Horror Movie Reviews

I saw this movie when it was first released, it was crap then and watching it now it is even worse. This is just a stupid piece of film making; everything about this movie is so dumb.
1. The plot, dumb kids bump into dumber killers.
2. Stupid kids pick up a hitchicker who looks like paedophile.
3. Dumb girl just screams throughout the movie.
4. Dumb fat wheel chair bound guy dies so unconvincingly, even worse when I look at it now.
5. Dumbest camera angles in movie history.
6. This is just plain dumb.
Why do people call this a classic, I would agree this could be considered as a classic example on how not to make a movie, this is no great movie. Ok lets take into consideration the year was 1974 no body had ever seen a movie like this before, but wait, wasn't Night Of The Livingdead made before this? That was low budget but however is a masterpiece with a great story and interesting characters. Gore alone cannot save this movie because it hasn't got any.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is so boring. This is not a classic and isn't very effective it's just damn right boring. There's no excuse that the film was made in 1974, low budget, badly acted and terribly directed. This has to be the most bloodless movie ever made, nothing frightening and definitely not squeamish, you don't get to see any chainsaw action and Leatherface just runs around like a retard. Only the idiots give this movie good reviews, because that's what it is a movie made by an un-talented idiot for tasteless idiots. I love a good horror movie just like the next guy but this is over rated, the 28 Days Later of 1974. What's so terrifying about a man shoved on a hook? It's not even realistic. Everyone in this movie is so annoying especially the lead all she does is scream, boy is she talented. The scene were the fat guy gets it you see nothing and when that skinny runt slashes the girls back it's just laughable, even funnier that fool gets run over (great special d-effects). The end scene had me rolling on the floor dying in laughter, Leatherface buzzing the chainsaw. This was such a joke I won't even bother with the sequels. This, contrary to popular belief is the candid camera of horror movies.

The movie looks about as good as it's ever going to considering the low-budget production values; it is undeniably a classic.

My issue is with the dysfunctional packaging (the outer plastic sleeve fell apart completely my first time opening it). There was a quick change to the packaging about two weeks after its release, but that doesn't do much for those loyal fans that purchased it the day it hit the market.

There is also a lack of extras above and beyond the last edition. Sure, a commentary is nice but where is the making of featurette?! Don't be fooled by the "Anatomy of a Movie" segment, it's a novel concept, but it's really just a bunch of raw footage -- for anyone that has ever made a film before it's nothing new.

This is probably the best edition we'll get for another five years or so, and it's not bad. Maybe next time they'll do this film the complete justice that it deserves.

I saw this movie when it was first released, it was crap then and watching it now it is even worse. This is just a stupid piece of film making; everything about this movie is so dumb.
1. The plot, dumb kids bump into dumber killers.
2. Stupid kids pick up a hitchicker who looks like paedophile.
3. Dumb girl just screams throughout the movie.
4. Dumb fat wheel chair bound guy dies so unconvincingly, even worse when I look at it now.
5. Dumbest camera angles in movie history.
6. This is just plain dumb.
Why do people call this a classic, I would agree this could be considered as a classic example on how not to make a movie, this is no great movie. Ok lets take into consideration the year was 1974 no body had ever seen a movie like this before, but wait, wasn't Night Of The Livingdead made before this? That was low budget but however is a masterpiece with a great story and interesting characters. Gore alone cannot save this movie because it hasn't got any.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is so boring. This is not a classic and isn't very effective it's just damn right boring. There's no excuse that the film was made in 1974, low budget, badly acted and terribly directed. This has to be the most bloodless movie ever made, nothing frightening and definitely not squeamish, you don't get to see any chainsaw action and Leatherface just runs around like a retard. Only the idiots give this movie good reviews, because that's what it is a movie made by an un-talented idiot for tasteless idiots. I love a good horror movie just like the next guy but this is over rated, the 28 Days Later of 1974. What's so terrifying about a man shoved on a hook? It's not even realistic. Everyone in this movie is so annoying especially the lead all she does is scream, boy is she talented. The scene were the fat guy gets it you see nothing and when that skinny runt slashes the girls back it's just laughable, even funnier that fool gets run over (great special d-effects). The end scene had me rolling on the floor dying in laughter, Leatherface buzzing the chainsaw. This was such a joke I won't even bother with the sequels. This, contrary to popular belief is the candid camera of horror movies.

