Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers is a 1988 slasher horror. As the title suggests, it discards the previous movie and brings one of horror’s most notorious killers back. It needs to be noted, Halloween III and Halloween IV are in a different continuity.
Halloween III views the Michael Myers era as a movie franchise. It makes sense given how different the movies are. Also, it doesn’t beholden the Michael Myers universe to the mystical pagan side of Halloween III.
Unfortunately, Jamie Lee Curtis doesn’t return as Laurie Strode. But, that doesn’t mean there’s no family for Michael to fight.
The Return of Michael Myers revolves around Jamie Lloyd. We quickly find out she’s Laurie Strode’s daughter, making her the niece of Michael Myers. She’s living with another family as Laurie dies in a car accident offscreen. The idea the woman who survives the Shape dies offscreen is bad.
I get Jamie Lee Curtis didn’t want to return. However, there are other ways the writers could have got around it. It’s a spit in the face of the character. Okay, I know she’s back in the future, but for now, it’s still an issue.
Obviously, this isn’t the same daughter we see in the newer movies. They’re in a separate continuity with only the original movie being canon.
The story involves a love triangle. It’s a subplot the movie would be better without to be honest. My favorite relationship is the budding sistership between Jamie and Rachel Carruthers. We see the two go through a crucible and bond over it.
It’s a shame this is ruined by something that happens in the closing moments. Watching older movies through a modern-day lens is difficult. Especially since they loved to make characters with mental health issues villainous. Or make it look like having a smidge of hurt in your life turns you evil.
So, by those standards it’s fine. Moreover, their point is to mirror Jamie with her uncle, showing she has the same bloodlust inside of her. Although one can question why she has it since Laurie’s her mother and not Michael.
However, breaking away from that character’s arc, it’s not a completely bad movie.
Out of three original Michael Myers Halloween movies I’ve seen so far, it’s my least favorite. But let’s be honest, it’s not easy to be better than the original two Halloweens.
While I wouldn’t say no to watching it again I’m in no rush to do so.
