HALLOWEEN 5: THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1989, USA, 96m, 18) *½
Horror, Thriller
dist. Galaxy International Releasing; pr co. Magnum Pictures Inc. / The Return of Myers / Trancas International Films; d. Dominique Othenin-Girard; w. Michael Jacobs, Dominique Othenin-Girard, Shem Bitterman (based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill); pr. Ramsey Thomas; ph. Robert Draper (Colour | 1.85:1); m. Alan Howarth; ed. Jerry Brady, Charles Tetoni; pd. Brenton Swift; ad. Richard Honigman.
cast: Donald Pleasence (Loomis), Danielle Harris (Jamie), Ellie Cornell (Rachel), Beau Starr (Sheriff Ben Meeker), Jeffrey Landman (Billy Hill), Tamara Glynn (Samantha Thomas), Jonathan Chapin (Mikey), Matthew Walker (Spitz), Wendy Foxworth (Tina Williams (as Wendy Kaplan)), Betty Carvalho (Nurse Patsey), Troy Evans (Deputy Charlie), Frankie Como (Deputy Nick Ross), David Ursin (Deputy Tom Farrah), Don Shanks (Michael Myers / Man in Black), Harper Roisman (Mountain Man), Karen Alston (Darlene Carruthers), Max Robinson (Dr. Max Hart), Stanton Davis (Young Policeman), Jack North (Gardener), Russ McGinn (The Announcer).
A tired direct sequel to HALLOWEEN 4: THE RETURN OF MICHAEL MYERS (1988) set one year after the events of that film. After lying in a coma for the past year, Michael Myers (Shanks) awakens and stalks his way back to his small hometown in Illinois, intent on killing his niece, Jamie (Harris), who has been confined to a mental institution since Michael’s last attempt to slay her. Suspecting a psychic link between Michael and Jamie, psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Pleasence) joins forces with Sheriff Ben Meeker (Starr) and attempts to stop Michael’s latest rampage. Adding elements of the supernatural does not help the story and serves to undermine the franchise. The only saving grace is the remarkable performance of 11-year-old Harris. Otherwise, the film relies on overly familiar jump scares, which are often offset by sloppy editing. Followed by HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1995).
