According to reports, Rob Zombie was given free reign by the producers to execute his own vision in H2: Halloween II without the limitations of John Carpenter-centric Halloween movies that came before it. Which, according to how this movie turned out, could be likened to giving a large, razor sharp, butcher knife to a six foot tall psychopath who will gut everyone who comes between him and killing his sister.

What’s The Story?

This question is probably on everyone’s mind after watching Rob Zombie’s H2: Halloween II which is a sequel to his 2007 remake of John Carpenter’s Halloween. The movie was peppered with symbolisms such as the white horse, the Gandalf-like ghost and of course the infamous mask. All of which makes for awesome imagery but not for a very strong narrative in exploring the relationship between Michael Myers and his long lost sister Laurie Strodes.

Why We Love It

Although John Carpenter’s original Halloween theme didn’t make it into the movie (only played during the final scene), H2: Halloween II’s soundtrack is this movie’s saving grace, especially with tracks like The Moody Blue’s Night of White Satin and Nan Vernon’s ambient version of Nazareth’s power ballad Love Hurts, which can be heard during the film’s closing credits.

Did You Know?

The kid who played the young Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake wasn’t able to reprise his role in this sequel because of a growth spurt. By the time the movie was to start shooting, he didn’t fit the look anymore and the part had to be recast.

Indeed, after seeing Rob Zombie’s H2: Halloween II it’s very hard to decide which is more gruesome – Michael Myers’ killing sprees or the film’s butchered narrative.

In Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Laurie is being hunted down by Michael. Michael tries to kill Laurie and along the way other people become part of the carnage. However this time, Dr. Loomis will not come to save the day. kind of bittersweet really.

What’s The Story?

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is the seventh installment in the Halloween movies series. But its storyline totally ignores the films that comes before it and instead picks up from Halloween II. This time we find, Laurie Strode has a son, a boyfriend and a job as a headmistress at a prestigious boarding school. Everything seems to be normal. Too normal, in fact that you just know something is about to happen. And something did – Michael Myers returned.

Why We Love It

For the ladies, this is probably the hottest Halloween of all the Halloween movies in the series. You’ve got a teenage Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who will move on to star in hits like 500 Days of Summer and Inception alongside Leonardo Di Caprio. There’s also Branden Williams whom you might recognize as hot nerd from Aerosmith’s Hole in my Soul video and appearances in TV series such as Will & Grace, Party of Five, The X-Files and Entourage. Of course, Josh Hartnett the eye candy girls feasted on on movies like Black Hawk Down, The Virgin Suicides, Pearl Harbor and Wicker Park.

Did You Know?

Because there were a lot of complaints regarding the look of the mask Michael Myers was wearing in this movie, it had to be CGIed in some scenes. There were also multiple re-shoots because of the mask. This is really mind-boggling considering that the first mask was a Captain Kirk mask that’s worth less than $2.

Most fans and critics regard Halloween H20: 20 Years Later as the best sequel yet to come out of the Halloween franchise since the first two came out. That’s a compliment considering the slew of Halloween movies that came before it.

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers tries to answer all the questions that everyone has been asking since the original Halloween movie such as “Why doesn’t Michael Myers die?” “Where did he get his powers?” “Why did he kill his sister?” “Why does he keep killing people?” “Why didn’t he continue using a clown’s mask?” “How did he get his rune tattoo?” “Where did he learn to drive?” You know, all the questions that can’t be answered with “because he is pure evil.”

What’s The Story?

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is supposed to be the movie that will explain what’s behind the mask. But with a very thin and seemingly confused narrative, it didn’t even give us a glimpse. Although the Curse of Thorn reference to his murdering his own kin, the inclusion of pseudo-druids, baby farms and young boys who also have nightmares (ala Jamie Lloyd) strayed the movie’s focus on the one true thing audiences want to know about – Michael Myers.

Why We Love It

In one of the hospital scenes, Tommy Doyle (played by Paul Rudd) affectionately calls Michael “Pure Evil” Myers, Mike. One which Michael Myers seems to respond to, as he just stood there as Tommy comes within an arm’s length of him.

Did You Know?

The ending of the film wasn’t suppose to end like it did. It had an entirely different ending but it had to be re-shot after it didn’t pass the test screening. The new ending however, was more apt since this is also the last of the Halloween movies that Donald Pleasence, who portrays Dr. Loomis, starred on before his death.

In terms of Halloween movies, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is a good one to see. However, in terms of being part of the Halloween franchise, it seems to be lacking in terms of plot. Maybe, that’s why its storyline was entirely ignored in the next Halloween incarnations.

Rob Zombie’s remake of John Carpenter’s Halloween is one of the more controversial Halloween movies. Some feel Rob Zombie made Michael Myers “too” real, while others feel he deviated too much from Carpenter’s vision. But the fact remains that it takes real guts even to attempt to put your own spin on a cult classic among Halloween movies. Rob Zombie can say he took the challenge head on. Let’s see what the movie is all about.

What’s The Story?

