Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

R

Released Oct 21, 1988

1h 28m

Holiday

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

39%

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31 Reviews

54%

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50,000+ Ratings

The apparently comatose Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) is being transferred from one hospital to another, but he wakes up when the ambulance crew talk about his surviving niece, Jamie (Danielle Harris). After slaughtering his attendants, Myers sets out to find his one living relative who is, fortunately, being cared for by a kind and resourceful foster sister named Rachel (Ellie Cornell). Meanwhile, the ever-cautious Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) remains on the killer's path.

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Critics Consensus

Halloween 4: The Return Of Michaels Myers may bring the series' masked killer back into the fold, but fails to offer the visceral scares and inventiveness of the original.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

You can tell that it felt very rushed and things were kind of clobbered together to make this movie at the last second.

Rated: C+

Nov 1, 2019

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Aja Romano

Vox

I need to state for the record that Donald Pleasence is a truly great actor... But he also loved to chew the scenery, and the middle period of the Halloween franchise gave him plenty to sink his teeth into.

Oct 19, 2018

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Variety Staff

Variety

Fourth entry in the Halloween horror series is a no-frills, workmanlike picture.

Aug 27, 2007

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Brian Rowe

InSession Film

Sure, the mask doesn’t look great, and some of the supporting characters are pretty one-note, but Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers remains one of the finest of the franchise’s many sequels, a nostalgic classic that will never get old.

May 3, 2023

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Cody Leach

Cody Leach (YouTube)

Halloween 4 is arguably the sequel most guilty of following the original as a template. Luckily, the characters, kills, and Myers' systematic attack on Haddonfield makes this a standout in the series.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 19, 2022

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Nathan Paige

Call and Post (Cleveland)

The most suspenseful scenes in the film take place in the second half.

Mar 29, 2022

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Michael P

It was confusing and rushed, but it was genuinely enjoyable and has good slasher moments.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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Rowan C

Laurie Strode had a daughter named Jamie Lloyd and this was Michaels numbers one target in this movie. This man has taken so many shots, that it is actually crazy how he even moves smoothly. I would say that the first 2 Halloween movies are better than this one, but that doesn't make this movie bad. i thought the ending was a little stupid, but I knew what they were trying to grab at by having Jamie become a killer at the end. The mask in this movie was also stupid looking and the poster for this movie is super misleading with the mask as well. Following 10 years into the future, Dr. Loomis still has it in him to hunt Michael and send him to hell. Overall, this was an okay movie and they shouldv'e had a better mask.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

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Alex B

The quintessential rekindling of a great franchise following a terrible third installment. A nostalgic masterpiece.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/01/24

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thiago s

filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, os personagens são fracos, o michael myers volta depois de 7 anos, agora ele mira numa na sobrinha dele a criança jamie loyd, na parte final alguns policiais dão tiros no michael myers caindo em buraco no cemitério, no final do filme sua jamie loyd mata sua irmã mais velha se transformando no michael myers mais novo nela, e acaba o filme, o final até que é bacana.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

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Byron H

2/4 Slightly better than given credit for. Halloween 4's big moment comes at the very end, which single handedly elevates the entire film.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

10/31/24

Full Review

Jordan W

Alan Howarth's musical score in this film is perfectly atmospheric and haunting. You can tell he sharpened his efforts here compared to him seemingly just messing around with synths like his work in Halloween II. Halloween 4 basks in the atmosphere and creepy stalking imagery that's supposed to make a Halloween film memorable. Nothing more memorable than watching sequences of that creepy mask stalking our protagonists from a dark distance before he goes on the hunt. Halloween 4 best executes the notion of Michael Myers being an absolutely unstoppable force of nature. Dr. Loomis' monologues are the creepiest here. A magnificent Halloween sequel that may very well be the last time The Shape was ever truly scary.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/19/24

Full Review

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Dwight H. Little

Director

Donald Pleasence

Dr. Samuel 'Sam' J. Loomis

Ellie Cornell

Rachel Carruthers

Danielle Harris

Jamie Lloyd

George P. Wilbur

Michael Audrey Myers

Michael Pataki

Dr. E. W. Hoffman

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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The apparently comatose Michael Myers (George P. Wilbur) is being transferred from one hospital to another, but he wakes up when the ambulance crew talk about his surviving niece, Jamie (Danielle Harris). After slaughtering his attendants, Myers sets out to find his one living relative who is, fortunately, being cared for by a kind and resourceful foster sister named Rachel (Ellie Cornell). Meanwhile, the ever-cautious Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) remains on the killer's path.

Director: Dwight H. Little
Producer: Paul Freeman
Screenwriter: Alan B. McElroy
Distributor: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Production Co: Trancas International Films Inc.
Rating: R
Genre: Holiday, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.9M
Runtime: 1h 28m
Sound Mix: Surround

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