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{{Short description|1998 film by Steve Miner}} | |||
{{refimprove|date=November 2010}} | |||
{{Use American English|date = March 2019}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date = March 2019}} | |||
{{Infobox film | {{Infobox film | ||
| name = Halloween H20: |
| name = Halloween H20:<br /> Twenty Years Later | ||
| image = HalloweenH20poster.jpg | | image = HalloweenH20poster.jpg | ||
| caption = Theatrical release poster | | caption = Theatrical release poster | ||
| director = ] | | director = ] | ||
| producer = Paul Freeman<!-- only producer, not executive producers --> | |||
| producer = ]<br />Malek Akkad<br />]<br />]<br />Paul Freeman<br />] | |||
| screenplay = {{plainlist| | |||
| writer = Robert Zappia<br />] | |||
* Robert Zappia | |||
* ] | |||
}} | |||
| story = Robert Zappia | | story = Robert Zappia | ||
| |
| based_on = {{basedon|Characters created|]<br />]}} | ||
| starring = {{plainlist| | |||
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br /> ] | |||
* ] | |||
<!--PER BILLING BLOCK--> | |||
* ] | |||
| music = ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
}}<!--PER BILLING BLOCK--> | |||
| music = ]<br />] | |||
| cinematography = ] | | cinematography = ] | ||
| editing = ] | | editing = ] | ||
| studio = {{plainlist| | |||
| distributor = ] | |||
* Nightfall Productions<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=65163|title=Halloween: H20|work=]|access-date=July 8, 2016|archive-date=April 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403034743/http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=65163|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| released = {{Film date|1998|8|5}} | |||
* ] | |||
| studio = ]<br>Nightfall Productions | |||
}} | |||
| runtime = 86 minutes | |||
| distributor = ] | |||
| released = {{Film date|1998|7|27|]|1998|8|5|United States}}<!--WARNING! Do not change the official release date and based on the film's poster--> | |||
| runtime = 86 minutes<ref>{{cite web|work=]|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/halloween-h20-20-years-later-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzcwmde|title=Halloween H20 - 20 Years Later|access-date=December 23, 2016|archive-date=September 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908132351/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/halloween-h20-20-years-later-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0zmzcwmde|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
| country = United States | | country = United States | ||
| language = English | | language = English | ||
| budget = |
| budget = $17 million<ref name="boxofficemojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=halloween7.htm|title=Halloween: H20 (1998)|website=]|access-date=October 20, 2019|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607134431/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=halloween7.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
| gross = $ |
| gross = $75 million<ref name=ww/> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later''''' is a 1998 American ] directed by ], and starring ], ], ], ], ], and ], in his film debut. It is the seventh installment in the ]. ''H20'' is a direct sequel to ] (1978) and ] (1981), ignoring the ] story arc of the ] ] ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Verniere |first1=James |title=JOHN CARPENTER: Doing His Own 'Thing' |magazine=The Twilight Zone Magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/Twilight_Zone_v02n08_1982-11_noads/page/n19/mode/2up?view=theater|pages=24–30 |date=November 1982 |access-date=December 2, 2023}}</ref> It follows a ] ], who has faked her death in order to go into hiding from her murderous brother, ], who finds her working at a private ] in ]. | |||
'''''Halloween H20: 20 Years Later''''' (a.k.a '''''Halloween 7'''''), is a 1998 American ] and is the seventh installment in the ]. It is directed by ] and starring ], ], ] and ]. The film was released on August 5, 1998 to mark the 20th anniversary of the ]. | |||
''Halloween H20'' was released in the United States on August 5, 1998. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with many saying it was at that point the best of the sequels but still paled compared to the original. It grossed $75 million worldwide against a budget of $17 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. A sequel, '']'', was released in 2002, while ] was released in 2007, and later another trilogy of films that follow only the original film and disregard all previous entries, were released beginning in ]. | |||
The story was developed and created by Robert Zappia. The screenplay was written by Robert Zappia and ]. It is a direct sequel to ]'s '']'' and '']'' and set in an alternate timeline in which the events that transpired in '']'', '']'', and '']'' never occurred. Set twenty years after the events of the first two movies, ''H20'' centers on a ] ] living in fear of her murderous brother, ], who attempted to kill her all those years ago. When Michael eventually appears, Laurie must face evil one last time, while the life of her teenage son hangs in the balance. | |||
==Plot== | |||
The film also features many homages to the ], many of Miner's earlier work, '']'' (which was one of the film inspirations for the ] and starred ], Jamie Lee Curtis's mother, who portrayed Norma Watson in this film) and '']'', a 1996 horror/slasher film directed by ] and written by ] that was inspired by the ]. | |||
It has been twenty years since Michael Myers escaped from Smith's Grove and ] to kill his long-lost sister, Laurie Strode. After an ] caused by ], Michael's body disappeared and was presumed dead. | |||
On October 29, 1998, ] (née Chambers), Loomis' former colleague who took care of him until his death, returns home to the house they shared in Langdon, ], only to find that it has been broken into and discovers that the file on Laurie Strode is missing. Marion seeks help from her teenage neighbor, Jimmy, only to discover that he and his friend, Tony, have been murdered by Michael, before she, too, is killed. Michael drives away in Jimmy's car, as the police arrive on scene. | |||
The film received mixed reviews from critics, praising the script, direction of ] and the performances of ] and ], but received criticism to certain plotpoints and it's short running time. Despite mixed reception, the film was universally-praised by fans of the series, with many praising it as the best installment since ]. The film was also praised by critics and fans for ignoring the events of the last three films, acting as a direct sequel to ]. | |||
In Summer Glen, ], Laurie lives under the identity of "Keri Tate", having faked her death to stay hidden from Michael. She lives with her son, John, and is the headmistress of Hillcrest Academy, a private boarding school, where she is supported by her secretary, Norma Watson, and guidance counselor Will Brennan, with whom she is in a relationship. Despite the normal life she has built for herself, the traumatic events of her past have caused her to suffer from chronic nightmares as well as becoming an alcoholic, living in fear that her brother will one day find her. Michael, having gotten a flat tire, is forced to steal another vehicle from a woman and her daughter who stop by a highway rest area and inadvertently leaves them both unharmed and stranded. | |||
==Plot== | |||
{{Plot|date=March 2013}} | |||
Back at the academy, most of the faculty and students are preparing to leave for a trip to Yosemite. Laurie has forbidden John to go, afraid that something bad will happen to him while he is gone. John's girlfriend, Molly Cartwell, is unable to attend as well prompting fellow couple, Charlie Deveraux and Sarah Wainthrope, to forego the trip so that they can all have a Halloween party on campus. Laurie, following a heated argument with John about how her fears are affecting him, changes her mind about not letting him go on the trip, now afraid that him being around her on Halloween is too dangerous, though he ultimately decides to remain behind with Molly, Charlie, and Sarah, unbeknownst to his mother. | |||
Twenty years after the events of '']'', Marion Chambers Whittington (]), Dr. Sam Loomis' colleague, returns to her home in Langdon, Illinois, on October 29, 1998, to find it has been burglarized. Neighbor Jimmy Howell (]) searches the house and finds nothing. While waiting for the police in her house, Marion discovers a medical file is missing, the one on Laurie Strode (Michael Myers' sister who escaped the attacks 20 years earlier). Marion also realizes that someone is indeed in her house and immediately rushes back over to Jimmy's house where she finds he and a friend dead. ] (]),then attacks and slices her throat with a large kitchen knife, killing her. The police arrive as Michael leaves the house with the file on Laurie Strode. | |||
