Halloween II
Created | Updated Feb 15, 2004
Setting: Haddonfield, 31st October 1978
Halloween II, made 1981-1982, begins immediately after Halloween ends, a clever idea that few sequels have ever exploited. Beginning with the first few minutes of the end of the last film, we see Laurie hiding from Michael, Tommy Doyle and Lindsey running from the house, and Loomis shoot Michael, who promptly vanishes after falling off the balcony. The film continues seamlessly with Michael hiding from Loomis and the Sheriff, and Laurie Strode taken to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital to recover.
Michael breaks into Haddonfield's local school where he finds or draws a child's picture of a family. He drives a knife through the picture's depiction of a sister which is later discovered by Dr. Loomis. When questioning this, Dr. Loomis is informed by Nurse Chambers that Laurie Strode is Michael's sister. By which time, most of the people in the Hospital have been killed by Michael. Dr. Loomis arrives in time to save Laurie, shoots Michael another 6 times, then once in each eye, before filling the room he is in with gas and igniting it in a terrible explosion.
Deaths:
| No | Who | How | Where | Reason For Death? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ellen | Stabbed | Her house | Called Police to investigate. |
| 2. | Billy Tramer | Run over | In road | Drunk, wearing Michael Myers mask |
| 3. | Mr Garrett | Hammered | Hospital | Security Guard |
| 4. | Budd | Strangled | Hospital | Almost had sex. |
| 5. | Karen | Drowned in boiling water | Hospital | Almost had sex. |
| 6. | Dr. Mixter | Stabbed by syringe | Off screen | Drunk |
| 7. | Jill | Stabbed by syringe | Hospital | Medical Professional |
| 8. | Mrs Alves | Bled dry | Hospital | Medical Professional |
| 9. | Janet | Stabbed | Hospital | Medical Professional |
| 10. | Jimmy | Collapsed | Outside Hospital | Medical Professional |
| 11. | Marshall | Stabbed | Hospital | Police |
Cast:
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Donald Pleasence | Doctor Samuel Loomis |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Laurie Strode |
| Dick Warlock | Michael Myers |
| Charles Cyphers | Sheriff Brackett |
| Lance Guest | Jimmy Lloyd |
| Hunter von Leer | Deputy Gary Hunt |
| Nancy Stephens | Nurse Marion Chambers |
| Tawny Moyer | Nurse Jill Franco |
| Ana Alicia | Nurse Janet Marshall |
| Pamela Susan Shoop | Nurse Karen Bailey |
| Gloria Gifford | Head Nurse Mrs. Alves |
| Ford Rainey | Dr. Mixter |
| Leo Rossi | Budd |
| Cliff Emmich | Mr. Garrett |
| John Zenda | The Marshal |
Characters with names in itallics are recurring characters.
Review:
Halloween II is definitely a cleverly done sequel, carefully interwoven with the original so that the two can be watched as one film, rather than the unrelated sequels several modern slashers have spawned. There are many continuity references with major characters from the original returning for little more than cameo roles, including the Sheriff, Nurse Chambers and Annie as a corpse, and the same horror films are still being shown on television.
The confined space of the hospital also adds to the tension, although the characters are less memorable than in the original; the nurses, for example, all blend into each other. It is also unrealistic that the hospital is so deserted, indeed, apart from a child who makes a quick visit, the only patient in the hospital we see is Laurie Strode. As far as sequels go, a good attempt, with the series still looking fresh.
