Halloween: H2O-1998

Director Steve Miner

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin

Scott’s Review #504

Reviewed October 30, 2016

Grade: B

Halloween: H2O is the seventh installment of the Halloween franchise, though it is only associated, story-wise, with Halloween and Halloween II.

Made in 1998, the film capitalized on the twentieth anniversary of the original classic horror film.

To measure up to that masterpiece would be impossible, but the film is not bad on its own merits, and it offers nice nods to the past, making for a franchise pleaser.

Jamie Lee Curtis returns to the role that made her famous.

Before we are even reintroduced to Curtis’s character, we are treated to a nostalgic scene involving chain-smoking Nurse Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens) from parts I and II.

Michael Myers vandalizes her house as he steals a file she has kept on Laurie Strode.

How nice to see this character back in the fray- though her screen time is limited. She is pivotal to the kick-off of the new story.

Laurie (Curtis) has faked her death and is now living life anew in California- running a prep school as its headmistress. Her son John (Josh Hartnett) attends the school, and her boyfriend Will (Adam Arkin) teaches there.

John’s girlfriend Molly (Michelle Williams), a poetic security guard (LL Cool J), and a dizzy secretary, Mrs. Watson (Janet Leigh), round out the cast.

For the past twenty years, Laurie has been troubled by the notion of Michael Myers returning to kill her, and her fears come to fruition. The film has an interesting slant- no longer is Laurie the victim, cowering in cars and corners.

Now, she is intent on exacting her revenge on Michael- her brother.

She wants this long chapter in her life to finally close.

What nods to history does this film contain!  And that is the best part of it. Otherwise, without the history, it would be a run-of-the-mill slasher film.

Besides the obvious Michael/Laurie connection, what a treat to see Jamie Lee Curtis’s real-life mother (and original scream queen herself), Janet Leigh.

Furthermore, her character’s car is the exact make and model, and the same license plate, from the 1960s Psycho, in which she starred- a brilliant treat for horror and classic film fans.

The film also uses some impressive stylistic choices- the use of mirrors and reflections is used successfully, as well as events occurring in the background- seen by the audience, but not by the other characters, are well used.

Halloween: H2O features several young, up-and-coming stars who would go on to become big stars (Hartnett, Williams, and a very young Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Who knew these talents got their start in one of the greatest horror franchises?

Let’s be clear- Halloween: H2O (1998) is not a masterpiece- far from it. The horror clichés run rampant- the silly, supporting characters (friends of John and Molly’s), eager to drink and party and meant for comic relief, in addition to the LL Cool J character.

These characters are stock types.

Predictably, we more than once think that Michael Myers is finally dead- only to resurface, perfectly timed to the plot.

The inevitable standoff between Laurie and Michael Myers is well done and a satisfying conclusion to a fantastic franchise. Laurie gets her revenge while Myers dramatically gets his just desserts.