Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

"Samhain isn't evil spirits. It isn't goblins, ghosts or witches. It's the unconscious mind."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown September 18, 2014

It's hard to believe it all began thirty-six years ago. John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) not only birthed a ten-film franchise, it paved the way for the slasher classics of the '80s, 90s and beyond, and much of modern horror as we know it. Had there not been a Michael Myers, there might not be a Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger. Had there not been a Halloween, there might not be a Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street. The flipside being... had there not been a Halloween II (1981) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982), horror might not be the sequel- churning industry it's long since become. But never mind that. For better (the original film) or worse (does it get much worse than Season of the Witch?), the Halloween series is a treasure trove of proper tricks and treats, frights and laughs, genuinely scary installments and guilty pleasures. With Anchor Bay's Halloween: The Complete Collection -- available in a tempting 10-disc standard set and a titillating 15-disc Limited Deluxe Edition box set -- the full saga, stretching from 1978 to 2009, is finally gathered in one Blu-ray package, and presented in 1080p with lossless 5.1 (sometimes 7.1) audio. And did I mention the hours upon hours of special features, new and old? If only there weren't so many nagging issues...

The 15-disc Deluxe Edition of the Halloween: Complete Collection box set breaks down as follows:

• Disc 1 - John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) - Blu-ray
• Disc 2 - John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) - Blu-ray, Deluxe Edition Exclusive
• Disc 3 - Halloween II (1981) - Blu-ray, Theatrical Cut
• Disc 4 - Halloween II (1981) - Standard DVD, SD TV Cut, DE Exclusive
• Disc 5 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Blu-ray
• Disc 6 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - Blu-ray
• Disc 7 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) - Blu-ray
• Disc 8 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - Blu-ray, Theatrical Cut
• Disc 9 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) - Blu-ray, Producer's Cut, DE Exclusive
• Disc 10 - Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) - Blu-ray
• Disc 11 - Halloween Resurrection (2002) - Blu-ray
• Disc 12 - Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) - Blu-ray
• Disc 13 - Rob Zombie's Halloween Bonus Disc - Blu-ray, DE Exclusive
• Disc 14 - Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 (2009) - Blu-ray
• Disc 15 - Additional Bonus Features - Blu-ray, DE Exclusive

Disc 15 also includes a 101-minute extended cut of John Carpenter's Halloween (1978)

Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Each film in the Halloween box set arrives with a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 video transfer. The feature presentation of Halloween (1978) sports the same terrific encode as Anchor Bay's 35th Anniversary Edition; Halloween II (1981) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) are identical to their Scream Factory counterparts; Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers are the same BDs released by Anchor Bay in 2012; and Rob Zombie's reimaginings/remakes, Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009), are identical to the discs Weinstein and Sony (respectively) released several years ago. Some are excellent, some merely decent, some problematic. It's a mixed bag.

Unfortunately, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) and Halloween Resurrection (2002) -- previously released by Echo Bridge Entertainment -- are all over the place too. The Curse of Michael Myers' theatrical cut, Halloween H20 and Halloween Resurrection share a bit too much in common with their Echo Bridge predecessors. Curse is slightly improved and H20 moderately so, but Resurrection, in what must be a first, actually looks a bit worse than its Echo Bridge counterpart. Yep, you read that correctly. Only Curse's producer's cut readily impresses, leaving consumers in an even more precarious double dip position than before.

Click on the links below to read detailed video reviews and view additional screenshots for each film:

• Disc 1 - John Carpenter's Halloween
  
  Video Score - 4.5/5.0 - 35th Anniversary Full Review
  
  
• Disc 2 - John Carpenter's Halloween
  
  Video Score - 3.5/5.0 - 2007 Review, 2013 Comparison
  
  
• Disc 3 - Halloween II Theatrical Cut
  
  Video Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review
  Includes Original "Moustapha Akkad Presents" Opening Credit
  
  
• Disc 4 - Halloween II TV Cut
  
  Video Score - N/A - DVD, 480p SD
  
  
• Disc 5 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch
  
  Video Score - 3.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 6 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
  
  Video Score - 2.5/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 7 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers
  
  Video Score - 3.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 8 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Theatrical Cut
  
  Video Score - 3.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 9 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Producer's Cut
  
  Video Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 10 - Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
  
  Video Score - 3.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 11 - Halloween Resurrection
  