More than a remake of the original Halloween by John Carpenter, Rob Zombie’s Halloween attempts to be a prequel as well. The first part of the movie delves into Michael Myers’ dysfunctional childhood which was implied as the cause of his psychological disorder. It also deals with the strange relationship between Michael Myers and Dr. Loomis, which developed from a professional to a personal and eventually to an obsession. While the second half of the movie is where the Laurie Strode storyline begins.

Why We Love It

The humor. When Nazareth’s Love Hurts starts blaring in the background to signal the transformation of an innocent kid to a mass murderer, you just have to see the humor in that. Any 80s power ballad can drive one crazy.

Did You Know?

For all its blood, gore and carnage, Rob Zombie’s Halloween surprisingly got PETA’s vote of approval. The organization that protects the rights of animals sent Rob Zombie a thank you note because of his portrayal of the young Michael Myers. PETA felt that Rob Zombie brought to the forefront the connection between animal cruelty and human violence.

Although Rob Zombie’s Halloween had critics and fans of the Halloween franchise on the fence, the box office results were sure of their verdict. It’s the fourth highest grossing in the Halloween series, earning $60.4 million domestically, just over $6.3 million behind Halloween II.

What better way to describe one of the most recognizable antagonists in Halloween movies than through the eyes of his arch nemesis. Dr. Samuel Loomis describes Michael Myers as “evil” and all permutations thereof. These include “pure evil,” “simply evil” and our favorite from Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers “evil on two legs.”

The Mystery of Michael Myers

Since the first “Halloween” came out in 1978, it seem that every movie in the franchise has been trying to make sense of who Michael Myers is and why he keeps killing. This is most evident in “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers” with the “Curse of Thorn” storyline. The movie tries to explain Michael’s behavior through some kind of ancient curse. But in Rob Zombie’s re-imagining of the original “Halloween” the explanation was more psychological in its nature. We find a young Michael Myers with an abusive drunk for a father and a stripper for a mother. Thus implying that his very dysfunctional household had an effect on his transformation as a killer. This theory is pushed to the limit in “Halloween: Resurrection” with six reality TV contestants finding torture devices in the Myers’ old home.

Playing Michael Myers

There have been many actors who have put on the mask and become Michael Myers. Among them Nick Castle, Tommy Lee Wallace and Tony Moran in the original “Halloween”. While six foot nine and former WCW wrestler Tyler Mane portrayed Michael Myers consecutively in Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” (2007) and “Halloween II” (2009).

But after 10 versions in the Halloween movies franchise, did we really get to know the real Michael Myers? And to be honest, should we?. Because the chill that the mere mention of Michael Myers sends down our spines lie in who or what we think is under his mask. Edited by Paul

Word of caution: Michael Myers is not in this one. If you’re still interested enough to proceed, then by all means keep reading. Halloween III: Season of the Witch is the third installment from the Halloween movie franchise. It’s also the only one without a sliver of Michael Myers’s butcher knife in it. Halloween III: Season of the Witch, for better or worse, turned out to be a complete departure from the first two Halloween movies.

What’s The Story?

Stealing the Stonehenge aside, Halloween III: Season of the witch is about a crazy toy maker who wants to pull the greatest prank on Halloween night. A prank that involves insects, snakes and other creatures coming out of every crevice in the human body. And how is he going to do it? By placing magical fragments of the Stonehenge in the Halloween masks that he created. These bits of rocks’ evil powers will then be triggered by a TV commercial that will be played in the entire nation. And who’s to stop this mad mask maker? Why, a drunk and womanizing doctor of course. If that isn’t a mess of a movie enough for you, there are also android bodyguards thrown in for good measure.

Why We Love ItAnyway, moving on.

Did You Know?

You can catch one of the scenes from the original 1978 Halloween movie in Halloween III: Season of the Witch. In the scene where the protagonist, Dr. Challis was being forced to put on one of the Silver Shamrock masks, you can see the scene where Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) is going across the street to check up on the Wallace house.

If you’re a die hard (pun intended) fan of the Halloween series, Halloween III: Season of the Witch is worth watching to find out why they brought Michael Myers back in the fourth installment.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers sees the return of Michael Myers and his niece Jamie. What sets this installment apart from the rest of the series is its amped up violence. This time The Shape is not content just using a butcher’s knife to murder his victims. Arguably, the characters and storyline used in this film have found many a reincarnation in today’s modern slasher films.

What’s The Story?

After having survived the fall from a mineshaft, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield to get his revenge. He has somehow developed a psychic connection with his niece, Jamie. But because of severe trauma, Jamie has suddenly become mute and has been confined in a children’s psychiatric hospital for treatment. Her nightmares reach fever pitch when The Shape is about to kill one of his victims. And with a more determined Dr. Loomis still on Michael’s tail, he tries to convince Jamie to use her telepathic link with her evil uncle to finally put a stop to his evil.

Why We Love It

The straight answer is Dominique Othenin-Girard’s directorial style. Released just a year after Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers didn’t offer anything new to the Halloween franchise. There weren’t any new expositions in the plot such as in Halloween II, where it was revealed that Laurie was Michael’s sister. However, Dominique Othenin-Girard’s fast and furious camera stylistics give the story a much more different look and feel than any of the other Halloween movies.

