HALLOWEEN: RESSURECTION (2002)

Directed By: Rick Rosenthal 
Written By: Larry Brand & Sean Hood 
Story By: Larry Brand 
(characters) - Debra Hill & John Carpenter 
Cinematography By: David Geedes 
Editor: Robert A. Ferretti 

Cast: Bianca Kajlich, Katee Sachoff, Ryan Merriman, Busta Rhymes, Tyra Banks, Luke Kirby, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Billy Kay, Sean Patrick Thomas, Jamie Lee Curtis

Serial Killer Michael Myers is not finished with Laurie Strode, and their rivalry finally comes to an end. But is this the last we see of Myers? Freddie Harris and Nora Winston are reality programmers at DangerTainment, and are planning to send a group of 6 thrill-seeking teenagers into the childhood home of Myers. Cameras are placed all over the house and no one can get out of the house... and then Michael arrives home!

Director Rick Rosenthal previously directed Halloween II. 21 years earlier.

Originally, the executives of Miramax wanted to continue the series by creating a whole new story of which didn't have anything to do with Michael Myers after the last film, in a similar manner to Halloween III: Season of the Witch. However, poll results conducted throughout fan websites proved to the producers that fans wanted Michael Myers to return again.

This film is quite the shame. The last film in the series that this ended up being at least as far as the old regime, untitled was set up with a re-imagining by Writer-Director Rob Zombie, The last film of this series HALLOWEEN: H20 was supposed to be the final film, but as that film was a huge success for Dimension Films of course they decided to make another film. Now while the last film was Noteworthy for the return of Original star Jamie Lee Curtis. Who seemed only to come back to end the series. This film has her return for the beginning of the film only to quickly dispatch her like it is nothing. luckily, This proved to be the nail in the coffin for the series.

Jamie Lee Curtis agreed to do her part, only to make sure her character, Laurie Strode (or herself) wouldn't appear in another sequel. (At the time of the film's initial release, executive producers Malek Akkad, and Moustapha Akkad tried to explain it by claiming Jamie Lee Curtis "was so impressed with the screenplay, that she wanted a large part in it". She has publicly stated that was not the case, she was under contract to do it.)

This film is like a time capsule of it's time as it's cast is filled with up and comers and some celebrities of the time (Tyra Banks, Busta Rhymes) With the technology of having cameras strapped to the actors in what was supposed to be haunted house live on the internet.Inspired most likely buy shows like GHOSTHUNTERS and Mtv's FEAR. which are almost precursor's of what would become Found Footage Horror films. As the film goes along it is shot like a regular film, but then will break up to have scenes that come from the security cameras and the P.O.V. of the cameras strapped to the actors. Then as this footage is being broadcast over the internet, We get to see the reactions of the people watching it thinking it is fake, then realizing it is real, though never explaining how their opinions changed. watching it we get to see their appalled reactions and cheers and boo's as the action plays out. While one member of the party tries to advise the final girl of the film via text how to survive and where to hide. Though the audience is supposed to in a way represent the reactions of hopefully the audience watching this actual film.It feels more like an audience watching a video game, With extreme reactions and the cheering. So in a way With all these elements it was also ahead of it's time. Though it feels like the film is just filled with fads that it feels like a fad one-off itself.

It should come as no surprise that the film is bad, it's nice it tried to have some ideas or something new, Though that isn't good enough. Sort of like one of the more recent HELLRAISER films that tried to modernize the series by making the film a found footage film.This films lends itself more to the new technology, but it feels like a quick Cash-in that isn't well thought out and just includes the necessary elements needed for the film. Truthfully it doesn't even matter that it's Michael Myers. It could be any slasher and the film would still play out the same way. Though in addition to the updates of the film.This film also seems to add definition to the mask of Michael Myers, but strangely it doesn't truly feel like the character in his movements and demeanor which is truly the only way you could really tell anything about the character.

The film also tries to have a knowing sense of humor about itself, that is cute, but doesn't really work. As well as references to things of the time that fall flat now, unless you were around and in the know at that time.

Some of the elements of the film are downright embarassing, The Deaths are largely bloodless, Busta Rhymes at one point gets stabbed twice in the shoulder and looks like he dies that quick that instead of shocking or suspenseful actually comes off as hilarious. Also one characters death is off-screen and only is acknowledged as more of a shock popping out of nowhere. that seems to have been an afterthought, cut out of the film in the first place or couldn't get the actor to come back.

Tyra Banks' character's death is possibly a deliberate reference to the head nurses death in Halloween II, with the pool of blood dripping onto the garage floor.

Several new endings were written during production and the cast was never sure how the film was actually going to end. Four different endings were filmed, and the director wanted the studio to ship a different ending to each theater, a technique used before during the theatrical release of CLUE. However, the studio disagreed and the endings now appear on the DVD and the Internet.

This film is a good starter film for those younger viewers who have always been scared of the more excessive horror films,or secretly want to build up their stamina for violence in films. As this film has all the typical cliches of a horror film. The fake scares the Just when you think you are safe surprise and the violence that is so light it could almost run on television and not have to make any cuts. It also includes just a hint of sex in the film that is flirted with, but never follows through with and never becomes graphic.

In the end the film never comes alive. It just feels plain and simple. No pizzazz that could have played as a straight to DVD title except that the series at the time still had some juice and was recognizable as a brand. Of course as was common at the time the film is made more to appeal for teens and was more interested in scares more then violence and style.

GRADE: F