Halloween II

EMAIL PRINTUniversal Pictures

6.2 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 6 critic reviews
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Based on 23 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Horror | Suspense/Thriller

Written by: John Carpenter
Debra Hill

Directed by: Rick Rosenthal

Release Date:
Theatrical: October 30, 1981
DVD: October 30, 1981

Running Time: 92 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Charles Cyphers, Tony Moran, Lance Guest, and Nancy Stephens

Picking up precisely where its predecessor left off, Halloween II follows the same ill-fated characters as they encounter the knife-wielding maniac they left for dead in the first Halloween. It seems the inhuman Michael Myers is still very much alive and out for more revenge as he stalks the deserted halls of the hospital where his sister lays waiting. As he gets closer and closer to his terrified target, Dr. Loomis discovers the chilling mystery behind the crazed psychopath's savage actions. (Universal)

Also On Metacritic

FILM: Halloween Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers Halloween H20 Halloween: Resurrection

Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott

When it's good, it's because it's imitating its predecessor (but it suffers from tired spilled blood) and when it's bad, it's because it's imitating its own imitators.

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ReelViews James Berardinelli

With Halloween II, it was all about graphic, grisly murders and a high body count - lessons learned at the box office. And that disparity, more than anything else, illustrates why "Halloween" is a classic and its first sequel is a sloppy afterthought.

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Chicago Reader Dave Kehr

The visual style--the orange-and-blue color scheme, the elegant 'Scope compositions, the graceful tracking shots, and the shrewd use of shallow focus--has been reproduced almost perfectly from John Carpenter's original, yet the wit and intelligence are gone.

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Austin Chronicle Mike Emery

A bad sequel to a good movie...The main concentration is on gross-out effects and lame chase scenes.

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TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)

A totally unnecessary and extremely poor sequel to the original "Halloween". Although Dean Cundey's photography goes a long way toward recapturing the look of the first film, director Rick Rosenthal is no Carpenter, and the emphasis here is on graphic blood and gore rather than the skillful manipulation of the audience.

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Variety Staff (Not Credited)

There are incredibly almost never any really terrific scares in 92 minutes - just multiple shots of violence and gore that are more gruesome than anything else.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 6.2 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jordan B. gave it a0:
This movie has nothing going for it, at all. This is the only movie I would ever give a zero. The only thing Halloween 2 gives you is questions. How can Laurie and Micheal have a shared hallucination, why is micheal killing random people when his objective is to find Laurie, Why aren't the police investigating these murders but the biggest question is "Why should I care"

robert p. gave it a0:
Rob Zombie's worst film yet.

Christian S. gave it a9:
Usually, sequels aren't very good, but Halloween II is one of those good sequels. even if the film cannot surpass the original, it is one of the best of the Halloween franchise.

Gavin C gave it a4:
Most of the kills are needless and the suspense from the original has gone.

Scott N gave it an8:
The critics are dead wrong on this one to have given it 32/100.. While this film doesn't match the original (nothing can), it is still an effective sequel worthy of watching multiple times. With a strong start detailing the aftermath and police investigation/manhunt for the at-large Michael Myers, the movie loses some steam in the middle part when people start to disappear and others find themselves searching the hospital for each other, and the body count starts to mount in methodical fashion. A very strong ending saves this flick from a little lower rating IMO. Recommended.

bob h gave it a6:
Decent sequel that is not as bad as everyone says it is. The music is atmospheric and creepy and Donald Pleasence gives another good (but campy) performance as Dr. Loomis.

bob h gave it a6:
I thought this movie was not as bad as everyone says it is. Of course it isn't as good as the original because the original is one of the greatest horror movies out there. This acting is ok but the music is foreboding and creepy. It's campy fun.