Halloween II [DVD]

It is rare that horror sequels (or any film sequels) manage to capture the tone and feel of their predecessor. However Halloween 2, made 3 years after John Carpenter's original, is a successful excercise in terror. Directed by Rick Rosenthal - who would later go on to direct the 8th installment - H2 continues from the moment Halloween left off. Not to spoil the plot, Laurie is taken to the local hospital where she is again pursued by Michael Myers. It is this continuation of the story, as well as Rosenthal's attempts to recreate Carpenter's visual style (still lots of long POV tracking shots) which differentiates H2 from the other sequels in the series; it actually serves to further the plot in an interesting way and remains consistent with the first film's style and content. A worthy film when taken on its own, H2 also serves as the concluding episode to the first part in the Halloween franchise.
However, expect more violence than the almost entirely blood-free first outing. Carpenter himself directed and inserted a number of extra scenes, with the firm intention of making the film more explicitly violent. This is perhaps one area where the film does lose the perfectly crafted suspense of the first, however as it is pointed out in the DVD's commentary, the makers did not simply wish to recreate the first film.
A very worthwhile film for lovers of the horror genre - a sophisticated horror sequel, prior to the reign of the Friday the 13th series. Fans of the series who are bound to have already seen it, the DVD provides an entertaining, humourous and insightful commentary, as well as crew bios and widescreen format.

Finally we understand why Michael is after Laurie. Due to the massive cliffhanger of the first film we see that Michael Myers has escaped and his victim Laurie has been taken away to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. Soon Michael finds out where Laurie is after hearing her whereabouts on a radio and travels to finish his night of terror. Soon he gets to hospital and discreetly murders the guard, four nurses, two ambulance drivers and a docter until only him and Laurie are left in the deserted building. But with Dr. Loomis on the way things can't go wrong until Michael's connection to Laurie is finally revealed. A strong sequel with a fair share of gore that backs up the first film. Rather cheesy at times but this is the one where we find out how Laurie has become Michael's object of obsession.

John Carpenter has done it again with this truly amazing sequal!! The end of the first film was so freaky everybody wanted a sequal, and when it was made nobody was dissapointed! Most of the time sequals are pretty bad but HALLOWEEN II was just as scary as the first. The setting is perfect. The hospital (where Laurie Strode was taken to after her ordeal in the first) is so quiet that it is scary. You're always suspecting Michael Myers to jump out from somewhere and kill. John Carpenter decided to add in what the first film lacked, gore. This film is pretty gory and not for the faint-hearted. Brilliant performances once again by the 'Scream Queen' Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasence. There are a few memorable scenes and some interesting weapons eg. a scalpol! John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN II is definitely one of the best sequals in the world. 10/10