Did You Know?

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers was supposed to have more violence and gore if it was up to director Dominique Othenin-Girard. However, the film’s producer Moustapha Akkad didn’t quite agree with the direction that Othenin-Girard was taking the film. And the reviews committee didn’t as well. A lot of death scenes were trimmed just so the movie could make the R rating (boooh).

Overall, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is a good, scary film. It has become the precedent to the way slasher movies are made today, which is more violence, more blood, more gore equals summer blockbuster hit.

There was a lot of criticism when the original Halloween came out. It ranged from its cinematic merits to its cultural relevance and even as far as its effect on the youth’s attitude towards morality and violence. But one thing the critics didn’t pick on was the role the music played in creating the creepy atmosphere of the Halloween franchise. Particularly, the classic Michael Myers theme which has become a sort of cult sensation in its own right.

Behind the Theme Song

It’s quite interesting that the Michael Myers theme song is in a time signature often referred to as “complex” and “unusual.” It’s as if every part of the song is paying homage to the character of Michael Myers, the “complex” mass murderer who goes on a killing spree every Halloween in the town of Haddonfield. John Carpenter (who also created the character of Michael Myers) collaborated with composer Dan Wyman to create this piece of music present in all Halloween movies. Originally it was recorded using a regular piano but for the sequel a synthesizer organ was used instead. However, it almost didn’t make it in Rob Zombie’s Halloween II when Zombie and Tyler Bates couldn’t find a place for it in the movie. Instead it was used in the last sequence before the credits role.

Halloween Soundtrack Favorites

There are also a lot of great tracks in all the Halloween installments. Such as the song “(Dont Fear) The Reaper” by the Blue Öyster Cult, “Nights in White Satin” by The Moody Blues in Rob Zombie’s remake and a “Love Hurts” cover by Canadian actress-singer Nan Vernon.

Aside from being the-song-played-when-a-mass-murdering-masked-man-with-a-big-knife-is-coming, John Carpenter’s Halloween theme can also be used as a personalized ringtone for your boss or whoever you fear the most. Other possible uses of this epic piece of film music include christmas parties, funerals, and weddings.

Michael Myers is back – back from the dead that is. Halloween II is the sequel to the original Halloween which was directed by John Carpenter. Although Carpenter didn’t come back as the director for this one, he was still highly involved in the screenplay. This explains why all the scare tactics that made the first Halloween movie a success can still be found in this movie.

What’s The Story?

Picking up where the first Halloween movie left off – with Michael Myers mysteriously surviving the gunshot wounds inflicted by Dr. Loomis – he goes on to finish what he has started in Halloween II. He follows Laurie into the hospital where she was receiving medical care after her ordeal. Unknown to Laurie, Michael was killing off the hospital staff one by one to get to her. Meanwhile, Dr. Loomis stumbles upon a top secret information that could explain the reason why Michael returned to Haddonfield 15 years after her sister’s death anniversary — Laurie was his other sister.

Why We Love It

You just know you’re in for a horror treat when a movie starts with a line like “I shot him six times and he’s still alive.” It just captures the spirit of all Halloween movies with sequels, that the thing you’re afraid of is back and meaner than ever. This is evident in the more gruesome way he’s killing his victims on this installment as compared to the first one.

Did You Know?

While running away from the incarnation of evil himself, Jamie Lee Curtis was wearing a wig during the filming of Halloween II. She had to wear one for continuity because at that time she was already sporting a shorter hairstyle.

Halloween II should not be confused with 2009′s Halloween II directed by musician Rob Zombie, which was a sequel to a remake of the original Halloween.

Evil will not be televised. It will be streamed online. In Halloween: Resurrection we see the return of Michael Myers in real time and on reality TV. Unfortunately, some of the characters that have survived Michael’s evil clutches over the years, such as Dr. Loomis and Laurie, didn’t survive in this movie.

What’s The Story?

A reality TV program is being filmed in the Myers house, where six college students will be spending a night inside the house where it all began. All participants have been rigged with a camera to let the viewers see what they’re seeing inside the infamous house. But what they didn’t know was that someone was home. A certain someone that has a large butcher knife and is itching to use it.

Why We Love It

The entire first sequence of the film. The subtle recap from the nurses of the prior movie (H20: Halloween 20 Years Later) to reveal a seemingly out of it Jamie Lee Curtis was a good intro, but the scene showing her lucidity was the best bit. Also the homage to the clown mask worn by the young Michael in the original Halloween movie was a nice touch. Of course, the kiss between Michael Myers and Laurie at the rooftop before plunging to her death is of epic proportions.

Did You Know?

Halloween: Resurrection had three alternate endings (Deckard saves Sara; Freddie gets choked by Michael; A female CSI gets dragged into the hole Michael escaped in), two alternate opening scenes (a home movie featuring the entire Myers family, and Michael falls down the building at their roof showdown, instead of Laurie) and one alternate title (Halloween: The Homecoming).

Although Halloween: Resurrection didn’t impress the critics, it’s still great for any fan of the Halloween movies to see the evolution of the franchise.