After most of the teachers and students have departed, Ronny Jones, a security guard who earlier helped John and Charlie sneak out of school, spots Michael's stolen truck parked at the main gate and goes to investigate but is oblivious as Michael sneaks onto the school property. Meanwhile, Laurie reveals her identity to Will and in the process discovers a connection between her age when Michael first came after her which is also how old her son is now. Upon going to call John, she finds out that not only are the phones not working, but that he did not go on the trip. She arms herself with a revolver and, along with Will and Ronny, goes looking for her son and the others. Unfortunately, Michael finds them first and kills both Charlie and Sarah in a gruesome manner. John and Molly are then attacked as well while trying to get away. Michael attempts to kill Molly but John comes to her defense and is stabbed in the leg. The two barely manage to escape and are rescued by Laurie who, much to her horror, comes face to face with her brother for the first time in twenty years. | |||
On Halloween two days later, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) awakens from a nightmare. Since 1978, she has tried to get her life together with the hope that Michael would never come after her again. She faked her death in an auto accident and then relocated to Northern California under the assumed name "Keri Tate". She has a seemingly perfect life with her son John (Josh Hartnett), boyfriend Will (Adam Arkin), and a great career as headmistress at Hillcrest Academy High School, a private boarding school. However, Laurie/Keri is far from happy. The tragic events from 1978 still haunt her. | |||
Will accidentally shoots Ronny in the head, mistaking his shadow for Michael approaching from around a corner. As Laurie is checking Ronny's body, Michael emerges from a doorway behind Will and stabs him in the back, killing him. Laurie then tricks Michael and momentarily stuns him while she retrieves John and Molly from their hiding place. The trio make a run for Laurie's truck and drive off towards the main gate of the school. Knowing that Michael will never stop hunting her, she sends them on without her to get help, locks the gate, arms herself with an axe and heads back up to the campus to confront Michael once and for all. Following a deadly game of cat and mouse, Laurie stabs Michael several times and shoves him off a balcony through a table in the cafeteria below. As she prepares to stab him one final time, Ronny, who survived the gunshot, stops her, believing Michael to be dead. | |||
Later that day, Michael finds her using the file, and stalks the school grounds. The students leave for a weekend getaway. Later that evening, John and his classmates are having an intimate Halloween party in the basement when John's classmate, Charlie (Adam Hann-Byrd), is attacked and killed by Michael. When Charlie's girlfriend, Sarah (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe), goes looking for him, she finds Charlie's body in the kitchen dumbwaiter with a corkscrew embedded in his throat, and then Michael appears. She manages to get into the dumbwaiter next to Charlie and just as she closes the door Michael painfully stabs her in the leg. The dumbwaiter heads down a level and as Sarah gets out Michael slashes a rope, causing the dumbwaiter to fall down heavily onto Sarah's leg, savagely disfiguring it. As she attempts to crawl for help Michael stabs her repeatedly, killing her. John and Molly (Michelle Williams) go looking for their classmates. They find Sarah's body and are chased by Michael through the school grounds. At one point in the chase, John is stabbed in the leg. Just as Michael is about to get Molly and John, they are saved by Laurie and Will, who open the door for them just in time. Just as the door closes behind them, Laurie and Michael come face to face for the first time since their last encounter 20 years earlier. Laurie and Will hide the kids and decide to try to kill Michael. | |||
The authorities arrive a short time later and the entire school becomes a crime scene. A seemingly dead Michael is put in a body bag and loaded into a coroner's van, but Laurie knows that he is still alive, having grown accustomed to her brother's tricky nature. She grabs her axe, steals a police officer's gun, and hijacks the van with the intent of killing him for good. Michael awakens down the road, breaks out of the bag, and attacks Laurie who slams on the brakes sending him crashing through the windshield. As Michael sits up then proceeds to stand, Laurie drives into him and then off the road. | |||
When Will sees a shape approaching from the far end of the hall, he takes Laurie's pistol (which she had secretly kept under her pillow at home during all this time) and shoots the shape five times, only to discover that it was the school's security guard, Ronny (]). The real Michael then appears and kills Will. Laurie, Molly, and John escape but she tells them to go for help while she chooses to go back to the school with a fire axe. She finds Michael and attempts to kill him several times, and finally after stabbing him multiple times, he topples over a balcony. She approaches his body and pulls one of the knives out of his chest. She slowly raises the knife high above her head, preparing to bring it down on Michael and kill him, but before she can deliver the final blow, Ronny suddenly appears, having survived the accidental shooting and grabs her. He restrains her from attacking Michael and drags her out of the cafeteria. | |||
Laurie manages to jump free of the van as it tumbles down the embankment while Michael is pinned between the van itself and a downed tree. Bloodied and bruised, she makes her way down to the bottom and calls out to her brother. The two siblings share a moment as they reach out for one another. Laurie feels a moment of pity for Michael before raising her axe and decapitating him. Sirens approach in the distance as she closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths as the scene cuts to black. | |||
The police come and put Michael's corpse in a body bag, loading it into a coroner's van. Laurie, knowing that Michael is incredibly hard to kill and not believing that he is really dead, grabs the axe from earlier and an officer's pistol, and she steals the van. While driving away, Michael sits up and escapes the body bag. She slams on the brakes, throwing him through the windshield. She then tries unsuccessfully to run him over. The vehicle tumbles down a cliff but she escapes, while Michael gets pinned between the van and a tree. Laurie recovers the axe and approaches him. He reaches out to her, apparently seeking forgiveness and compassion. At first it seems she will accept this, and begins reaching out to him, but then she slowly pulls her hand back and with one swing decapitates Michael, finally killing him. Michael's head rolls down the hill and Laurie exhales, as sirens are heard approaching from the distance. | |||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
{{div col}} | |||
* ] as ]/Keri Tate | |||
{{Main|List of Halloween (film series) characters}} | |||
* ] as ] | |||
* ] as John Tate | * ] as John Tate | ||
* ] as Will Brennan | |||
* ] as Molly Cartwell | * ] as Molly Cartwell | ||
* ] as |
* ] as Charlie Deveraux | ||
* ] as Will Brennan | |||
* ] as Sarah Wainthrope | * ] as Sarah Wainthrope | ||
* ] as |
* ] as Norma Watson | ||
* ] as |
* ] as Ronald 'Ronny' Jones | ||
* Chris Durand as ] | |||
* ] as Marion Chambers | |||
* ] as Marion Chambers-Whittington | |||
* ] as Jimmy Howell | * ] as Jimmy Howell | ||
* Branden Williams as Tony Alegre | |||
* ] as Shirley "Shirl" Jones | |||
* ] as Detective Fitzsimmons | |||
* ] as ] | |||
* ] as Matt Sampson | |||
* ] as ] (voice only) | |||
* Larisa Miller as Claudia | |||
* Emmalee Thompson as Casey | |||
* ] as ] (voice) | |||
* ] as Shirley 'Shirl' Jones (voice) | |||
{{div col end}} | |||
==Production== | ==Production== | ||
{{More citations needed section|date=May 2015}} | |||
] was originally in the running to be the director for this particular follow-up since ] wanted to reunite the cast and crew of the ] to have active involvement in it. It was believed that Carpenter opted out because he wanted no active part in the sequel; however, this is not the case. Carpenter agreed to direct the movie, but his starting fee as director was $10 million. Carpenter rationalized this by believing the hefty fee was compensation for revenue he never received from the original ''Halloween'', a matter that was still a bit of contention between Carpenter and Akkad even after twenty years had passed. When Akkad balked at Carpenter's fee, Carpenter walked away from the project. | |||
