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Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later [1998]


RRP: £15.99
Our Price: £3.00 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Halloween is one of the great modern horror films, but as a franchise its track record has been spotty at best, painfully bad at worst. Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later, directed by horror vet Steve Miner (Friday the 13th parts 2 and 3, House), won't displace John Carpenter's original but it might help you forget the films in between. Miner certainly has: the film begins as if sequels 3 through 6 never happened. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, reprising her role for the first time in almost two decades) faked her death and is now a single mom and headmistress of an exclusive California private school. She's also a secret alcoholic who lives in fear of her homicidal brother-bogeyman Michael Myers. Guess who decides to show up for a family reunion? The film begins with classic horror-movie exposition (the deserted college campus, Michael's escape, Laurie's waking nightmares) accomplished with some humour and style, but it's all set up for the second half, a driving roller coaster of stalk-and-slash thrills. There's little of the self-conscious genre referencing of Scream and at times the film is a little far-fetched--it is a slasher movie about a knife-wielding homicidal maniac who won't stay dead, after all--but Curtis transforms Laurie from a shrieking victim into an empowered, determined horror-movie heroine who's learned a thing or two from the previous films. Adam Arkin, Josh Hartnett, and TV cutie Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) co-star, and the script received uncredited polish from Scream writer Kevin Williamson; Curtis's mom, Janet Leigh, pops up in a cameo. --Sean Axmaker

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Effectively bypassing the largely rubbish slew of sequels, Halloween H20 picks up 20 years after the second movie, with Laurie Strode now hiding out as the head mistress of a posh boarding school in the California hills after faking her own death and changing her name. She is an emotionally traumatised alcoholic wreck, still struggling with the memories of her near fatal encounters with her psychotic brother Michael Myers years earlier, and so is over-protective of her 17-year-old son John. Just when she thought it couldn't get much worse, Myers reappears after laying in hiding for the last 20 years. His target is now Laurie's son who, along with a few teenage friends, ditches a school camping trip for a private Halloween party in the now-deserted school, forcing Laurie into a climactic battle with Myers. Halloween H20 is a terrific film for both newcomers and series fans alike. Cleverly bringing events full circle, the movie is packed with enough scares and insider references to keep all audience levels engaged. Director Steve Miner delivers a lean and pacy film, with Curtis delivering a great turn as the scarred and drained horror movie survivor who finally realises the only way to rid herself of her demons is to go up against Michael one last time. There's plenty of shocks and scares and some great set pieces (the rest-stop scene is particularly unnerving). And although the ending seems to bring the series to a definitive close, Myers will soon be back in action in Halloween 8.

On the DVD: There's a crisp widescreen picture and good sound quality, but little to shout about in the way of extra features: a short feature exploring the Halloween legend with very little that fans wouldn't already know, a pointless music video and banal trivia game. This is a great opportunity wasted. --Jon Weir


Yeah!
Review date: 2008-09-14 Rating: 6 out of 10

Nowhere near as good as Carpenter's film, but worth it all the same. Efficient direction, cheeky in-jokes (Curtis' mother, Janet Leigh cameoes in a motherly role) and Curtis of course lights up the screen. This is the best of the sequels. And just think; it only took them six films to reach it...

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Reviews


Good Movie
Review date: 2008-03-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is a good movie. Probably one of the best of the Halloween series.
The action is fast paced and the plot is a classic. The return of Laurie Stode to the series was a wise choice. But the only bad thing is that this film so easily dismisses Halloween's 4,5,and 6(which were good films(not so much the 5th one)) This film had a perfect end to the series. Too bad they made Ressurection.

surprisingly good
Review date: 2008-02-05 Rating: 8 out of 10

I expected much less of the H20. The previous ones were older and this was a update, updates to me are rubbish usually, however this is quite a good film. Similar to the previous sequels, just more newer, but its well worth the watch, im glad i saw this and im quite tempted to buy it.

Michael Myer's Is Back
Review date: 2008-01-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

Halloween H20 takes place 20 yrs after the events of the first 2 Halloween films, the producers have completley ignored the H4,5 and 6 which for me was the only thing i didnt like.
Halloween H20 starts off with michael searching for Laurie who is now an headmistress at a boarding school, on halloween the kids leave and again michael myers has come for his baby sister.
So pratically steve miner who directed Friday the 13th Part 2 has a clean slate and this is the first proper sequel to Halloween II, here's my little problem, i am uncertain why they ignored 4, 5, 6 but my guessing is that either they wanted a clean slate or they wernt prowed of those sequels excpecialley 6.
so here we are H20 sets to be the first 4 star halloween film since II, the film is very entertaining and enjoyable, i liked how they reduced the gore expecialley since halloween 6 relied on gore, this film relies on what the original did suspense and good storytelling
The final confrontation between Michael and Laurie always sends tingles down my spine.
for fans of the halloween series this is a worthy one to add to your collection and for any movie fan or horror fan this again is great to add to your collection
Infact Michael is back and is better than ever.

crap crap CRAP
Review date: 2007-11-02 Rating: 2 out of 10

This film is terrible there hardley an killings and half of them are off screen this is definitely the worst halloween movie ever and the mask is stupid the hair on it is sticking up and every part u see myers u see his eyes through the mask don't get this get the first

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Adam Hann-Byrd
Jamie Lee Curtis
Michelle Williams
Janet Leigh
Adam Arkin

Creators:
Jamie Lee Curtis (Primary Contributor)
Michelle Williams (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Hollywood Pictures Home Video
Manufacturer: Hollywood Pictures Home Video
EAN: 5017188883733
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-05-01
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 87 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1998
Language: English (Original Language)

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