– Halloween H20 is the movie for the weekend. In this section every Saturday or Sunday Celluloid Dimension picks a movie for the weekend. The selections are preferably underrated movies or neglected movies that we think should get more attention. Have fun with these recommendations. –
Directed by Steve Miner
Written by Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg
Starring:
- Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode / Keri Tate
- Josh Hartnett as John
- Adam Arkin as Will Brennan
- Michelle Williams as Molly
- Jodi Lyn O’Keefe as Sarah
- Janet Leigh as Norma
- LL Cool J as Ronny
Rating: 
More a marketing anniversary product than a film in its own right, yet among the many ill-fated Halloween sequels, this attempt to conclude the Michael Myers mythology is surprisingly effective—perhaps as strong as any sequel could hope to be. Twenty years after that fateful 1978 Halloween night, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has forged a new life as the respected headmistress of a private boarding school and the mother of a 17-year-old son (Josh Hartnett). To escape her past, she was forced to fake her death and assume a new identity, evading the relentless shadow of Michael Myers. Clocking in at a brisk 86 minutes, the film is steeped in ‘90s self-awareness and is at its best when functioning as an emotional reckoning for Laurie rather than settling into slasher conventions—mercifully, there’s more of the former than the latter. Kevin Williamson’s influence subtly permeates the dialogue, often making it feel closer to Scream than Halloween. Yet, this remains my favorite sequel; Steve Miner’s kinetic filmmaking thrives in the sun-drenched Californian setting, a paradox that proves unexpectedly effective. There’s an intoxicating brooding atmosphere to this juxtaposition, one that makes the film more captivating than most entries in the franchise. And the finale—a delicate balance of nostalgic pathos and campy excess—delivers a sense of closure no Halloween sequel has managed before.