The original idea for the seventh ''Halloween'' film began as the second half of the treatment written by ] during pre-production of ''Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers'', which he later submitted as a new treatment entitled ''Michael Myers: Lord of the Dead''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Daniel Farrands Interview (1997)|url=https://73miles-blog.tumblr.com/post/8817919523/daniel-farrands|access-date=2021-01-05|website=73 Miles to Haddonfield|date=August 12, 2011|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331092802/https://73miles-blog.tumblr.com/post/8817919523/daniel-farrands|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2014-10-24|title= Daniel Farrands Reveals 'Halloween 6' and '7' That Could Have Been|url=https://halloweendailynews.com/2014/10/interview-halloween-6-daniel-farrands/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Halloween Daily News|language=en-US|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124144854/https://halloweendailynews.com/2014/10/interview-halloween-6-daniel-farrands/|url-status=live}}</ref> The story would have opened immediately after the events of the previous film and involved Tommy Doyle discovering that the entire town of Haddonfield was involved in a conspiracy to control Michael Myers. Farrands compared the story to '']'', ], ], ]'s "]," and ]'s rejected screenplay for '']''.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-03|title=Halloween 6 writer reveals sequel's insane original ending|url=https://1428elm.com/2017/10/03/halloween-6-writer-reveals-sequels-insane-original-ending/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=1428 Elm|language=en-US|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727040025/https://1428elm.com/2017/10/03/halloween-6-writer-reveals-sequels-insane-original-ending/|url-status=live}}</ref> Farrands later decided not to continue with the series "since I honestly could not bear to watch another one of my scripts turned into a debacle – especially another ''Halloween''."<ref name=":3" /> | |||
Another idea pitched after the Farrands treatment was ''Halloween 7: Two Faces of Evil'', written by Robert Zappia. Originally intended to be a ] film, this would have involved Michael Myers stalking an all women's boarding school. The plot eventually also revealed a ], causing many fans to compare such a twist to ]. The pitch itself was changed a couple of times, changing the title to ''Halloween: Blood Ties'' as they brought Laurie Strode into the storyline, before scrapping the idea entirely.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Millman|first=Ashleigh|date=2019-05-08|title=Every Halloween Movie (They Never Actually Made)|url=https://whatculture.com/film/every-halloween-movie-they-never-actually-made|access-date=2020-09-17|website=WhatCulture.com|language=en|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107205846/https://whatculture.com/film/every-halloween-movie-they-never-actually-made|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
'']'' writer/producer ] was involved in various areas of production. Although not directly credited, he provided rewrites in character dialogue, which is seen heavily throughout the teen moments. Miramax/Dimension Films felt his involvement as a co-executive producer merited being credited. The original working title for the film was ''Halloween 7: The Revenge of Laurie Strode''. | |||
The screenplay was based on a story by ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://horrorpedia.com/2013/10/20/halloween-h20-20-years-later/|title=Halloween H20: 20 Years Later|date=October 20, 2013|website=HORRORPEDIA|access-date=October 5, 2016|archive-date=October 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021174801/https://horrorpedia.com/2013/10/20/halloween-h20-20-years-later/|url-status=live}}</ref> with the original working title for the film being ''Halloween 7: The Revenge of Laurie Strode''.<ref name=":2" /> Williamson was initially hired to write a script, and the story was to be a sequel to the previous six films, thereby keeping the timeline's continuity.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/halloween-h20-original-script-jamie-lloyd-story-continuation/|title=Halloween H20 Original Script Continued Jamie Lloyd's Story|date=2020-04-14|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-15|archive-date=April 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415070513/https://screenrant.com/halloween-h20-original-script-jamie-lloyd-story-continuation/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://lairofhorror.tripod.com/myerslair/dyk7.html|title=Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later: Did You Know?|website=LairofHorror.Tripod.com|access-date=October 5, 2016|archive-date=October 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006052231/http://lairofhorror.tripod.com/myerslair/dyk7.html|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2019}} When Williamson first outlined ''Halloween H20'', he created the storyline in which Laurie Strode has faked her own death and taken on a new identity as a specific way of ] the character's death in ''Halloween 4''. In Williamson's original treatment, there are scenes in which a Hillcrest student does a report on Michael Myers' killing spree, mentioning the death of Jamie, complete with flashbacks to 4–6 mentioned in the text. "Keri"/Laurie responds to hearing the student's report on the death of her daughter by going into a restroom and throwing up.<ref>]. " {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720041914/http://soma.sbcc.edu/users/DaVega/FILMPRO_175/Filmpro_175_Film_Writing/TREATMENTS/treatmentexaple_4_halloween7.pdf |date=July 20, 2011 }}</ref> | |||
===Music=== | |||
The original music score was composed by ], but some music from ''Scream'' was added to the chase scenes later on during ]. Ottman expressed some displeasure about this action in an interview featured on the ''Halloween: 25 Years of Terror'' DVD released in 2006. Ottman's score was supplemented with ]'s scores from ''Scream'', ''Scream 2'', and '']'' by a team of music editors as well as new cues written by Beltrami during the final days of sound mixing on the film. Dimension Films chief ] demanded the musical changes after being dissatisfied with Ottman's score.<ref name="filmtracks">''Halloween: H20'' score at </ref> | |||
In the film, the voice of Dr. Loomis is heard giving the same speech that he gave to Sheriff Brackett when they were inside Michael's abandoned childhood home in the original film. Audio clips from '']'' were initially considered when playing his monologue.{{Citation needed|date=November 2018}} However, instead of the voice of ] himself, sound-alike voice actor ] provides this voice-over. | |||
The song "]" by the music group ] was featured in the film during a party sequence and is also heard during the credits of the film. | |||
] was originally in consideration to be the director for this particular follow-up since ] wanted to reunite the cast and crew of the original to have active involvement in it. It was believed that Carpenter opted out because he wanted no active part in the sequel; however, this is not the case. Carpenter agreed to direct the film, but his starting fee as director was $10 million, so he demanded a three-picture deal with Dimension Films. Carpenter's bargain was denied by the Weinsteins, and therefore no deal took place. Carpenter rationalized this by believing the hefty fee was compensation for revenue he had never received from the original ''Halloween'', a matter that was still a contention between Carpenter and ''Halloween'' producer ] even after twenty years. When Akkad balked at Carpenter's fee, Carpenter quit the project and therefore refused to continue his involvement once again. ] was hired to replace him. Curtis later regretted doing the film, saying in a 2018 interview: "Now, to this day, I regret that I didn't say to everyone, if ]'s not the one producing this movie, I'm not doing it".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/20/halloween-jamie-lee-curtis-2/|title='Halloween' star Jamie Lee Curtis reveals her biggest regret about the horror franchise|website=EW.com|access-date=October 10, 2023|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018230140/https://ew.com/movies/2018/10/20/halloween-jamie-lee-curtis-2/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
The theme from ]'s '']'' was briefly used during the scene (at 42:00) where Laurie Strode speaks with Norma Watson (played by ], ]' real life mother). (In addition Janet Leigh stands in front of a 1957 Ford Sedan, license plate NFB 418, which was her car in the movie ''Psycho''.) | |||
