Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Halloween II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

An entertaining sequel to the original masterpiece.

Halloween 2 is the direct-sequel to the original slasher masterpiece. The second installment in the long-running franchise, Halloween 2 was designed to conclude the story from the original feature-film and resolve the conflict between Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers (Dick Warlock). Produced on a bigger budget than the original, Halloween 2 is an entertaining sequel but it is less sophisticated than the original classic.

Picking up the story right after the conclusion of the original Halloween, Halloween 2 begins with Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) being rushed to the Haddonfield Memorial Hospital. Psychopathic Michael Myers (Dick Warlock) continues his quest for murder while Loomis (Donald Pleasence) tries to solve the case. As Myers breaks in to the hospital, the bodies start piling up as one murder happens after another (as the blood-lusting Myers won't slow down). Can Laurie survive the night once more?

Jamie Lee Curtis remains the heart of the production: continuing her Halloween legacy. Laurie Strode is the hero of Halloween and the return of her character makes the sequel a must-see follow up to the original. Curtis has a lot of fun with her iconic role and the conclusion to the feature-film gives her some exciting scenes to showcase her acting chops. The true icon is Laurie Strode.

The Shape returns.

The production design by J. Michael Riva (Iron Man, The Goonies) is effective at enhancing the tone of the entire film. The settings are often bleak and haunting: the hospital location looking eerie and mysterious as Michael Myers stalks the halls. The production looks beautifully mysterious and it manages to enhance the horror of the filmmaking.

The cinematography by Dean Cundey (Halloween, Back to the Future) is as achingly beautiful as in the original. The visual component is one of the key reasons the sequel is so much fun: the long-takes and creative camera-shots. Cundey is one of the best cinematographer's in film history and this is another effective effort from the master.

The original music score composed by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth (who collaborated on several projects, including Big Trouble in Little China and Prince of Darkness) is a nice follow-up on the iconic soundtrack designed by Carpenter for the original. With just a few simple notes, the score heightens the horror and adds tension to the thrill-ride. The music delivers terror in spades.

Directed by Rick Rosenthal (Bad Boys, Life Goes On), working from the screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill (who together collaborated on several projects, including Halloween and The Fog), Halloween 2 is an entertaining follow-up to the iconic horror classic. Halloween 2 doesn't match the quality of the original masterpiece but the script is entertaining – if not as intelligent as the original. The filmmaking isn't as haunting (relying more on an increased body count). Halloween 2 is still a worthy sequel and (at least temporarily) it served as a solid conclusion to the original story Carpenter and Hill began in Halloween.

For additional information on Halloween II and an alternate-take, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on 4K UHD from Shout Factory, Halloween II is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The scan is presented in HEVC / H.265 2160p 4K. The release is a native 4K scan of the feature-film. This is a superb presentation of the feature-film (retaining a beautiful layer of film grain). For additional information on the video-quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented with numerous audio options: Dolby Atmos is provided alongside DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, and Dolby Digital mono. The original mono audio retains the most authentic sound design (true to original distribution) The 4K UHD release has a nice selection of alternative options as well. For additional information on the audio-quality, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Sacred Bones collectors edition is a must-have for vinyl enthusiasts. The release includes a gorgeous collectors art- box with a silver-foil print on the front. The set includes a special case containing both the standard collectors edition on 4K UHD and an exclusive 7" vinyl.

The exclusive vinyl record makes the Sacred Bones exclusive a must-have for LP fans: the record has a fantastic black-and-orange mix (with a gorgeous blend of white) which looks beautiful and fits the film well. The record sound quality is superb and there were no issues with the quality of the pressing.

The release includes the following tracks:

Side A:

The Shape Enters Laurie's Room

Side B:

The Shape Stalks Again (Newly Recorded)

The release features music composed by John Carpenter in association with Alan Howarth. Performed by John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter, and Daniel Davies. Mixed by John Spiker.

The 4K UHD collectors edition release (available from Sacred Bones) includes the same supplemental package as the standard-edition. For additional information on the supplemental package, please refer to the review by my colleague Brian Orndorf.

Halloween II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Halloween II is a fun thrill-ride. The sequel is an entertaining follow-up to the original horror classic and it expands the narrative in a compelling way. While the sequel isn't as smart or as scary as the original, it is nonetheless a worthwhile mind-trip. The 4K UHD presents Halloween II with a stunning native 4K scan. The Sacred Bones collectors edition includes the three-disc set, an exclusive 7" colored vinyl record, and a special art-box. Highly recommended.