The movie looks about as good as it's ever going to considering the low-budget production values; it is undeniably a classic.

My issue is with the dysfunctional packaging (the outer plastic sleeve fell apart completely my first time opening it). There was a quick change to the packaging about two weeks after its release, but that doesn't do much for those loyal fans that purchased it the day it hit the market.

There is also a lack of extras above and beyond the last edition. Sure, a commentary is nice but where is the making of featurette?! Don't be fooled by the "Anatomy of a Movie" segment, it's a novel concept, but it's really just a bunch of raw footage -- for anyone that has ever made a film before it's nothing new.

This is probably the best edition we'll get for another five years or so, and it's not bad. Maybe next time they'll do this film the complete justice that it deserves.

I saw this movie when it was first released, it was crap then and watching it now it is even worse. This is just a stupid piece of film making; everything about this movie is so dumb.
1. The plot, dumb kids bump into dumber killers.
2. Stupid kids pick up a hitchicker who looks like paedophile.
3. Dumb girl just screams throughout the movie.
4. Dumb fat wheel chair bound guy dies so unconvincingly, even worse when I look at it now.
5. Dumbest camera angles in movie history.
6. This is just plain dumb.
Why do people call this a classic, I would agree this could be considered as a classic example on how not to make a movie, this is no great movie. Ok lets take into consideration the year was 1974 no body had ever seen a movie like this before, but wait, wasn't Night Of The Livingdead made before this? That was low budget but however is a masterpiece with a great story and interesting characters. Gore alone cannot save this movie because it hasn't got any.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is so boring. This is not a classic and isn't very effective it's just damn right boring. There's no excuse that the film was made in 1974, low budget, badly acted and terribly directed. This has to be the most bloodless movie ever made, nothing frightening and definitely not squeamish, you don't get to see any chainsaw action and Leatherface just runs around like a retard. Only the idiots give this movie good reviews, because that's what it is a movie made by an un-talented idiot for tasteless idiots. I love a good horror movie just like the next guy but this is over rated, the 28 Days Later of 1974. What's so terrifying about a man shoved on a hook? It's not even realistic. Everyone in this movie is so annoying especially the lead all she does is scream, boy is she talented. The scene were the fat guy gets it you see nothing and when that skinny runt slashes the girls back it's just laughable, even funnier that fool gets run over (great special d-effects). The end scene had me rolling on the floor dying in laughter, Leatherface buzzing the chainsaw. This was such a joke I won't even bother with the sequels. This, contrary to popular belief is the candid camera of horror movies.

The movie looks about as good as it's ever going to considering the low-budget production values; it is undeniably a classic.

My issue is with the dysfunctional packaging (the outer plastic sleeve fell apart completely my first time opening it). There was a quick change to the packaging about two weeks after its release, but that doesn't do much for those loyal fans that purchased it the day it hit the market.

There is also a lack of extras above and beyond the last edition. Sure, a commentary is nice but where is the making of featurette?! Don't be fooled by the "Anatomy of a Movie" segment, it's a novel concept, but it's really just a bunch of raw footage -- for anyone that has ever made a film before it's nothing new.

This is probably the best edition we'll get for another five years or so, and it's not bad. Maybe next time they'll do this film the complete justice that it deserves.

THIS IS THE MOVIE THAT EVERY HORROR FAN SHOULD OWN!!!

2 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED (CASEY AND STEVE) IN A GRUESOME WAY!!!
SO THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL THERE ARE REPORTERS, COPS, ETC....
THERE IS A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE AND NO ONE KNOWS WHOS NEXT!!!

DIRECTED BY WES CRAVEN (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, SHOCKER, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS)

GREAT CAST!!!

This movie did not really scare me but the movie is just so good and brilliant that u have to see this movie over and over and over. Also this movie is quite entertaining. ESPECIALLY THE ENDING. The ending is the best part of scream. Trust me u wont guess who the killer? is in this one.