'']'' writer/producer Kevin Williamson was involved in various areas of production. Although not directly credited, he provided rewrites in character dialogue and helped make alterations and sketches of the script. He also came up with the paramedic storyline that explained how Michael survived the ending, which was partially filmed the day after principal photography ended and later utilized in the film's sequel. The writers of ''Halloween H20'' were left with a dilemma when Curtis wanted to end the series, but Moustapha Akkad had a clause that legally wouldn't allow the writers to kill Michael Myers off. According to the Blu-ray released by ], Curtis almost left the project just weeks before filming, until Kevin Williamson came up with the paramedic storyline and presented it to Akkad. Curtis finally agreed to be a part of the film under the condition that no footage hinting toward a sequel would be presented by the film, and that the audience would believe that Michael was dead until the inevitable sequel was announced. '']''{{'}}s first shot of Michael in the paramedic uniform was filmed the day after ''H20''{{'}}s principal photography ended, according to ''H20''{{'}}s editor, ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-04-ca-9812-story.html|title=Horror Comes Full Circle in 'H20'|last=Wallace|first=Amy|date=August 4, 1998|work=]|access-date=November 5, 2017|archive-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311160748/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/aug/04/entertainment/ca-9812|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
===Masks=== | |||
As said on ''Halloween: 25 Years of Terror'', ''Halloween H20'' had scenes re-shot due to complaints of the Myers mask used in the film. Scenes that could not be re-shot had a CGI mask replace them frame by frame. Four masks were made for the film. | |||
The film features an in memoriam tribute to Donald Pleasence in the closing credits, but misspells his last name as "Pleasance." | |||
==Alternate television version== | |||
In February 2003, the ] network premiered an alternate version of the film, adding and extending footage not seen in the original release.<ref>http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5269544</ref> | |||
== |
===Filming=== | ||
Filming began on February 18, 1998 and ended on April 20, 1998. The filming location of the Hillcrest Academy private school was filmed at the ] located at 1923 Micheltorena St. in ]. Marion Chambers's house along with Jimmy Howell's house was filmed in ]. The town of Summer Glen was filmed in ]. The Hillcrest Academy entrance was filmed in ]. The ending of the film was filmed in ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thennowmovielocations.com/2012/05/halloween-h20-20-years-later.html?m=1|title=Halloween H20: 20 Years Later|publisher=Then & Now Movie Locations|accessdate=March 29, 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172049/http://www.thennowmovielocations.com/2012/05/halloween-h20-20-years-later.html?m=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://movie-locations.com/movies/h/Halloween-H20.php|title=Halloween H20: 20 Years Later|publisher=movie-locations.com|accessdate=March 29, 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920172723/http://movie-locations.com/movies/h/Halloween-H20.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Layton Eversaul|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=e_blF6bG3-I|title=The Story of Halloween H20: 20 Years Later - A Retrospective|publisher=]|date=December 31, 2021|accessdate=March 29, 2022|archive-date=September 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171343/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_blF6bG3-I|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
=== |
===Music=== | ||
The original music score was composed by ], but some music from ''Scream'' was added to the chase scenes later on during ]. Ottman expressed some displeasure about this action in an interview featured on the ''Halloween: 25 Years of Terror'' DVD released in 2006. Ottman's score was supplemented with ]'s scores from ''Scream'', ''Scream 2'', and '']'' by a team of music editors as well as new cues written by Beltrami during the final days of sound mixing on the film.<ref name=bttw>{{cite AV media|title=Blood is Thicker Than Water – The Making of Halloween: H20|publisher=Scream Factory|year=2014|work=Halloween: The Complete Collection|type=]|time=50:09}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2019}} Dimension Films chief ] demanded musical changes after being dissatisfied with Ottman's score,<ref name="filmtracks">''Halloween: H20'' score at {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622061918/http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/portrait_terror.html |date=June 22, 2008 }}. Retrieved March 31, 2019.</ref> instating the song "]" by ] group ], which is featured in the film during a party sequence and also during the end credits. | |||
In terms of total gross, ''Halloween: H20'' is the second highest grossing film in the ''Halloween'' franchise, behind ]'s ]. It was released on August 5, 1998 in the US and later in many other countries. ''H20'' cost $17 million to produce and returned over $55 million in domestic box office sales with an opening weekend of $16,187,724.<ref name="boxofficemojo"/> As for video/DVD rentals, the film grossed over $21 million. | |||
In addition, a small tribute to ]'s score from ''Psycho'' can be heard as Janet Leigh's character Norma Watson walks to her car (the same model car her character in ''Psycho'' drove) before leaving work for the day. | |||
===Critical response=== | |||
The critical reception for ''H20'' was mixed, with a rating of 53% on ] based on 55 reviews, and 45% among top critics based on 11 reviews; the site's general consensus is "''Halloween: H20'' is the best of the many sequels, yet still pales in comparison to the original ''Halloween''." The film was mainly praised for its writing, directing and the acting, particularly for the performances of ] and ]. Fans and critics were also pleased that H20 ignores the plots of the last three films, acting as the second sequel to the original 1978 film. <ref name="criticreception"></ref> | |||
No official soundtrack was ever released for the film, but a compilation album by Ottman was released in the United States and Germany under the ] label and includes the original score by Ottman and numerous other cuts. | |||
==Continuity== | |||
* As originally conceived, the plot device in which Laurie had faked her death was written explicitly to account for her reported "death" in '']'', and the original story treatment for ''H20'' acknowledged the events depicted in the fourth through sixth films in the series, including the existence and death of Laurie's daughter, ]; however, the filmmakers ultimately chose to ignore the continuity of the previous three sequels to focus more on Jamie Lee Curtis's character, Laurie Strode. Although Laurie's faked death remained in the script, the scenes mentioning Jamie were removed from the story, and the film's dialogue was adjusted to indicate that Michael Myers had not been heard from in the twenty years since the night depicted in the first two films. | |||
==Alternate television version== | |||
* Michael's 20 missing years are explained in the comic book series ''Halloween: Sam'', which also explains what happened to Dr. Loomis in the new continuity and further goes on to explain that Loomis and Laurie both knew he would return and she was placed in a witness protection program. The new continuity explains that Michael's body was never recovered from the hospital. | |||
In February 2003, the ] network premiered an alternate version of the film, adding and extending footage not seen in the original release. It has yet to be released anywhere else, but the deleted scenes can be found on ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5269544|title=Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (Comparison: Theatrical Version - TV Version) - Movie-Censorship.com|last=Wurm|first=Gerald|date=December 6, 2009|website=Movie-Censorship.com|access-date=March 31, 2019|archive-date=September 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908131301/https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5269544|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Reception== | |||
* ''Halloween H20'' also features the return of Nurse Marion Chambers-Wittington, who appeared in the first two films as an associate of Dr. Loomis. In '']'', she was the nurse who drove with Loomis to the asylum when Myers made his escape, and she reprised her role in '']''. | |||
===Box office=== | |||
* The ''Halloween'' comic book series, published by ] in 2001, bridged the continuity between '']'' and ''Halloween H20'', but in doing so made the plot of '']'' (unreleased at the time) impossible. | |||
Until the release of '']'' in 2018, ''Halloween H20'' was the highest-grossing film in the ''Halloween'' franchise. It made $16.2 million its opening weekend. With approximately 11,735,978 tickets sold during its initial theatrical run, it remains the third most-attended film in the franchise and sold more tickets than the previous three films combined.<ref name="boxofficemojo"/> | |||
