Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - One big yawn

After the surprisingly okay 'Halloween 4,' here we have the fifth entry in the long-running slasher series which takes a noticeable step back (we're not including the 'Marmite-esque 'Halloween 3: Season of the Witch,' as that didn't feature Michael Myers as the antagonist).  'Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers' tries to continue the story of Jamie Lloyd and her relentless, masked uncle, but the result is a sluggish and unfocused sequel that lacks any of the previous tension and atmosphere that made the 1978 original a classic.

The pacing is one of the biggest letdowns here. For a film about a silent killer (in an inside out William Shatner mask!) stalking small-town victims, Halloween 5 takes way too long to get going, with long stretches where nothing really happens.  The original suspense of John Carpenter’s original are replaced with meandering scenes and virtually no character development.  And, while we're on the subject of the 'characters' (and I use that term loosely!), almost everyone here is hard to like.  The teens are written as generic horror cannon fodder and even Jamie—played again by Danielle Harris—feels more like a plot device than a fully realized person this time around.

Donald Pleasence returns as Dr. Loomis and he gives his usual committed, slightly unhinged performance.  At least his intensity provides a few memorable moments, but even his larger-than-life presence can’t save the muddled story or elevate its dull execution.  By this point, Loomis’s obsession with stopping Michael feels more repetitive than anything else.

Despite Pleasence’s dedication, 'Halloween 5' fails to capture the suspense or spirit of any of its predecessors (I even preferred 'part 3' or any of the Rob Zombie remakes!).  With its slow pace, unlikable cast, and lack of real scares, it’s one of the weaker and more forgettable sequels in the franchise.

4/10