Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Short description
Ten years after his killing spree in Haddonfield, Michael Myers has spent a decade in psychiatric care, catatonic and unresponsive. When he is transferred between facilities, he escapes and makes his way back to his hometown on the eve of Halloween. Dr. Loomis, who has spent years certain that his former patient remains dangerous, tries to convince the local police of the threat before it is too late. Michael's target is his young niece, Jamie Lloyd, now living with a foster family, and her stepsister Rachel.
The film is directed by Dwight H. Little. It was his first feature as director in the chronological list of his work, followed by Bloodstone the same year, and later films including The Phantom of the Opera, Marked for Death, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home, and Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid. Alan B. McElroy wrote the screenplay, and Paul Freeman produced. Donald Pleasence returns as Dr. Loomis, with Danielle Harris as Jamie, Ellie Cornell as Rachel, and George P. Wilbur as Michael Myers.
Made for about five million dollars, the film took roughly eighteen million worldwide, a return that supported the series continuing after a years-long gap. On IMDb it holds 5.8 out of 10 from over fifty-seven thousand votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.2 from around two thousand. A critics' score of 4.2 from thirty-one reviews places it below the audience figures.
What's left behind the scenes
- In the script, Jamie was named Brittany, but literally on the eve of filming, she was 'renamed' in honor of Jamie Lee Curtis.
- In the school, when Michael attacks Loomis, the mask has white hair. This scene was one of the first to be filmed. It was intended to use the original Michael mask from the first 'Halloween,' but over the ten years that had passed, its hair had completely faded. In practice, however, the 'blonde' Michael did not impress the creators, so a new mask had to be made, and several scenes had to be reshot.
- Donald Pleasence agreed to star only because he was told that the renewal of the series had been approved by John Carpenter, which was untrue: he hadn't even read the script.
- In the script, Rachel rammed Michael with a truck five times; during filming, this was reduced to three, and in the final edit, it was cut down to once.
- Filming took 41 days, 36 of which involved the participation of Ellie Cornell and Daniella Harris.
- The store where Jamie buys the costume would later be used in the series 'The Stand' (1994).
- The film was shot in Salt Lake City.
- Alan B. McElroy wrote the screenplay in eleven days.
- The film was initially planned to begin with a scene showing how Dr. Loomis survived the explosion at the hospital in the finale of the second part, but it was later decided not to show any connection to the previous installments, and therefore the scene was not filmed.
- In the script, after Michael throws Loomis through the door, Jamie runs into the nearest classroom and hides under one of the desks. Michael enters the classroom and begins to follow her closely, knocking over desks as he goes. No footage from this scene was shot, but Mustafa Akkad remembered the concept and later recreated it in 'Halloween: 20 Years Later.'
- When Jamie and Dr. Loomis arrive at Jamie's school, a paper silhouette resembling the Myers house can be seen on one of the doors they pass.
- Melissa Joan Hart auditioned for the role of Jamie, and Rebecca Schaeffer for the role of Rachel.
- George P. Wilbur wore hockey gear under his jumpsuit to appear more imposing.
- In the script, Sheriff Meeker was killed by Michael in the basement of his house. During the murder, the heating stove was damaged, causing a fire to break out in the sheriff's house. This was ultimately the reason Jamie and Rachel climbed onto the roof. However, due to budgetary constraints, the fire was scrapped, and Bo Starr’s character was 'spared'.
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