The film also had a gross of €3.2 million in Germany (equivalent to $3.5 million).<ref name="mediabiz">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediabiz.de/film/firmen/programm/halloween-h20/49550|title=Blickpunkt:Film | Film | Halloween: H20|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-date=September 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907161134/https://www.mediabiz.de/film/firmen/programm/halloween-h20/49550|url-status=live}}</ref> Internationally it grossed $20 million for a worldwide total of $75 million.<ref name=ww>{{cite magazine|magazine=]|date=January 25, 1999|page=36|title=The Top 125 Worldwide|last=Klady|first=Leonard}}</ref> | |||
* Some scenes that were dropped from the other three movies were placed in ''H20''. For example, the scene where Laurie is hiding beneath a table in the dining hall, Michael starts flipping the tables over. This was originally going to be placed in '']'', where Michael chases ] through the elementary school. It was written that she would hide under a desk and Michael was going to flip the desks over. This was dropped due to time constraints. However, ] remembered and filmed it as part of ''H20''. | |||
===Critical response=== | |||
* Jamie Lee Curtis' mother, Janet Leigh, appears in this film as Mrs. Watson. Janet Leigh is best known for her role as Marion Crane in '']'' (1960). There is a scene where we see Mrs. Watson's car behind her. It is a 1957 Ford Custom 300. This is the same car that Marion trades her car for in ''Psycho'' when she is on the run. It is rumored to be the same exact car. | |||
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|56|5.6|70|''Halloween: H20'' is the best of the many sequels, yet still pales in comparison to the original ''Halloween''.}}<ref name="critic reception">{{cite web|url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/halloween_h2o/|title=Halloween H20 (1998)|work=]|publisher=]|access-date=October 29, 2024|archive-date=July 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723155130/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/halloween_h2o|url-status=live}}</ref> On ], the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{Cite Metacritic |id=halloween-h20-20-years-later |type=movie |title= Halloween H20: 20 Years Later Reviews |access-date=September 8, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Audiences polled by ] gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url=https://m.cinemascore.com |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170916153548/https://m.cinemascore.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 16, 2017 |title=CinemaScore |work=cinemascore.com |access-date=August 22, 2020 }}</ref> | |||
] of the '']'' awarded the film two out of four stars,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/halloween-h20-1998|title=Halloween H20|last=Ebert|first=Roger|author-link=Roger Ebert|date=August 5, 1998|work=]|via=]|access-date=October 30, 2017|archive-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604052811/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/halloween-h20-1998|url-status=live}} {{rating|2|5}}</ref> while Lawrence Van Gelder of '']'' wrote that "the throwaway jokes are few and far between, and after a pre-title sequence reintroduces Michael and shows just how far up suspense and thrills can be ratcheted, ''Halloween H20'' declines into the routine," adding: "Nobody is going to be surprised by who lives and who dies."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/library/film/080598halloween-film-review.html|title='Halloween H20': Monster and Victim: Older Not Wiser|last=Van Gelder|first=Lawrence|date=August 5, 1998|work=]|access-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref> Bob Graham of the '']'' praised the film's referentiality, as well as Curtis's performance, writing: "Slasher films often seem merely a joke, and with good reason, but in this case that's too bad. Curtis, with her plain, unglamorous appearance, rises to the occasion and delivers as compelling a performance as any this summer."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Sweet-Revenge-Jamie-Lee-Curtis-returns-to-face-2998235.php|title=Sweet Revenge: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to face down her killer brother in 'Halloween: H20'|last=Graham|first=Bob|date=August 5, 1998|work=]|access-date=November 5, 2017|archive-date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210084234/http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Sweet-Revenge-Jamie-Lee-Curtis-returns-to-face-2998235.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Writing for the '']'', Marc Savlov said of the film: "Miner strives to imbue the film with the requisite autumnal haze of the original but then gives up midway through and instead resorts to the standard stalk 'n' slash formulas. It's heartening to see a beloved character revived like this (at one point during the screening I attended, audience members actually stood up and cheered), but ''H20''—for all its good, gory intentions—is barely a shadow of the original."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1998-08-07/138417/|title=Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later|last=Savlov|first=Marc|date=August 7, 1998|work=]|access-date=November 5, 2017|archive-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025231751/http://www.austinchronicle.com/calendar/film/1998-08-07/138417/|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
* ]' death is briefly mentioned just like in previous Halloween films. It is brought up by Laurie Strode when she reveals her true identity to her boyfriend, Will; and Laurie says Judith was 17 years old at the time of her death. According to ]'s '']'' (1978), however, the dates on Judith's tombstone are November 10, 1947 – October 31, 1963 making her 15 years old at the time of death. It is believed that the writers of ''Halloween: H20'' changed Judith's age so that it would correspond with the character Laurie Strode's age from the original ''Halloween'' film of 1978. | |||
=== Accolades === | |||
* The yearbook shown in the beginning of the film lists Laurie as being part of the Class of 1978. However, if she was still in school in October 1978, she would have been part of the Class of 1979. | |||
At the ], the movie received nominations for Best Horror Film and Best Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000004/1999/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_2|title=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA (1999)|publisher=]. ]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230328172705/https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000004/1999/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_2|archive-date=March 28, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref> Curtis also won ] for her portrayal of Laurie Strode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spieltimes.com/news/how-many-oscars-did-jamie-lee-curtis-win-exploring-her-career-as-she-wins-best-supporting-actress-for-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/|title=How many Oscars did Jamie Lee Curtis win? Exploring her career as she wins Best Supporting Actress for Everything Everywhere All at Once|work=Spiel Times|first=Subhradeep|last=Mukherjee|date=March 13, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230328172354/https://www.spieltimes.com/news/how-many-oscars-did-jamie-lee-curtis-win-exploring-her-career-as-she-wins-best-supporting-actress-for-everything-everywhere-all-at-once/|archive-date=March 28, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=DVD Talk Forum – View Single Post – Pre-Horror Challenge 12: Building of the Optional Lists (Themes, Subset, & Checklist)|url=http://forum.dvdtalk.com/12880338-post259.html|website=forum.dvdtalk.com|accessdate=24 February 2017|language=en|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202042804/http://forum.dvdtalk.com/12880338-post259.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 1999 ], ''Halloween H20'' received four nominations in the acting categories: Favorite Actress — Horror (Curtis), Favorite Actor — Horror (Alan Arkin), Favorite Male Newcomer (Josh Hartnett), and Favorite Supporting Actor — Horror (LL Cool J).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000104/1999/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_3|title=Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (1999)|publisher=]. ]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230328173302/https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000104/1999/1?ref_=ttawd_ev_3|archive-date=March 28, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2023}}</ref> | |||
==Home media== | ==Home media== | ||
''Halloween H20'' was released on ] and ] by ]. In the United Kingdom, the film was released on ] on December 15, 1998. | |||
