behavior and being offensive too. Two thumbs up for this gal.

Kelly Kilmont's character as the stuck up teen Kelly Meeker has a brief breast shot as well as a butt shot.

A teenage girl is impaled on a shotgun
Stuffs his thumb in a guy's head
Some skulls are crushed
A guys head is ripped off
A mans face while driving is being scrunched up.

Dwight H. Little directs well for this piece. There's a good beginning with bit part actor Ramond O'Connor as a security guard leading bit part actor and actress Nancy Borgenicht and David Jensen as attendants going to an asylum which seemed a bit cheesy with their dialogues but fun to watch as well as a nice creepy moment by O'Connor explaining Michael Myers. There's a nice shot on Borgenicht taking notes sitting on a chair next to supporting actor George P. Wilbur as Michael Myers in a sheet and his hand dropping down from the sheet which looked pretty creepy on how this was all done.
Little coaches Borgenicht and Jensen very well in the ambulance having a discussion towards one another as well as Wilbur lying in the sheets. Then a good moment with him springing up and killing them as their reactions looked good and intense.
There's a nice close up shot on Danielle Harris staring at a window in the stormy night looking sad which looked impressive as well as a good dialogue between her and Ellie Cornell which looked good and touching as well as a nice reassuring pleades by Harris.
There's a nice shot on Harris going through a case of collectables of pics as well as her crying looking at the picture of her Mom which looked nice and touching.
There's a great shot on Harris walking near her bed with a great jumping moment on Wilbur grabbing her leg and her screaming in terror with a nice full shot on Wilbur about to attack as well as nice slow motion shots on Cornell and supporting actors Jeff Olson and Karen Alston running in a hallway to her room. There's very strong directing with them assuring her it was only a dream which looked realistic.
Little directs Harris quite well after she eavesdrop on a situation and gives a defensive response towards Cornell after she complains about babysitting her on Halloween.
There's a nice silent moment with Pleasance in a gas station trying to talk to Wilbur with a good shot on Wilber bandaged up standing in another area staring at him which looked good and impressive. Plus good camera takes on Pleasance trying to shoot him which looked energetic.
Little shows a nice directing moment with Harris at the end of school with bit part child actors like Jordan Bradley, Richy Cumba and Stephanie Dees circling her and tormenting her which looked convincing as kids being mean to an outisder in school along with a nice shot on her running away and crying.
Also, Little shows a great shot of when Harris' character went into a costume store and she spots a clown costume and acting cheerful when she spots it but then sees a hallucination of bit part actor Erik Preston as young Michael when she looks in a mirror. Then a nice shot on Wilbur putting on a mask as well as Harris screaming in terror and crashing behind a mirror which also looked susensefully directed.
There's a good argumentive dialogue between Cornell towards supporting actor Sasha Jenson in a store on a discussion of her breaking their date which also looked nicely done and very natural too.
Little shoots nice camera shots between Pleasance and bit part actor Carmen Filpi as a crazed preacher he gets a lift from which looked convincing as well as a nice shot on Filpi's rough expressions on his face when he talks about a certain situation.
He also shows a great suspenseful moment when Kilmont and Harris' characters are trying to escape from Michael Myers on a roof top.
Little shows a good serious discussion with Pleasance approaching supporting actor Beau Starr as the head sheriff about Michael Myers which seemed quite imressive as well as having a gloomy voice about who he is which was also well directed.
Little also shows a great shot on Wilbur's hand looking at some pictures which was creepy looking.
There's a nice powerful with Jenson trying to talk to Cornell after being cuaght in the act with her snapping back at him which looked strongly done.
There's a nice shot on bit part actor Harlow Marks as a power worker near a transformer hydro area getting demanding towards Wilbur just standing there staring at him which was done in a nice horror directing fashion as well as great powerful blocking with Wilbur approaching him and grabbing him and picking him up.
There's a good moment with Pleasance about to get into his car and staring in shock at what looks like Michael Myers as this was darkly directed in a great fashion.
Little shows nice close up shots on Jenson making out with Kathleen Kilmont taking off their clothes which had many artsy camera shots above them and in front of them as well as really molding in with their dialogues together.
There's great dark shots on Harris alone trying to look for her foster sister along with nice shots on Cornell doing the same thing as this was nicely put together as well as them panicking and trying to get their clothes on when they find out her onscreen father is home which looked impressive too.
There's a good dialogue with Kilmont in a kitchen area talking to Cornell and acting cocky towards her as well as a nice reaction on Cornell spilling coffee on her shirt and telling her off. This looked very natural between the two of them.
There's a good approach by Kilmont trying to act innocent offering some coffee to what looks like a sheriff keeping an eye on stuff along with a nice dark back shot on the officer. Then a great approach on Wilbur standing up and menacingly grabbing her which looked suspenfully and intensely directed.
There's a terrific moment with both Cornell and Harris screaming intensely towards Jenson while a good shot on him trying to load a shotgun with Wilbur slowly walking up some stairs. There's also good punching shots on Jenson towards Wilbur with a nice blocking moment on Wilbur grabbing his throat and picking him up which was incredibly brutal and intense looking.
Little shows good shots with Harris and Cornell on a roof trying to escape from Wilbur which looked dark and creepy.
There's a nice emotional crying moment with Harris trying to talk to Cornell with a nice side shot on her unconcious on the ground.
Harris looked great running around the neighborhood screaming for help and trying to get away from Michael Myers. There's great intense sobbing with Harris towards Pleasance panicking and telling her she wants to go home which looked impressive.
There's a nice shot in a school with Cornell using a fire hydrant on Wilbur at full force as Little showed a nice heroic direction on her.
There's a great side shot on Cornell and Harris screaming intensely while Wilbur tries to attack them in a truck driving at full speed.
There's a good shot on harris looking away with Wilbur stading up about to attack her and then she falls down with a terrific camera shot on Starr and his supporting cast as deputies firing their guns and great reactions on Wilbur being shot reacting to all of this.
Dwight's ending scene is very memorable as I don't want to give it out since it would be a spoiler but a great shot on Pleasance almost going crazy screaming with insane expressions.

