Halloween II (1981)

 

While Dr. Loomis hunts for Michael Myers, a traumatized Laurie is rushed to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital, and The Shape is not far behind her.

From memory: This sequel certainly doesn't reach the simple artistic mastery of the original, but does truly shock with nerve-wrecking suspense and unexpectedly graphic and gory violence; in Germany, both the film and a cut-down version were banned by the censors.

Halliwell (no star): "A totally unnecessary sequel which seems merely an excuse for assorted mayhem at close quarters."

Maltin*1/2: "Explicitly bloody sequel is as bad as any of HALLOWEEN's countless clones..." 

 

 

Knives Out (2019)

 

 

A detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family. 

 

Agatha Christie-like crime mystery, complete with a large cast of stars with little chance to show their talents, is nicely set and mildly entertaining, although the Trump-era allusions are so slight that they are hardly noticeable.

Halloween (2018)

Laurie Strode confronts her long-time foe Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.

Competent and plausible continuation of the Halloween tale certainly doesn't live up to the simplicity and impact of the original, but has some nice twists and shocks.

Terror Train (1980)

Three years after a prank that went terribly awry, the six college students responsible are targeted by a masked killer at a New Year's Eve party aboard a moving train.

From memory: Above-average slasher made with some style and atmosphere, but never leaving the boundaries of the genre.

Halliwell (no star): "Shocks and blood in the Carpenter tradition, adequately mounted."

Maltin**: "Stylish photography - by John (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE) Alcott, of all people - and novelty of killer donning the costume of each successive victim lift this above most of the others in this disreputable genre."

Jamie Lee Curtis

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Lee_Curtis

Halloween (1978)

Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield to kill again.

Low-budget film is in its simplicity and straightforward direction a near-perfect slasher film, heavy on a dooming atmosphere and, in comparison with similar films, actually low on graphic violence and body count.

Halliwell*: "Single-minded shocker with virtually no plot, just a succession of bloody attacks in semi-darkness. Very well done if you like that kind of thing, though the final suggestion of the supernatural is rather baffling."

Maltin***: "Well-made, with lots of scares, plus in-joke references for film buffs." 

The Fog (1980)

An unearthly fog rolls into a small coastal town exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in its waters.

Nicely-made, old-fashioned ghost story has some predictable shock moments, but is otherwise quite unoriginal.

Halliwell*: "Silly but beguiling horror film with shock effects typical of its director."

Maltin**1/2: "...a well-directed but obvious ghost story..."

Trading Places (1983)

A snobbish investor and a wily street con artist find their positions reversed as part of a bet by two callous millionaires.

Lively and entertaining comedy that hasn't dated at all.

Halliwell**: " Surprisingly witty comedy, which while not aspiring to great heights, and marred by a few excesses, brought a refreshing breath of air to a declining genre."

Maltin**1/2: "Fine cast breathes life into time-worn comedy premise...Murphy, in his second film, is a comic powerhouse, and makes up for director Landis' indulgences..."

Virus (1999)

 

 

When the crew of an American tugboat boards an abandoned Russian research vessel, the alien life form aboard regards them as a virus which must be destroyed.

 

Trashy (and gory) sci-fi monster movie with a good cast which is actually quite entertaining.

 

On renewed viewing: I must admit this movie movie i s a little guilty pleasure of mine.

 

Halliwell (no star): "Frenetic, simple-minded science fiction that follows an obvious course with few surprises along the way."

 

Maltin BOMB: "Drearily routine,with borrowed ideas and stereotyped characters, though Curtis and Pacula try."