The film was first released on ] by ] on October 19, 1999 as part of the "Dimension Collector's Series". It was released in the UK on October 22, 2001 and re-released on April 25, 2011. It was also released in the UK in 2004 as part of the complete collection consisting of the first eight films, a set that is now out of print. It was re-released in the US by ] on April 26, 2011, although, it does not contain its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, but rather a 1.66:1 widescreen transfer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-H2O-Jamie-Lee-Curtis/dp/B004P7CNUY/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1319729049&sr=1-2|title=Halloween: H20|website=]|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-date=March 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322211224/http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-H2O-Jamie-Lee-Curtis/dp/B004P7CNUY/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1319729049&sr=1-2|url-status=live}}</ref> Echo Bridge later re-released the film in a triple feature set with '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Halloween Collection: Halloween Resurrection / Halloween: H2O / Halloween VI: The Curse of Michael Myers|date=September 6, 2011|url=https://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Collection-Resurrection-Curse-Michael/dp/B005CFC0N8/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1328828439&sr=1-4|work=]|language=en|access-date=March 31, 2019|archive-date=March 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322210024/http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Collection-Resurrection-Curse-Michael/dp/B005CFC0N8/ref=sr_1_4?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1328828439&sr=1-4|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
''Halloween H20'' was released in Canada |
''Halloween H20'' was released in Canada on ] by Alliance along with ''Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers'' and '']'' on January 12, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-Triple-Feature-Blu-ray/8515|title=Halloween Triple Feature Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-date=September 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908154957/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-Triple-Feature-Blu-ray/8515/|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 3, 2011 it was released by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment in the US but with an ] ] transfer, rather than the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Its sound was downmixed to stereo, rather than the ] theatrical mix. The Blu-ray received negative reviews, with Blu-ray.com calling it "a mess on every level".<ref name=":1">{{cite web| url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-H20-Twenty-Years-Later-Blu-ray/21770| title=Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later Blu-ray| publisher=blu-ray.com| access-date=October 27, 2011| archive-date=May 21, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521095405/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-H20-Twenty-Years-Later-Blu-ray/21770/| url-status=live}}</ref> It was also released along with '']'' in one Blu-ray collection.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-The-Curse-of-Michael-Myers-and-Halloween-H20-Blu-ray/22224|title=Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers / Halloween: H20 Blu-ray|website=Blu-ray.com|access-date=October 27, 2011|archive-date=September 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910044417/https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Halloween-The-Curse-of-Michael-Myers-and-Halloween-H20-Blu-ray/22224/|url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
It was released again on Blu-ray on September 23, 2014 in its original theatrical 2.35:1 aspect ratio and with 5.1 ] in the ''Halloween: The Complete Collection'' box set from ], with a disc produced by ], featuring a new commentary with Jamie Lee Curtis and Steve Miner and extra features including behind the scenes footage and archival interviews not seen on any other release.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
On October 4, 2022, ''Halloween H20'' was released by ] on ] as part of a 4K/Blu-ray box set along with '']'' and '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hunter |first1=Rob |title=Scream Factory Brings the Last Three 'Halloween' Films to 4K UHD |url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/halloween-4k-collection-review/ |website=Film School Rejects |date=October 5, 2022 |access-date=8 October 2022 |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008183710/https://filmschoolrejects.com/halloween-4k-collection-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==See also== | |||
* ] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist |
{{Reflist}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* {{Official website|http://www.miramax.com/movie/halloween-h20}} | |||
* {{IMDb title|0120694}} | * {{IMDb title|0120694}} | ||
* {{ |
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|halloween_h2o}} | ||
* {{Metacritic film}} | |||
* {{rotten-tomatoes|halloween_h2o}} | |||
* {{mojo title|halloween7}} | * {{mojo title|halloween7}} | ||
* at the ] | |||
{{Halloween series}} | {{Halloween series}} | ||
{{Steve Miner}} | {{Steve Miner}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Halloween H20}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 18:58, 3 January 2025
1998 film by Steve Miner
Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Steve Miner |
Screenplay by |
|
Story by | Robert Zappia |
Based on | Characters created by Debra Hill John Carpenter |
Produced by | Paul Freeman |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Daryn Okada |
Edited by | Patrick Lussier |
Music by | John Ottman Marco Beltrami |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by | Dimension Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $17 million |
Box office | $75 million |
Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later is a 1998 American slasher film directed by Steve Miner, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis, LL Cool J, Adam Arkin, Michelle Williams, Janet Leigh, and Josh Hartnett, in his film debut. It is the seventh installment in the Halloween franchise. H20 is a direct sequel to Halloween (1978) and Halloween II (1981), ignoring the Jamie Lloyd story arc of the previous three installments. It follows a post-traumatic Laurie Strode, who has faked her death in order to go into hiding from her murderous brother, Michael Myers, who finds her working at a private boarding school in California.
Halloween H20 was released in the United States on August 5, 1998. The film received mixed reviews from critics, with many saying it was at that point the best of the sequels but still paled compared to the original. It grossed $75 million worldwide against a budget of $17 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise. A sequel, Halloween: Resurrection, was released in 2002, while a remake of the original film was released in 2007, and later another trilogy of films that follow only the original film and disregard all previous entries, were released beginning in 2018.
Plot
It has been twenty years since Michael Myers escaped from Smith's Grove and returned to his hometown of Haddonfield to kill his long-lost sister, Laurie Strode. After an explosion at Haddonfield Memorial Hospital caused by Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael's body disappeared and was presumed dead.
On October 29, 1998, Marion Wittington (née Chambers), Loomis' former colleague who took care of him until his death, returns home to the house they shared in Langdon, Illinois, only to find that it has been broken into and discovers that the file on Laurie Strode is missing. Marion seeks help from her teenage neighbor, Jimmy, only to discover that he and his friend, Tony, have been murdered by Michael, before she, too, is killed. Michael drives away in Jimmy's car, as the police arrive on scene.
In Summer Glen, California, Laurie lives under the identity of "Keri Tate", having faked her death to stay hidden from Michael. She lives with her son, John, and is the headmistress of Hillcrest Academy, a private boarding school, where she is supported by her secretary, Norma Watson, and guidance counselor Will Brennan, with whom she is in a relationship. Despite the normal life she has built for herself, the traumatic events of her past have caused her to suffer from chronic nightmares as well as becoming an alcoholic, living in fear that her brother will one day find her. Michael, having gotten a flat tire, is forced to steal another vehicle from a woman and her daughter who stop by a highway rest area and inadvertently leaves them both unharmed and stranded.