We of course have Carpenter's theme music as usual since it works for every Halloween film but there's been different touches added to some of the theme to keep it updated for that time period.
Alan Howarth is good with his composition as he composed music for all the sequels until H20 saw the light of day. There's many good screeching sounds for the quiet and intense moments when Michael Myers is silently approaching or ready to kill. There's also high ptiched mellow synthesizer sounds along with high pitched intense noises too. To top it off there's a brief haunting like organ music for when the terror already happened in a house that Michael did people in. Plus there's odd metallic rusty and bonging sounds too with heavy echoey slamming sounds and heavy drum beats too. Howarth is the man for this regardless.

Jack Sayer: You're huntin' it, ain't ya? Yeah, you're huntin' it alright, just like me!
Dr. Samuel Loomis: What are you hunting, Mr. Sayer?
Jack Sayer: Apocalypse, End of the World, Armageddon. It always has a face and a name. I've been huntin' the bastard for 30 years, give or take. Came real close a time or two. Too damn close! You can't kill damnation, Mister. It don't die like a man dies!

Dr. Samuel Loomis: You talk about him as if he were a human being. That part of him died years ago.

Dr. Samuel Loomis: The state police will be here soon.
Jamie: And then we'll be safe?
Dr. Samuel Loomis: Yes.
Jamie: You don't believe that, do you?
[checks door, then pauses]
Dr. Samuel Loomis: No...

[after all the cops at the station are slaughtered]
Sheriff Ben Meeker: How could a man do this, Loomis? Tell me.
Dr. Samuel Loomis: This isn't a man.
Sheriff Ben Meeker: Then what is he? Tell me! What the hell are we dealing with here?
Dr. Samuel Loomis: Evil.

Sheriff Ben Meeker: I got a town full of beer bellies running around in the dark with shot guns! Who's gonna be next?

Dr. Samuel Loomis: We're not talking about any ordinary prisoner, Hoffman! We are talking about evil on two legs.

Sheriff Ben Meeker: I got a town full of beer bellies running around in the dark with shot guns! Who's gonna be next?

Dr. Samuel Loomis: We're not talking about any ordinary prisoner, Hoffman! We are talking about evil on two legs.

Dr. Samuel Loomis: Maybe nobody knows how to stop him.

Sheriff Ben Meeker: Oh, yeah... I catch you groping my daughter, I'll use that shotgun on you. Understand?

Security Guard: You never get used to the faces. Never!

Sam Loomis: I need to speak with Sheriff Brackett.
Deputy Pierce: Well, then you'll have to travel about three-thousand miles south of here.
Sam Loomis: What?
Deputy Pierce: Brackett retired in '81. He went to St. Petersburg.

