Posted: 07/22/02Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
by Yasmin Hunt
The eighth installment in the long-running series brings us no closer to knowing why Michael Myers is such an angry young man.
Nothing is more important to a true horror movie buff like myself then to finally, FINALLY, learn the history behind the manic: why they do what they do, what motivates them, why can't they be stopped, etc. So, after Mike Myers' head was lopped off in the last installment, Halloween: H2O, by scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis, I thought to myself, "Hmm, now how the hell am I going to find out how he became a serial killer?" Then I saw the trailer for the next Halloween flick, and I thought my question would be answered. I was excited and couldn't wait for this film's release. Then I didn't have any money opening weekend because it wasn't payday and I had to hold off for another week and, boy, was it hard.The question is, "Is the answer to my question finally answered with this latest movie?" And the answer is "Hell naw!" Why? Because, yet again, I'm left hanging and Jamie's dead. I mean, Mike finally got her and...I'm crushed. What's a Halloween film without Jamie? And why couldn't they give up the goods on what happened to Mike when he was a child?
Let me stop and give a little synopsis of the movie. Halloween: Resurrection is about six young adults chosen to be in an Internet show called Dangertainment. The object is to spend one night in Myers' childhood home, which is where all this craziness first began. They're to investigate his home and find out just what 
caused Myers' madness. They each don headgear rigged with cameras and are then locked inside the house.
Jamie Lee Curtis makes her "last stand" during the first thirty minutes when she and Mike Myers go at it again (or so it appears) in the insane asylum, where she's been since the last flick. Why is she now insane and what happened to her son? You know, Joshy baby? Already I'm getting mad because I'm wondering how come Myers' head is so neatly attached to his neck when in H2O he was beheaded after a poignant moment between he and Jamie when he seemed to come back to reality. Playing by the rules of such horror flicks as Scream 3, the killer is gone for good when he loses his head. Are we no longer following that procedure here?
Busta Rhymes (Finding Forrester) and Tyra Banks (Coyote Ugly) are along for the ride in the 8th installment, as is Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance). Busta and Tyra are the producers of Dangertainment and have booby-trapped the Myers house to boost web ratings and get the player's and viewer's juices flowing. Only they don't know that Myers has been living underneath the house all this time. Seems that's where he's been hiding in between flicks. I wondered about that, too.
Bianca Kajlich (Bring It On) plays college co-ed Sarah Moyer, a thoughtful second-guesser-type who has been corresponding with a high schooler via Palm Pilot - which will later save her life as her jail bait chum can view her online and tell her where Myers is lurking. That's some damn good writing right there from Larry Brand and Sean Hood, and it's put into play quite well by director Rick Rosenthal, who happened to direct Halloween II, as well.
But, I have to tell you the best part in the movie. I'm talking about the absolute best part out of all the Halloween movies, is the confrontation between Myers and Busta Rhymes. Busta dons the signature Michael Myers mask and overalls in an attempt to scare the kids - you remember them? - in order to pump up the ratings. The real Mike Myers follows Busta through the house attempting to stab his...well, you know...and Busta turns around and mistakes Myers for a crew member who was supposed to have been in costume. So, in typical Busta Rhymes style, he tells Myers off, casually adding a smack to the head or two. All the while Myers is looking at him like, "What the...???" Busta then tells Myers to take a hike "'Cause he's playing Mike!" And what does my main man Mike do? He leaves. No, seriously.
Halloween: Resurrection is an okay entry into the series. I think what saved the film were scenes like those with the Palm Pilot and Busta Rhymes. Other than that, there are just way too many questions that are left unanswered. I know there's going to be a ninth installment but, really, how did Mike Myers get his head back? And is there no real explanation to be had about how he became a homicidal maniac? I'm talking about beyond the little bit of information Dr. Loomis gave in Number Two. And now that Jamie has finally been taken out, who is worthy enough to go head to head with Mike Myers? Could it be Busta? I don't know. But if you happen to know then, please, would you let me know?
Man, just go watch the movie. It's in a theatre near you.
Yasmin Hunt lives on the East Coast, where she spends a lot of time trying to figure out just what makes Michael Myers tick.
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