  Video Score - 2.5/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 12 - Rob Zombie's Halloween
  
  Video Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review
  
  
• Disc 14 - Rob Zombie's Halloween 2
  
  Video Score - 3.5/5.0 - Full Review
  
  

Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Like the set's video presentations, the bulk of the lossless audio tracks have been repurposed from individual releases. Once again, its the sixth, seventh and eighth films that earn a much-needed overhaul (Curse of Michael Myers rolls out two lossless mixes, one for each cut of the film), and, once again, fans will be satisfied with the end product. More detailed reviews of these three Halloween sequels will be online very soon. Click on the links below to read detailed audio reviews and view additional screenshots for each film:

Disc 1 - John Carpenter's Halloween


• Dolby TrueHD 7.1 Surround
• Dolby TrueHD Mono: Original 1978 Audio
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Audio Score - 4.5/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 2 - John Carpenter's Halloween


• PCM 5.1 Surround
• Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
• Dolby Digital Mono: Original 1978 Audio
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Audio Score - 3.5/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 3 - Halloween II Theatrical Cut


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround (verified)
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: None
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 4 - Halloween II TV Cut


• Dolby Digital 2.0
• Subtitles: None
• Audio Score - N/A - Standard DVD

Disc 5 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch


• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: None
• Audio Score - 3.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 6 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers


• Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Audio Score - 2.5/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 7 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers


• Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Audio Score - 3.5/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 8 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Theatrical Cut


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: English
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 9 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Producer's Cut


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: English
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 10 - Halloween H20: 20 Years Later


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: English
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 11 - Halloween Resurrection


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
• Subtitles: English
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 12 - Rob Zombie's Halloween


• Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround
• Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
• Audio Score - 4.0/5.0 - Full Review

Disc 14 - Rob Zombie's Halloween 2


• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround
• Subtitles: English, English SDH
• Audio Score - 4.5/5.0 - Full Review

Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A simple slipbox holds ten standard-sized black BD cases, along with a thin 42-page booklet. Nothing fancy, nothing splashy, nothing too big or bulky. No collectibles, no junk. Just the films you want in individual cases that make it easier to put the collection on your shelf however you like. The only oddity I suppose is that the set's 15th disc is housed inside the Halloween II (2009) case, rather than having one all to itself. Otherwise, there's nothing out of the ordinary.

Disc 1 - John Carpenter's Halloween

• New Audio Commentary: Director of photography Dean Cundey, editor/production designer Tommy Lee Wallace and "The Shape," Nick Castle, take a few minutes to warm up but soon hit a nice pace, delivering a scene by scene overview of the film, its challenges (budgetary and more), the look, tone and aesthetic of the cinematography and production design, the performances and on-set presence of the actors, the reasons for Halloween's endurance, the tricks and treats of putting together a classic with a lasting legacy, and much more. The trio gets caught up watching the film every now and then, but for the most part rarely grow silent. Reserved as it is, this is an excellent track with plenty of insight into the making of a horror icon and a truly frightening movie.
• Audio Commentary: Co-writer/director John Carpenter and actress Jamie Lee Curtis offer plenty of minor anecdotal observations but also provide some greater in-depth insight into the technical aspects of the shoot. Discussions include secrets behind the wardrobe and hair, thoughts on modern horror and what sets Halloween apart, the picture's contrast between reality and lurking terror, Carpenter's directorial style, casting and the cast's contributions, life after the film, and plenty more. Curtis is particularly enthusiastic in her look at the film in hindsight and observing its brilliant structure. Unfortunately, there's no discussion of the remastered Blu-ray. (Martin Liebman)
• The Night She Came Home (HD, 60 minutes): Jamie Lee Curtis discusses the "monetization" of Halloween for charity. This film follows Curtis in November 2012 (at one point the date is listed as November 2013... hooray for the invention of time travel!) as she meets fans, schmoozes with franchise cast and crew, signs memorabilia, snaps photos with attendees, and addresses the audience. There's also plenty of fan interview snippets. This is a wonderful piece; Curtis comes across as amiable and sincere. (ML)
• On Location: 25 Years Later (SD, 10 minutes): A visit to the South Pasadena neighborhood years after the shoot, including a look at the restored Myers house. The piece also features discussions of the requirements of the film's shooting locales, the actors' presences on set, Carpenter's filmmaking style, character dynamics, and making use of location dynamics. (ML)
• TV Spots (SD, 1 minute): A trio of television advertisements for the film. The first two run thirty-two seconds each, while the final spot runs a mere twelve seconds. (ML)
• TV Version Footage (HD, 11 minutes): A collection of scenes that played in the film's television cut. (ML)
• Radio Spots (HD, 1 minute): Three spots play over a Halloween graphic. (ML)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 3 minutes): The film's original trailer. (ML)

