Halloween H20 (1998) |notes|

I do agree that this is very much a Scream-era late 90s cash-in. I don't think Curtis is bad at all in it. I think from the release of Halloween 2018 on, H20 will always be seen as its alternate selection, different universes with Strode somewhat similar in regards to her difficulty living with the past, the survival mode always on, the paranoia of Michael Myers' return never wavering. The lives of Laurie took divergent paths somewhat, but Curtis, I felt, also gives both alternative versions enough similarities to encourage discussion. Admittedly, H20 has that product of its time "stigma", and I've read enough criticism against its close presentation to the Scream slasher genre cash-ins very much in place at the time. It's 86 minutes perhaps was as much a turn off as the tame bloodletting, generic score, disappointing Myers mask, lack of originality, private school Cali setting, minuscule body count, and serious lack of that October autumnal atmosphere. It just sorely misses key ingredients that past Halloween films seemed to get right. As I've more than likely mentioned a few times over the years, I like that Laurie had her chance to face off with her brother and even vanquish him. Yes, vanquish him...fuck you, Resurrection. I do like [insert your groan here] that Laurie took her life back and chopped his head clean off. It was this off with his head female empowerment scene the slasher genre does deliver quite a bit. Yes, Resurrection whips up a whopper that eventually leads to an insulting exit for Laurie that made me nauseated, so H20 as a proper close in this alternate universe of the story feels fitting enough. But the running time and simplified plot developments just leave me feeling rather empty. This should be a bigger deal, but by the end, the film seems at its best in the main duel. Curtis's contending with protecting her son, telling her guidance counselor lover she's the sister of a serial killer while he thinks she's kidding, and breaking the glass to grab the ax do shape her traumatized character, eventually emboldening her to no longer avoid the inevitable confrontation.

The Yosemite trip that takes away most of the school, the Dawson's Creek pretty teen cast that make up future 2000s casting, the art design Halloween basement party with all the candles and smushy teen soap late 90s romance and Williamson in chic language lend to my blase response to some of it, but there are some pleasantries I thoroughly enjoy: the Janet Leigh casting, nods to Psycho (1960) like a dialogue exchange between O'Keefe and Hann-Byrd about Hartnett "20 years from now" with Leigh's character's name and car, Leigh being "maternal" with her special scenes with Curtis, and the nice reminder about Loomis and his nurse from the past. This attached to the first and second film, Laurie and Michael still siblings, and Laurie seriously debating her mothering of her son do give this particular alternate version its specific value. Even if that makes up 30 minutes of 86. 2.5/5

These user comments from 2007 were not deemed particularly useful. I think these were very favorable which might be reason enough:

It'd be pretty easy to take a dump on Halloween H2O, because it is a direct result of the era of Scream, where the movie is slickly produced, with those being stalked(..the young cast with the likes of a young Josh Hartnet, Michelle Williams, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, and Adam Hann-Byrd) )representing the "WB" casting featuring those selected having been recognizable names from television, the violence would be relatively tame compared to the 80's where the killer would heinously destroy his victims in gruesome ways, and nudity was eliminated from the script altogether. The screenplay would feature "hip" dialogue connecting with the gen x crowd who'd flock to the movies that were inspired by Scream. 

I have no problem with Scream. I love Scream, actually. People have a disregard for it due to how it influenced an entire trend, a genre seemingly neutered, according to slasher purists, of the visceral, primal nature that existed in the 70's and 80's. It's unfair, in my mind, to heap or hurl blame on a film because others later attempted to duplicate it's success, with plenty of money and attractive stars lined up giving less talented filmmakers a chance to make their own Scream. 

But, anyway, back to Halloween H2O. There's not a whole lot of violence in this movie and it's actually only 80 minutes. And, about the last twenty minutes allows Curtis a chance to face her nemesis, mano a mano, to once and for all rid herself of this fiend who haunts her. 

My favorite parts of the movie contain Curtis' Laurie Strode(..under an alias of Keri Tate, with a son, John, and a nice job at a boarding school)dealing with the always-looming nature of Michael Myers' existence, an intruder who invades her nightmares, while also remaining a wakemare(..popping up from time to time during the day with Strode having to close her eyes, wishing away his image behind the white painted Shatner mask)she has a hard time ridding herself of. 

Adam Arkin, to his credit, impresses with a rather thankless role as Strode's lover, the school counselor she sees secretly, and a rock of strength she leans on. LL Cool J is the night(..and sometimes day)watchman. While most of the students are off to Yosemite for a school trip, four teens remain, two who become fodder for Myers while the others narrowly escape with their lives resulting in the climactic showdown between Strode and Michael. 

Myers takes one hell of a beating, that's for sure, and Strode gets plenty of whacks(licks)in before one final chop does the trick. As I've already mentioned, Halloween H2O is more akin to Carpenter's masterpiece than the remakes you see as of present, more closer to scares(..Michael in hiding, just around the corner, appearing when characters least expect him)than violence and gore. Interesting enough, it's nearly the 50 minute mark before Myers even is able to gain access inside the private school which is guarded by stone walls and an iron gate. And, the body count was always developed from the start to be relatively low. 

Director Steve Miner isn't known as a slasher filmmaker whose movies are heavily depending on gory violence, his Friday the 13th movies nowhere near as shocking or repulsive as what we see nowadays. Halloween H2O is more about Michael pursuing Strode with those in his way becoming collateral damage. The homage to Psycho(..along with wonderful casting of the late Janet Leigh as a busybody who works for the school, having some nice scenes with Curtis whose teacher becomes awfully annoyed with her, an aspect echoing Carpenter's The Fog)is pretty sweet, the camera work and lighting first-rate, and having Curtis as the central figure provides the film with a professionalism the previous sequels simply lack. 

My suggestion, though, would be to forget that f-cking Halloween:Resurrection even exists. The ending to this movie punctuates the series perfectly.