Back at the academy, most of the faculty and students are preparing to leave for a trip to Yosemite. Laurie has forbidden John to go, afraid that something bad will happen to him while he is gone. John's girlfriend, Molly Cartwell, is unable to attend as well prompting fellow couple, Charlie Deveraux and Sarah Wainthrope, to forego the trip so that they can all have a Halloween party on campus. Laurie, following a heated argument with John about how her fears are affecting him, changes her mind about not letting him go on the trip, now afraid that him being around her on Halloween is too dangerous, though he ultimately decides to remain behind with Molly, Charlie, and Sarah, unbeknownst to his mother.
After most of the teachers and students have departed, Ronny Jones, a security guard who earlier helped John and Charlie sneak out of school, spots Michael's stolen truck parked at the main gate and goes to investigate but is oblivious as Michael sneaks onto the school property. Meanwhile, Laurie reveals her identity to Will and in the process discovers a connection between her age when Michael first came after her which is also how old her son is now. Upon going to call John, she finds out that not only are the phones not working, but that he did not go on the trip. She arms herself with a revolver and, along with Will and Ronny, goes looking for her son and the others. Unfortunately, Michael finds them first and kills both Charlie and Sarah in a gruesome manner. John and Molly are then attacked as well while trying to get away. Michael attempts to kill Molly but John comes to her defense and is stabbed in the leg. The two barely manage to escape and are rescued by Laurie who, much to her horror, comes face to face with her brother for the first time in twenty years.
Will accidentally shoots Ronny in the head, mistaking his shadow for Michael approaching from around a corner. As Laurie is checking Ronny's body, Michael emerges from a doorway behind Will and stabs him in the back, killing him. Laurie then tricks Michael and momentarily stuns him while she retrieves John and Molly from their hiding place. The trio make a run for Laurie's truck and drive off towards the main gate of the school. Knowing that Michael will never stop hunting her, she sends them on without her to get help, locks the gate, arms herself with an axe and heads back up to the campus to confront Michael once and for all. Following a deadly game of cat and mouse, Laurie stabs Michael several times and shoves him off a balcony through a table in the cafeteria below. As she prepares to stab him one final time, Ronny, who survived the gunshot, stops her, believing Michael to be dead.
The authorities arrive a short time later and the entire school becomes a crime scene. A seemingly dead Michael is put in a body bag and loaded into a coroner's van, but Laurie knows that he is still alive, having grown accustomed to her brother's tricky nature. She grabs her axe, steals a police officer's gun, and hijacks the van with the intent of killing him for good. Michael awakens down the road, breaks out of the bag, and attacks Laurie who slams on the brakes sending him crashing through the windshield. As Michael sits up then proceeds to stand, Laurie drives into him and then off the road.
Laurie manages to jump free of the van as it tumbles down the embankment while Michael is pinned between the van itself and a downed tree. Bloodied and bruised, she makes her way down to the bottom and calls out to her brother. The two siblings share a moment as they reach out for one another. Laurie feels a moment of pity for Michael before raising her axe and decapitating him. Sirens approach in the distance as she closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths as the scene cuts to black.
Cast
Main article: List of Halloween (film series) characters- Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode / Keri Tate
- Josh Hartnett as John Tate
- Adam Arkin as Will Brennan
- Michelle Williams as Molly Cartwell
- Adam Hann-Byrd as Charlie Deveraux
- Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Sarah Wainthrope
- Janet Leigh as Norma Watson
- LL Cool J as Ronald 'Ronny' Jones
- Chris Durand as Michael Myers
- Nancy Stephens as Marion Chambers-Whittington
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Jimmy Howell
- Branden Williams as Tony Alegre
- Beau Billingslea as Detective Fitzsimmons
- Matt Winston as Matt Sampson
- Larisa Miller as Claudia
- Emmalee Thompson as Casey
- Tom Kane as Dr. Sam Loomis (voice)
- Lisa Gay Hamilton as Shirley 'Shirl' Jones (voice)
Production
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The original idea for the seventh Halloween film began as the second half of the treatment written by Daniel Farrands during pre-production of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, which he later submitted as a new treatment entitled Michael Myers: Lord of the Dead. The story would have opened immediately after the events of the previous film and involved Tommy Doyle discovering that the entire town of Haddonfield was involved in a conspiracy to control Michael Myers. Farrands compared the story to The Wicker Man, The Hitcher, Rosemary's Baby, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," and Dennis Etchison's rejected screenplay for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. Farrands later decided not to continue with the series "since I honestly could not bear to watch another one of my scripts turned into a debacle – especially another Halloween."
Another idea pitched after the Farrands treatment was Halloween 7: Two Faces of Evil, written by Robert Zappia. Originally intended to be a direct-to-video film, this would have involved Michael Myers stalking an all women's boarding school. The plot eventually also revealed a copycat killer, causing many fans to compare such a twist to The Silence of the Lambs. The pitch itself was changed a couple of times, changing the title to Halloween: Blood Ties as they brought Laurie Strode into the storyline, before scrapping the idea entirely.
The screenplay was based on a story by Kevin Williamson, with the original working title for the film being Halloween 7: The Revenge of Laurie Strode. Williamson was initially hired to write a script, and the story was to be a sequel to the previous six films, thereby keeping the timeline's continuity. When Williamson first outlined Halloween H20, he created the storyline in which Laurie Strode has faked her own death and taken on a new identity as a specific way of retconning the character's death in Halloween 4. In Williamson's original treatment, there are scenes in which a Hillcrest student does a report on Michael Myers' killing spree, mentioning the death of Jamie, complete with flashbacks to 4–6 mentioned in the text. "Keri"/Laurie responds to hearing the student's report on the death of her daughter by going into a restroom and throwing up.
In the film, the voice of Dr. Loomis is heard giving the same speech that he gave to Sheriff Brackett when they were inside Michael's abandoned childhood home in the original film. Audio clips from Halloween were initially considered when playing his monologue. However, instead of the voice of Donald Pleasence himself, sound-alike voice actor Tom Kane provides this voice-over.
John Carpenter was originally in consideration to be the director for this particular follow-up since Curtis wanted to reunite the cast and crew of the original to have active involvement in it. It was believed that Carpenter opted out because he wanted no active part in the sequel; however, this is not the case. Carpenter agreed to direct the film, but his starting fee as director was $10 million, so he demanded a three-picture deal with Dimension Films. Carpenter's bargain was denied by the Weinsteins, and therefore no deal took place. Carpenter rationalized this by believing the hefty fee was compensation for revenue he had never received from the original Halloween, a matter that was still a contention between Carpenter and Halloween producer Moustapha Akkad even after twenty years. When Akkad balked at Carpenter's fee, Carpenter quit the project and therefore refused to continue his involvement once again. Steve Miner was hired to replace him. Curtis later regretted doing the film, saying in a 2018 interview: "Now, to this day, I regret that I didn't say to everyone, if Debra Hill's not the one producing this movie, I'm not doing it".