Slasher horror had almost disappeared fromthe face of earth, until in the corner of Wes Cravens mind, he got an idea, a brillant one, one that would bring back horror and keep in the nightmares of everyone in the world....This was one of the best slasher films I had ever seen. I saw it with friends when it came out and I knew it was going to be an amazing movie with great sequels. The plot is just so origional, and it makes perfect sense and it's hard for anyone not to like it.

Sydney Prescott is in highschool, with a boyfriend, friends, and a good dad, but things go wrong when her class mates turn up slaughtered. Soon, Sydney finds herself in the middle of a brutal killer, who turns out to be the one person closest to her, her boyfriend and his best friend. They blame Sydneys mother for sleeping with his father, and breaking up the family. And now Billy wants revenge.

This moive has so many twists and turns and scares, it has to be one of the best slasher flicks out there. When you bring up the topic of slasher movies, Scream will undoubtidly be in that disscusion sooner or later. Wes Craven did a great job and produced 2 more good sequals, to make one of the most populare trilogys ever.

THIS IS THE MOVIE THAT EVERY HORROR FAN SHOULD OWN!!!

2 PEOPLE WERE MURDERED (CASEY AND STEVE) IN A GRUESOME WAY!!!
SO THE NEXT DAY AT SCHOOL THERE ARE REPORTERS, COPS, ETC....
THERE IS A SERIAL KILLER ON THE LOOSE AND NO ONE KNOWS WHOS NEXT!!!

DIRECTED BY WES CRAVEN (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, SHOCKER, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS)

GREAT CAST!!!

This movie did not really scare me but the movie is just so good and brilliant that u have to see this movie over and over and over. Also this movie is quite entertaining. ESPECIALLY THE ENDING. The ending is the best part of scream. Trust me u wont guess who the killer? is in this one.

Slasher horror had almost disappeared fromthe face of earth, until in the corner of Wes Cravens mind, he got an idea, a brillant one, one that would bring back horror and keep in the nightmares of everyone in the world....This was one of the best slasher films I had ever seen. I saw it with friends when it came out and I knew it was going to be an amazing movie with great sequels. The plot is just so origional, and it makes perfect sense and it's hard for anyone not to like it.

Sydney Prescott is in highschool, with a boyfriend, friends, and a good dad, but things go wrong when her class mates turn up slaughtered. Soon, Sydney finds herself in the middle of a brutal killer, who turns out to be the one person closest to her, her boyfriend and his best friend. They blame Sydneys mother for sleeping with his father, and breaking up the family. And now Billy wants revenge.

This moive has so many twists and turns and scares, it has to be one of the best slasher flicks out there. When you bring up the topic of slasher movies, Scream will undoubtidly be in that disscusion sooner or later. Wes Craven did a great job and produced 2 more good sequals, to make one of the most populare trilogys ever.

Scream 3 is undoubtadly the worst film of the otherwise average Scream series, and is a career lowpoint for legendary horror director Wes Craven. Without writer Kevin Williamson (who actually managed to give the characters some depth in the previous installments), we get one dimensional supporting players who we could care less if they live or die. Parker "The Queen of Independant Films" Posey is the only real highlight of Scream 3; her performance makes the film somewhat watchable. The cameo appearance of Jay & Silent Bob is also a nice surprise, but the rest of the film is mostly downhill from there. The series' overall interlinking storyline has become more jumbled and ridiculous this time around, and while it offers a few good scares and some nice kills, Scream 3 is otherwise a dud. Returning stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette are back, as well as original members Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schrieber in cameos, and the rest of the cast includes Patrick Dempsey, Jenny McCarthy, Scott Foley, and Lance Henriksen.

This is the 3rd in the great sereies ( trilogy ) and it shows... it's good, but not near as good as Scream 1 or 2. This is the long awaited for END, and it does good. But some of it could have been better.

