Where to watch Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
1 1/2 Stars
Six years after Michael Myers’ last massacre in Haddonfield, Jamie Lloyd has a child, but is then killed by Michael. Michael is allied with the Cult of Thorn, who both protect him and gave him the Curse of Thorn, the reason he killed all of his family. The Strode Family also moved into the Myers’ house and are stalked by Michael. Sam Loomis and Tommy Doyle, a boy Laurie babysat during Michael’s first rampage, are now out to stop Michael and the cult. Michael heads to kill Jamie’s son and the rest of Laurie’s family, but Dr. Loomis and Tommy plan to stop the curse, defeat the cult, stop Michael, and put an end to his murderous rampages, once and for all.
Michael Myers, the relentless slasher, returns to Haddonfield, Illinois, on the hunt for his descendants. Six years after the events of Halloween 5, he is stalking his niece, Jamie Lloyd, who has come back home with her newborn baby. Michael’s goal is to eliminate his evolving family tree. During a stop at a local gas station, Jamie calls into a radio talk show to warn listeners that Myers is on the prowl. This warning reaches Dr. Loomis, who is now retired, and Dr. Wynn, the chief administrator of the mental hospital that housed Michael when he was a boy.
In Haddonfield, Tommy Doyle (played by Paul Rudd), who narrowly escaped death at the hands of Myers as a child, now lives across the street from the Strode residence. The new occupants of that infamous home are relatives of the Strode family: Kara Strode (Marianne Hagan), her eight-year-old son Danny (Devin Gardner), and her teenage brother Tim (Keith Bogart). Tommy’s obsession with uncovering the truth behind Michael Myers’ motives has driven him nearly to madness.
In a series of escalating coincidences and questionable decisions, Tommy discovers Jamie’s corpse and the baby she had hidden from her attackers. Fortunately, the child is unharmed, and Tommy takes him under his care. The only person who believes Tommy’s claims is Dr. Loomis, who is convinced that Michael has returned home for one final Halloween.
Together, Tommy and Dr. Loomis must protect Kara and her young son Danny from the clutches of the murderous lunatic. The film introduces a mythical curse that supposedly resurrects the killer whenever a specific constellation appears on Halloween, aiming to explain why Myers can survive endless punishment and continues to kill his family members. However, this intriguing idea is largely abandoned, as the filmmakers choose to focus on the elements that originally made the series popular. The film features numerous grisly deaths, with victims ranging from innocent bystanders to evildoers; Myers kills indiscriminately.
Halloween 6 boasts a polished, professional look with impressive lighting and sound design, and the casting of Paul Rudd is an excellent choice. However, the third act becomes so convoluted that it renders the film pointless and utterly incomprehensible. While there are elements to admire in this installment of the long-running series, viewers should be prepared for a confusing final thirty minutes that discards subplots and leaves a key character off-screen during the climax. Though it is visually appealing, the film has significant issues as a coherent narrative.
Directed by: Joe Chappelle
Written by: Debra Hill, John Carpenter, Daniel Farrands
Starring: Donald Pleasence, Paul Rudd, Marianne Hagan