[Wade is waiting to approach Kelly]
Brady: Hey, Wade, why don't you go ahead and make your move?
Wade: Don't rush me, Brady. Timing's got to be primo.
Brady: Yeah, well, money talks and bullshit walks. Know what I mean?

[the power worker sees Michael Myers]
Power Worker: Hey, you. This is city property. No trespassing. What are you, deaf? Don't try that Halloween shit with me.

Security Guard: Yeah, the one you're picking up, just thinkin' about him gives me the 'willies.' A decade ago-Halloween night-he murdered sixteen people, maybe more, trying to get to his sister. Nearly got her, too. But his doctor, of all people, shot him six times, then set him on fire. Both of them nearly burned to death. Yeah, I'll be glad to see this one gone. Yes, indeed-dee!

[at Ridgemont; a loud, distant shriek]
Man Attendant: Jesus!
Security Guard: Jesus ain't got nothin' to do with this place!

Dr. Samuel Loomis: Ten years ago, he tried to kill Laurie Strode. Now he wants her daughter.

Dr. Samuel Loomis: Wherever she is, that little child is in mortal danger.

Dr. Samuel Loomis: Six bodies, Sherrif, that's what I have seen! Between here and Ridgemont. An entire filling station in flames! I'm telling you Michael Myers is here, in this town! He's here to kill that little girl and anybody who gets in his way!

Jamie: Oh come alive, Rachel. Please come alive! Don't be dead. You can't be dead. Come alive, Rachel!

Dr. Samuel Loomis: [encounters the Shape in gas station] Michael? Why now? You've waited ten years. Why come back now? I knew this day would come. Don't go to Haddonfield. If you want another victim, take me. But leave those people in peace. Please, Michael?
[pause]
Dr. Samuel Loomis: Goddamn you.
[Loomis shoots at Michael]

Man Attendant: I'd assume Dr. Loomis would be here. Michael Myers is still his patient.
Dr. Hoffman: If Loomis read memos he'd be here. Fortunately, his position is more ceremonial than medical. And with Myers gone, my hope is that he'll either transfer, retire... or die.

Kelly Meeker: I didn't know you and Brady had anything, okay?
Rachel Carruthers: You knew. You just didn't care.
Kelly Meeker: He's not married. Besides, I've got a right to do what's best for me.
Rachel Carruthers: Don't you mean what you do best?
Kelly Meeker: Wise up to what men want, Rachel... or Brady won't be the last man you lose to another woman.

Deputy Logan: What are we doing?
Sheriff Ben Meeker: Making sure no one can get in here.
Deputy Logan: Isn't all this a little paranoid?
Sheriff Ben Meeker: If you'd seen that police station, you wouldn't even ask.

[Rachel catches Brady with Kelly]
Brady: I mean, you blow off our date at the last minute...
Rachel Carruthers: So you hop on to the next best thing? I thought you were different from other guys.
Brady: Oh, I'm different, it's just that... I just got pissed off, that's all.
Rachel Carruthers: Oh really? Well, I'll just let you get back to Miss Hot Panties.

Dr. Samuel Loomis: Why wasn't I notified?
Dr. Hoffman: About what?
Dr. Samuel Loomis: You know damn well about what! You let them take it out of here!

Dr. Hoffman: Now where are you going?
Dr. Samuel Loomis: Haddonfield. It's a four hour drive. You can reach me through the local police. If you don't find him in four hours, I'm sure I will.

Sheriff Ben Meeker: Let it be, Earl. Let the police handle it.
Earl: Like the last time? How many people killed back then? How many kids?

Darlene Carruthers: We'll be at the Fallbrooks. The number's next to the phone.
Rachel Carruthers: I know, and next to that is police, hospital, fire, and probably the National Guard.

Richard Carruthers: I want Jamie to be in bed by 9:30.
Rachel Carruthers: You're gonna be late. You don't want to blow your promotion.
Darlene Carruthers: Don't make fun. Tonight is the difference between vacations in Bermuda, and spending another two weeks with your grandmother in Cleveland.

Jamie: Whoever you are, I've got a big dog with me, and he bites!

Sheriff Ben Meeker: This starts to spook me here, doctor.
Dr. Samuel Loomis: Well, at least I am not the only...