While the previous Halloween movie may have sucked as it brought about the end of the Thorn Trilogy, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later looked to rewrite the wrongs of the last movie. What is interesting here is that this movie is a sequel to the first two Halloween movies, pretending that the other movies did not happen. Something the most recent Halloween trilogy would also do.
How to Download Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later was released on August 5, 1998. You can download or stream the film from a digital platform. Click on the Download button at the end of this review and make your choice.
The Movie Review
A Return to Classic Slasher Roots
This was the first Halloween movie that I actually saw in the theatre and I remember being so excited for it. With movies like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, horror/slashers were becoming a big deal again in the mid to late 90s. Released in 1998, and I was there on opening night for this, and it did not disappoint. While it may not be everyone’s favorite, it is up there with the first two movies for me, and this may sound crazy, but Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is probably my favorite Halloween movie!
An Intense and Memorable Opening
We get a great opening where we find out that Dr. Loomis has passed away. However, the woman who was looking after Dr. Loomis during his final years finds her home broken into, and the files on Laurie Strode have been taken! Michael had been thought to be dead, but clearly he is not, and now he knows where to find Laurie.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Early Suspense
I love this opening scene, and the fact that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (2014)) is one of the first kills in the movie is just a ton of fun. The tension in this opening scene as you know that Michael is there, but you do not know when he will strike, is so very well done. We also get another very tense scene after this, with you wondering if Michael is going to kill a mother and her young daughter in a disgusting restroom.
Laurie Strode’s New Life as Keri Tate
We know that Michael is still alive, but what about Laurie? Laurie Strode faked her own death, changed her name to Keri Tate, and is now the headmistress of a fancy private school. Laurie is a mess, she has constant nightmares, is an alcoholic, and is always paranoid that Michael is going to show up to not just kill her, but her teenage son John.
A Killer 90s Cast with Heart
Before we go any further, we have to talk about the epic cast that Halloween H20: 20 Years Later has. They got Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween (1978), Freaky Friday (2003), Knives Out (2019), Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Borderlands (2024)) back as Laurie, but John is played by Josh Hartnett (Pearl Harbor (2001), Sin City (2005), Wrath of Man (2021), Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, Oppenheimer (2023)) and this is his very first movie role. We also have the very talented Michelle Williams as Molly, the girlfriend of Josh. I already mentioned a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but another character I have to mention is Ronny, played by rap legend LL Cool J who is one of the most fun characters in the movie.
Teens, Terror, and a Halloween Night Showdown
Laurie/Katie is a mess and super overprotective about John, much to his annoyance. There is a big school trip, but John, Molly, and another couple, Charlie and Sarah, manage to stay behind so that they can have their own Halloween party. Our group of four teens are all a lot of fun, and you do believe that they are a legitimate group.
Laurie Faces Michael Once Again
Of course, Michael shows up at the school to finish off Laurie and anyone else who gets in his way. Laurie realizes that John is still in the school so she has to face Michael in order to make sure that her son is safe. I liked the character growth of Laurie here, She goes from being a mess to a total mama bear badass that would do anything to stop Michael from getting to her son. No exact spoilers here, but the scene with the leg break in the dumbwaiter always makes me wince!
Final Thoughts on Halloween H20
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later is just a really fun movie and from start to end, I always have a great time with this. At the time, I remember this getting mixed reviews and I honestly have no idea why. This is just an awesome slasher movie, and the more I think about it, if I had to pick a Halloween movie to watch on a random spooky night, I am sure at least 8/10 I would pick this one. My only real complaint is that they change the mask during the movie a few times and once you notice it, it is hard not to see it.