Sydney is living on her own as a womans crisis counciler, and the 3rd STAB movie is coming out ( what happened to #2? )And she can't be found by her killer ( or so she thought ) and back on the stage of STAB 3, the bodies pile up of the CAST of STAB 3 but none of SCREAM. SO they are being killed in the order they die in the movie ( STAB ) and police believe that it is by someone on the crew. Adn questions come up when they read about 3 different scripts to keep the ending from getting on the internet. SO they don't know which one the killer read, and so goes the story and it is greatly combined with Sydney's long lost brother, who wanted to get back at her for the life she stole from him...so the story goes....

This one was packed with comedy, which I greatly enjoyed. It made me laugh out loud. The only problem is they did not kill off cast from the origional SCREAM. I was thinking, what a great twist if Gale or Dewy, heck even Sydney, gets offed in this one. That would have been fun! But it was still good. I reccomend eithe fo the first 2 before this. But it does do justice to a great series!

My daughter and I both like these all a lot. It's hard to say why. Something about the way they all progress - the suspense comes in to play in just the right way, and there's stuff to figure out. The women always surviving works just fine for me too. I've been a Parker Posey fan since Party Girl!, and I adore her in this - as well as pretty much everyone else: Naeve, Courtney, David, all of them. I could do with less gore, but I understand it's still way less than lots of other stuff out there.

Is simply another instance of allegory - how to cope when one finds themself in a horrible situation: who to trust, how to hold oneself and keep safe yet also face the danger. Luscious.

Scream 3 is undoubtadly the worst film of the otherwise average Scream series, and is a career lowpoint for legendary horror director Wes Craven. Without writer Kevin Williamson (who actually managed to give the characters some depth in the previous installments), we get one dimensional supporting players who we could care less if they live or die. Parker "The Queen of Independant Films" Posey is the only real highlight of Scream 3; her performance makes the film somewhat watchable. The cameo appearance of Jay & Silent Bob is also a nice surprise, but the rest of the film is mostly downhill from there. The series' overall interlinking storyline has become more jumbled and ridiculous this time around, and while it offers a few good scares and some nice kills, Scream 3 is otherwise a dud. Returning stars Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette are back, as well as original members Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schrieber in cameos, and the rest of the cast includes Patrick Dempsey, Jenny McCarthy, Scott Foley, and Lance Henriksen.

This is the 3rd in the great sereies ( trilogy ) and it shows... it's good, but not near as good as Scream 1 or 2. This is the long awaited for END, and it does good. But some of it could have been better.

Sydney is living on her own as a womans crisis counciler, and the 3rd STAB movie is coming out ( what happened to #2? )And she can't be found by her killer ( or so she thought ) and back on the stage of STAB 3, the bodies pile up of the CAST of STAB 3 but none of SCREAM. SO they are being killed in the order they die in the movie ( STAB ) and police believe that it is by someone on the crew. Adn questions come up when they read about 3 different scripts to keep the ending from getting on the internet. SO they don't know which one the killer read, and so goes the story and it is greatly combined with Sydney's long lost brother, who wanted to get back at her for the life she stole from him...so the story goes....

This one was packed with comedy, which I greatly enjoyed. It made me laugh out loud. The only problem is they did not kill off cast from the origional SCREAM. I was thinking, what a great twist if Gale or Dewy, heck even Sydney, gets offed in this one. That would have been fun! But it was still good. I reccomend eithe fo the first 2 before this. But it does do justice to a great series!

My daughter and I both like these all a lot. It's hard to say why. Something about the way they all progress - the suspense comes in to play in just the right way, and there's stuff to figure out. The women always surviving works just fine for me too. I've been a Parker Posey fan since Party Girl!, and I adore her in this - as well as pretty much everyone else: Naeve, Courtney, David, all of them. I could do with less gore, but I understand it's still way less than lots of other stuff out there.

Is simply another instance of allegory - how to cope when one finds themself in a horrible situation: who to trust, how to hold oneself and keep safe yet also face the danger. Luscious.

Make no mistake: this is hardly a faithful adaptation of the novel by the same name. Not that that's an entirely bad thing, though... as a young teenager, I absolutely LOVED all of Lois Duncan's novels, with one or two exceptions... including _I Know What You Did Last Summer_. The storyline lacked the kind of intense, suspensful pace that made her other novels flow so well, and I just never connected with the characters.

