Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Plot Outline: Jamie Lloyd, the only surviving blood relative of Michael Myers, was kidnapped by the mysterious 'man in black' who is really the leader of a cult who protect Michael Myers. She gives birth to Myers' child and thus the bloodline of Myers continues. She escapes from the cult but they send out Michael Myers to get the baby back. She manages to hide the baby but is killed by Myers. The baby is then found by Kara Strode (whose dad was Laurie Strode's uncle) who takes it home. The Strodes now live in the Myers old house! Michael doesn't take too kindly to this and sets about killing them all.

The Review: Arguably the worst moment of the series, this 5th sequel is a complete mess from start to finish. It's just a pathetic excuse to see more brutal murders, which we've all seen before countless times. Most of the film is an incoherent mess with each scene seemingly irrelevant when the next scene comes along. At least it does carry on some of the work that the previous film began - namely the complete and utter destruction of any credibility that the series ever had. There is very little plot and what we do get is all jumbled up with loads of little subplots regarding the cult which was introduced in the last film. By the end of the film, you're left with more questions than answers. Apparently the producer's cut is a lot different to this version with more scenes added and a completely different final third. It's supposed to make more sense too! I can't wait to find that version then because every time I watch this (every time? Don't think I watch it regularly!), the film confuses me more with it's plots. It's clear that all was not well behind the scenes and someone got their fingers chopped in the editing suite. The acting is pretty bad and even Pleasance seems embarrassed to be in this, especially since it was his last film. He was ill at the time of making and one wonders whether or not he knew what he was doing to star in this. It's a really shocking way to leave your mark on the world and unfortunately such a good actor's reputation has been tarnished by it. Michael Myers looks different this time too. The mask is the worst of the series and the actor playing him, George Wilbur, is far too beefy to be playing him. He basically walks along, kills someone and walks along to kill the next character we've only been introduced to for about 5 minutes previously. There is some gore but it just looks like an attempt by the makers of the film to hide the gaping holes elsewhere.

Final Verdict: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers is a tragedy of a sequel and is the worst film in the series by a long way and that's saying something after the previous one. The only curse here is the curse of ever-worsening films. However keep tuned for my review of the producer's cut which hopefully will clear up some matters.

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