Retrospective Film Review

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) • 35 Years Later — the haunting legacy endures

10 years after his original massacre, Michael Myers awakens on Halloween Eve and returns to Haddonfield to kill his seven-year-old niece.

“Apocalypse. End of the world. Armageddon. It’s always got a face and a name!” says a ragged, rambling preacher offering Dr Loomis (Donald Pleasence) a lift and a mirror to their respective missions in confronting evil in this world. Having just survived an explosive brush with his relentless patient Michael Myers, the once-esteemed psychiatrist looks just as dishevelled as his crazy comrade. Offered a hip-flask, Loomis swigs down bitter acceptance with a strained but genuine smile. The road to damnation stretches on and someone has to soldier forth.

Studios are themselves compelled to chase that spooky white mask and alliterative name, as Miramax and A24 recently contested the TV rights to the Halloween franchise. Now the victors, Miramax, are planning a new multimedia cinematic universe in…