So, not exactly the kind of story you could make a deep, provocative movie with. Perhaps wisely, the screenwriters chose to make this a horror movie. But I honestly believe they could have done better.

IKWYDLS is your typical teens-make-mistake-that-bites-them-in-the-arse slash-em-up horror flick. Hardly original, but you know, Hollywood is driven by money, and it's not like this film did all that terrible considering what it probably cost to make.

Which isn't to say that they deserve any slack for making a bad movie, because that's more or less what this is: a bad movie. It's only worth sitting through if you're curious, and even then, you might be sorry. Aside from a completely unoriginal story and script, the acting, to say the least, leaves something to be desired. Jennifer Love Hewitt is unquestionably babely, and may be a sweetheart, but she's not a great actress, so the fact that she played the main character of Julie only makes it more difficult to connect to this movie. Sarah Michelle Gellar, on the other hand, is an AMAZING actress, but is unfortunately confined to a rather stereotypical supporting role (and, if you've seen enough horror movies, I don't think I have to tell you how her story arc goes). Don't feel too sorry for her, though; even if Gellar *had* ended up playing Julie, she probably couldn't have done much with the script and wouldn't have won a Blockbuster Award for her performance in this movie. Still... she deserves a lot better than what she gets.

Bottom line, this movie walks the line between mediocre and bad. Granted, it didn't have much to go on, but it could have been better. See it at your own risk.

It has the same premise as Scream did, a killer who slashes up teenage kids because they did something to the person. not that bad and not that better then Scream but it does have some surprising results, basically when Sarah Michelle Gellar gets hooked, I mean come on, I wanted Hewitt to get the hook(beep) her man, Gellar should of lived. highlight though would have to be Gellar in that bathing suit.

In the early 1980's slasher films were all the rage. Everybody was making them. Well, in a true case of history repeating itself, the same thing happened in the late 90's and everybody wanted to make a slasher film. Based on the cult novel of the same name by Lois Duncan, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER was put on the fast track once writer Kevin Williamson landed gold with SCREAM.

In I KNOW, a group of high school seniors, led by the ever so lovely Jennifer Love Hewitt, are celebrating their last days before they all ship out to different colleges. Well, as you might guess, one fatal mistake of hit and run changes all that.

Although rather trite as of 2003 standards, I KNOW is one of the more remembered to come out of the 90's resurgence of teen slasher films. Packed with all kinds of "Stupid girl, why are you running that way" moments, and a sort of who cares whodunit plotline, something about I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER still really clicks. The film boasts some genuinely scary moments here and there and the cast (Hewitt, Anne Heche, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillipe, and Freddie Prinze, Jr. in the only role I've ever liked him in) really pulls off what needs to be done rather flawlessly. Though nothing here is very surprising and anyone who doesn't like slasher flicks going in probably won't change their minds after seeing this one, fans of the genre are almost sure to get a kick out of the movie at least here and there.

C+

"Halloween H20" takes an unusual direction; it goes on the idea that "Halloween" 3 - 6 never happened, and for the most part it worked. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is now the head school mistress at a private school in northern California. She is still haunted by the memories of Halloween night twenty years ago. But now her obsession with her brother is starting to take it's toll on her son (Josh Harnett). But Michael Myers shows up as most of the school goes on a field trip. Now with only a few faculty and some kids who snuck away from the trip, Myers starts slashing his way closer to his sister. This movie was much better than most of the previous outings, mostly because it was directed by horror vet Steve Miner (who made the best "Friday the 13th" sequal, Part 2). Also the suspense was there and some pretty heavy atmosphere. You really felt that there were all alone in the school compond. This movie still isn't perfect. It is still in the "Scream" frame of mind with it's nods to other classic horror movies (the "Psycho" one was pretty good). And hiring a hip, hot young cast simply because they are pretty people was a bad idea. Also casting L.L. Cool J to appeal to a much wider demographic was too obvious. Though he dosn't do a bad job all in all, it's just that all most any one could have been the security guard. The biggest suprise is Jamier Lee Curtis returning to the role that launched her career. No one ever thought she wound do any more horror. But she came back as a battle scared surviver, and she is strong and resourseful and now actually taking the fight to Myers. Her charactor has now come full circle, and hopefully can lay her demons to rest. Over all though, I really liked it, and revitialized a series that was just limping along.

