Sunday 27 October 2019

Halloween 2 - A Night in the Hospital (1981 Rick Rosenthal)

OK, it's not really called that. So, Laurie definitely doesn't go to the dance with Rob Trainer or whatever his name is - at the time it's supposed to be happening, she's being driven away from hospital in an ambulance, presumably to another hospital - her brother Michael Myers is definitely dead this time (isn't he?) I think though that beginning a sequel immediately after the first one (they overlap, in fact) is (was?) unique.

Quite funny mix of suspense and ghoulish murders, poorly acted. Though there is a classic Carpenter scene in one take involving two girls, one giving a lift to the other, and a guy with a radio (commenting on the news). You suspect Myers will be in the car. They drive off, then the young man with the radio walks into his path. Myers is headed for the hospital. Cut to - The nurse arrives at the hospital (having dropped off her friend) and Myers appears behind her..

Decision to reimagine music with a touch of Kraftwerk not a good idea (Alan Howarth co-credited). Dean Cundey and operator Ray Stella on camera as before.

Myers won't go away, like Brexit. He's finding more inventive (ridiculous) ways of killing people (note he's not interested in the elderly or babies, thankfully):


Nice Lewton-ish corridors and stripy blind shadows...

Great suspense scene as Jamie Lee tries to get back into the hospital...

Dr Dementia's night of horror films continues, with Night of the Living Dead. There's also a definite Psycho reference (turning the guy's chair), apart from 'Sam Loomis'.

Bookended by The Chordettes 'Mr Sandman', from 1954.

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