Scream writer/producer Kevin Williamson was involved in various areas of production. Although not directly credited, he provided rewrites in character dialogue and helped make alterations and sketches of the script. He also came up with the paramedic storyline that explained how Michael survived the ending, which was partially filmed the day after principal photography ended and later utilized in the film's sequel. The writers of Halloween H20 were left with a dilemma when Curtis wanted to end the series, but Moustapha Akkad had a clause that legally wouldn't allow the writers to kill Michael Myers off. According to the Blu-ray released by Scream Factory, Curtis almost left the project just weeks before filming, until Kevin Williamson came up with the paramedic storyline and presented it to Akkad. Curtis finally agreed to be a part of the film under the condition that no footage hinting toward a sequel would be presented by the film, and that the audience would believe that Michael was dead until the inevitable sequel was announced. Halloween: Resurrection's first shot of Michael in the paramedic uniform was filmed the day after H20's principal photography ended, according to H20's editor, Patrick Lussier.
The film features an in memoriam tribute to Donald Pleasence in the closing credits, but misspells his last name as "Pleasance."
Filming
Filming began on February 18, 1998 and ended on April 20, 1998. The filming location of the Hillcrest Academy private school was filmed at the Canfield-Moreno Estate located at 1923 Micheltorena St. in Silver Lake, Los Angeles. Marion Chambers's house along with Jimmy Howell's house was filmed in Melrose Hill, Los Angeles. The town of Summer Glen was filmed in La Puente, California. The Hillcrest Academy entrance was filmed in Chatsworth, Los Angeles. The ending of the film was filmed in Canoga Park, Los Angeles.
Music
The original music score was composed by John Ottman, but some music from Scream was added to the chase scenes later on during post-production. Ottman expressed some displeasure about this action in an interview featured on the Halloween: 25 Years of Terror DVD released in 2006. Ottman's score was supplemented with Marco Beltrami's scores from Scream, Scream 2, and Mimic by a team of music editors as well as new cues written by Beltrami during the final days of sound mixing on the film. Dimension Films chief Bob Weinstein demanded musical changes after being dissatisfied with Ottman's score, instating the song "What's This Life For" by rock music group Creed, which is featured in the film during a party sequence and also during the end credits.
In addition, a small tribute to Bernard Herrmann's score from Psycho can be heard as Janet Leigh's character Norma Watson walks to her car (the same model car her character in Psycho drove) before leaving work for the day.
No official soundtrack was ever released for the film, but a compilation album by Ottman was released in the United States and Germany under the Varèse Sarabande label and includes the original score by Ottman and numerous other cuts.
Alternate television version
In February 2003, the FX network premiered an alternate version of the film, adding and extending footage not seen in the original release. It has yet to be released anywhere else, but the deleted scenes can be found on YouTube.
Reception
Box office
Until the release of Halloween in 2018, Halloween H20 was the highest-grossing film in the Halloween franchise. It made $16.2 million its opening weekend. With approximately 11,735,978 tickets sold during its initial theatrical run, it remains the third most-attended film in the franchise and sold more tickets than the previous three films combined.
The film also had a gross of €3.2 million in Germany (equivalent to $3.5 million). Internationally it grossed $20 million for a worldwide total of $75 million.
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 56% of 70 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Halloween: H20 is the best of the many sequels, yet still pales in comparison to the original Halloween." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 52 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film two out of four stars, while Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times wrote that "the throwaway jokes are few and far between, and after a pre-title sequence reintroduces Michael and shows just how far up suspense and thrills can be ratcheted, Halloween H20 declines into the routine," adding: "Nobody is going to be surprised by who lives and who dies." Bob Graham of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the film's referentiality, as well as Curtis's performance, writing: "Slasher films often seem merely a joke, and with good reason, but in this case that's too bad. Curtis, with her plain, unglamorous appearance, rises to the occasion and delivers as compelling a performance as any this summer." Writing for the Austin Chronicle, Marc Savlov said of the film: "Miner strives to imbue the film with the requisite autumnal haze of the original but then gives up midway through and instead resorts to the standard stalk 'n' slash formulas. It's heartening to see a beloved character revived like this (at one point during the screening I attended, audience members actually stood up and cheered), but H20—for all its good, gory intentions—is barely a shadow of the original."
Accolades
At the 25th Saturn Awards, the movie received nominations for Best Horror Film and Best Actress (Jamie Lee Curtis). Curtis also won Fangoria Chainsaw Award for her portrayal of Laurie Strode. At the 1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Halloween H20 received four nominations in the acting categories: Favorite Actress — Horror (Curtis), Favorite Actor — Horror (Alan Arkin), Favorite Male Newcomer (Josh Hartnett), and Favorite Supporting Actor — Horror (LL Cool J).
Home media
Halloween H20 was released on VHS and LaserDisc by Buena Vista Home Video. In the United Kingdom, the film was released on VHS on December 15, 1998.
The film was first released on DVD by Dimension Films on October 19, 1999 as part of the "Dimension Collector's Series". It was released in the UK on October 22, 2001 and re-released on April 25, 2011. It was also released in the UK in 2004 as part of the complete collection consisting of the first eight films, a set that is now out of print. It was re-released in the US by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment on April 26, 2011, although, it does not contain its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, but rather a 1.66:1 widescreen transfer. Echo Bridge later re-released the film in a triple feature set with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers and Halloween: Resurrection.
Halloween H20 was released in Canada on Blu-ray by Alliance along with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers and Halloween: Resurrection on January 12, 2010. On May 3, 2011 it was released by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment in the US but with an open matte 16:9 transfer, rather than the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. Its sound was downmixed to stereo, rather than the 5.1 theatrical mix. The Blu-ray received negative reviews, with Blu-ray.com calling it "a mess on every level". It was also released along with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers in one Blu-ray collection.
It was released again on Blu-ray on September 23, 2014 in its original theatrical 2.35:1 aspect ratio and with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio in the Halloween: The Complete Collection box set from Anchor Bay Entertainment, with a disc produced by Scream Factory, featuring a new commentary with Jamie Lee Curtis and Steve Miner and extra features including behind the scenes footage and archival interviews not seen on any other release.
On October 4, 2022, Halloween H20 was released by Scream Factory on 4K UHD as part of a 4K/Blu-ray box set along with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers and Halloween: Resurrection.
See also
References
- "Halloween: H20". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
- "Halloween H20 - 20 Years Later". British Board of Film Classification. Archived from the original on September 8, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ "Halloween: H20 (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
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External links
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later at IMDb
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later at Rotten Tomatoes
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later at Metacritic
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later at Box Office Mojo
- Halloween H20: 20 Years Later at the TCM Movie Database
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Films directed by Steve Miner | |
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- 1998 films
- 1998 horror films
- 1990s horror thriller films
- 1990s slasher films
- American slasher films
- 1990s serial killer films
- Alternative sequel films
- American horror thriller films
- American sequel films
- American serial killer films
- 1990s English-language films
- Halloween (franchise) films
- Films about educators
- Fiction about fratricide
- Dimension Films films
- Films scored by John Ottman
- Films scored by Marco Beltrami
- Films directed by Steve Miner
- Films set in 1998
- Films set in boarding schools
- Films set in California
- Films about post-traumatic stress disorder
- Films set in Illinois
- Films about mother–son relationships
- Films about siblings
- 1990s American films
- Films about siblicide
- English-language horror thriller films
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- Films set in the 1990s
- Miramax films
- Saturn Award–winning films