THE most worthy sequel to Halloween. Fresh, innovative, and featuring the return of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). This one has all the suspense, thrills, and chills we loved in the original Halloween. Also features a great cast, who does a wonderful job!

Very highly recommended!

Too often, producers create a movie that has mass appeal, and so sequels are produced, often compromising quality of material for speed of release. The Halloween franchise, created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, met with this fate. The original Halloween, a stylized slasher film that changed the horror genre forever, became a marketing tool for a series of sequels that attempted to cash in on the first film's success. The storyline was re-tooled again and again, and with each effort, the Halloween series fell apart, becoming more ridiculous with each film that was released.

Halloween H20, the seventh sequel in the series, might have met with much the same fate as its predecessors, but that due to a recent resurgance of popularity in the horror genre with movies like "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer", Hollywood focused its attention on creating a sequel that would have the same slick feel as these other films, while remaining true to the Halloween storyline that Carpenter created 20 years before.

They succeeded.

Halloween H20, with help from veteran screen writer Kevin Williamson (Scream, Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer), and starring a young, fresh cast of rising talent; Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), L.L. Cool J, Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) & Adam Arkin (Chicago Hope) gave the film a fresh look that made it marketable to a new audience of moviegoers. The greatest success of the movie though, was that it re-introduced us to the original heroine of the film, Laurie Strode, by bringing back veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis to reprise the role that made her famous.

The storyline, which largely ignored most of the story developed in sequels 3-6, continued the narrative of Strode, who went into hiding by changing her identity to Keri Tate. Now the headmaster of a private school in California, a mother to John Tate (Hartnett) and a functioning alcoholic, Laurie struggles to overcome the experiences that changed her life when Michael Myers came after her in Haddonfield 20 years earlier. Her paranoia often gets the better of her, and she sees Michael everywhere-in her mirror, out her window, in her dreams.

When John asks permission to go on a school field trip during the weekend of Halloween, Strode is unwilling to let him go. Frustrated and angered, John confronts her, insisting that her paranoia is inhibiting his growth. Strode insists that she is only being cautious, but John lashes out, leaving in anger. Later he learns that his girlfriend and other close friends are going to remain behind as well, and so they instead decide to have a small party of their own on campus.

But Michael is coming. Having learned of Laurie's whereabouts after breaking into the home of Marion Whittington, (Nancy Stephens (who was featured in the original Halloween films)), Dr. Loomis's nurse, and stealing the file on Laurie Strode, he heads out to where she has been hiding for the past 20 years.

The movie works because it is fresh, hip, and fast-paced. It doesn't meander with long, drawn out, dis-jointed murder scenes like some of the earlier films, but instead deals with the characters, providing a level of depth and understanding that makes the audience sympathetic to their plight. Of course, the audience of these films are clamoring for Michael Myers, and they won't be disappointed. Though the body count in this film is far less than its predecessors, the murder sequences are intenese and genuinely frightening.

H20 really delivers the goods and is a satisfying continuation of the story that Carpenter created with the original Halloween. Featuring a cameo by Janet Leigh, Curtis's mother and star of the original "Psycho", this movie is fun, clever with its tongue-in-cheek dialogue between Curtis and Leigh, and down-right frightening, giving audiences a return to Halloween that might keep the franchise alive another 20 years.

"Halloween H20" takes an unusual direction; it goes on the idea that "Halloween" 3 - 6 never happened, and for the most part it worked. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is now the head school mistress at a private school in northern California. She is still haunted by the memories of Halloween night twenty years ago. But now her obsession with her brother is starting to take it's toll on her son (Josh Harnett). But Michael Myers shows up as most of the school goes on a field trip. Now with only a few faculty and some kids who snuck away from the trip, Myers starts slashing his way closer to his sister. This movie was much better than most of the previous outings, mostly because it was directed by horror vet Steve Miner (who made the best "Friday the 13th" sequal, Part 2). Also the suspense was there and some pretty heavy atmosphere. You really felt that there were all alone in the school compond. This movie still isn't perfect. It is still in the "Scream" frame of mind with it's nods to other classic horror movies (the "Psycho" one was pretty good). And hiring a hip, hot young cast simply because they are pretty people was a bad idea. Also casting L.L. Cool J to appeal to a much wider demographic was too obvious. Though he dosn't do a bad job all in all, it's just that all most any one could have been the security guard. The biggest suprise is Jamier Lee Curtis returning to the role that launched her career. No one ever thought she wound do any more horror. But she came back as a battle scared surviver, and she is strong and resourseful and now actually taking the fight to Myers. Her charactor has now come full circle, and hopefully can lay her demons to rest. Over all though, I really liked it, and revitialized a series that was just limping along.

THE most worthy sequel to Halloween. Fresh, innovative, and featuring the return of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). This one has all the suspense, thrills, and chills we loved in the original Halloween. Also features a great cast, who does a wonderful job!

Very highly recommended!

Too often, producers create a movie that has mass appeal, and so sequels are produced, often compromising quality of material for speed of release. The Halloween franchise, created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, met with this fate. The original Halloween, a stylized slasher film that changed the horror genre forever, became a marketing tool for a series of sequels that attempted to cash in on the first film's success. The storyline was re-tooled again and again, and with each effort, the Halloween series fell apart, becoming more ridiculous with each film that was released.

Halloween H20, the seventh sequel in the series, might have met with much the same fate as its predecessors, but that due to a recent resurgance of popularity in the horror genre with movies like "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer", Hollywood focused its attention on creating a sequel that would have the same slick feel as these other films, while remaining true to the Halloween storyline that Carpenter created 20 years before.

They succeeded.

Halloween H20, with help from veteran screen writer Kevin Williamson (Scream, Scream 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer), and starring a young, fresh cast of rising talent; Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor), L.L. Cool J, Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek) & Adam Arkin (Chicago Hope) gave the film a fresh look that made it marketable to a new audience of moviegoers. The greatest success of the movie though, was that it re-introduced us to the original heroine of the film, Laurie Strode, by bringing back veteran actress Jamie Lee Curtis to reprise the role that made her famous.

The storyline, which largely ignored most of the story developed in sequels 3-6, continued the narrative of Strode, who went into hiding by changing her identity to Keri Tate. Now the headmaster of a private school in California, a mother to John Tate (Hartnett) and a functioning alcoholic, Laurie struggles to overcome the experiences that changed her life when Michael Myers came after her in Haddonfield 20 years earlier. Her paranoia often gets the better of her, and she sees Michael everywhere-in her mirror, out her window, in her dreams.

When John asks permission to go on a school field trip during the weekend of Halloween, Strode is unwilling to let him go. Frustrated and angered, John confronts her, insisting that her paranoia is inhibiting his growth. Strode insists that she is only being cautious, but John lashes out, leaving in anger. Later he learns that his girlfriend and other close friends are going to remain behind as well, and so they instead decide to have a small party of their own on campus.

But Michael is coming. Having learned of Laurie's whereabouts after breaking into the home of Marion Whittington, (Nancy Stephens (who was featured in the original Halloween films)), Dr. Loomis's nurse, and stealing the file on Laurie Strode, he heads out to where she has been hiding for the past 20 years.

The movie works because it is fresh, hip, and fast-paced. It doesn't meander with long, drawn out, dis-jointed murder scenes like some of the earlier films, but instead deals with the characters, providing a level of depth and understanding that makes the audience sympathetic to their plight. Of course, the audience of these films are clamoring for Michael Myers, and they won't be disappointed. Though the body count in this film is far less than its predecessors, the murder sequences are intenese and genuinely frightening.

H20 really delivers the goods and is a satisfying continuation of the story that Carpenter created with the original Halloween. Featuring a cameo by Janet Leigh, Curtis's mother and star of the original "Psycho", this movie is fun, clever with its tongue-in-cheek dialogue between Curtis and Leigh, and down-right frightening, giving audiences a return to Halloween that might keep the franchise alive another 20 years.