Disc 2 - John Carpenter's Halloween

• Audio Commentary: Writer/director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill and actress Jamie Lee Curtis cover a lot of the same ground in this 2007 BD commentary as they did in the 35th Anniversary track included on Disc One. Hill injects additional tidbits, but nothing ground-shaking, and recording each participant separately doesn't result in a very engaging listening experience. Give this one a go if you must, but you'll soon discover the same thing I did: Disc Two's extras aren't nearly as entertaining or enjoyable as those on Disc One. Stick with the newer content.
• Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest (SD, 87 minutes): This semi-decent 2003 retrospective features interviews with Carpenter, Curtis and other key members of the cast and crew. There's quite a bit of overlap, particularly when viewed shortly after the filmmakers' various audio commentaries, but there's enough here to warrant a watch... if, that is, you're a diehard Halloween junkie. Casual fans will want to stick with the "Night She Came Home" documentary on Disc One.
• Film Fast Facts: A running on-screen fact track.
• TV Spots (SD, 1 minute): The same promos included on Disc One.
• Radio Spots (HD, 1 minute): More redundancy with Disc One.
• Trailer (SD, 3 minutes): Add one more repeat to the list.

Disc 3 - Halloween II Theatrical Cut

• Audio Commentaries: Two commentaries accompany the film's theatrical cut, the first with director Rick Rosenthal and actor Leo Rossi, and the second with actor/stunt coordinator Dick Warlock. Rosenthal and Rossi's track is a fan's dream come true; extensive, breezy, funny, revealing... it not only touches on everything the Halloween II flock for, it's both a genuinely engaging commentary and a genuinely engaging conversation. There are a few too many pauses, sure, presumably when the pair get caught up in the film, and Rosenthal works hard to avoid taking any unsportsmanlike shots at Carpenter, but the two cast their net beyond the shot-by-shot minutia of the troubled production and cover far more ground than I expected. Warlock, joined by "Icons of Fright" creator Robert V. Galluzzo, hosts a solid commentary of his own. It isn't as informative as Rosenthal's chat, and it serves up more stories from the set than true insight, but as a companion commentary it's quite satisfying.
• The Nightmare Isn't Over!: The Making of Halloween II (HD, 45 minutes): Presented in 2.35:1 high definition, this Red Shirt Pictures retrospective documentary approaches the Halloween sequel -- and really horror sequel-making as a relative innovation of the era and, later, as an oft-botched art -- with the utmost seriousness and honesty. Rosenthal, Warlock, executive producer Irwin Yablans, director of photography Dean Cundey, co-composer Alan Howarth and other key members of the crew rip back the curtain of the script and production, and rarely pull any punches (not that anyone is swinging all that hard). Yablans and Halloween production designer/co-editor Tommy Lee Wallace lay the groundwork, and Yablans continues to appear throughout, but it's the affable Rosenthal and Cundey who make the documentary worth the 45-minute investment, for diehard and casual fans alike. Rossi and fellow actors Lance Guest and Nancy Stephens also chime in, but only Rossi has anything of anecdotal interest to offer.
• Horror's Hallowed Grounds: The Locations of Halloween II (HD, 13 minutes): Horror's Hallowed Grounds writer/producer Sean Clark leads horror hounds on a tour of shooting locations used in Halloween II.
• Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary (HD, 8 minutes): A collection of wisely exorcised deleted scenes with optional commentary with Rosenthal.
• Alternate Ending (SD, 2 minutes): A bait-n-switch alternate ending, with optional director's commentary.
• Theatrical Trailer and TV & Radio Spots (HD/SD, 7 minutes): A vintage red band theatrical trailer, three TV commercials and a series of radio spots.
• Stills Gallery (HD, 5 minutes): More a reel of photos than a gallery.

Disc 4 - Halloween II TV Version, DVD

• Halloween II: The Television Cut (SD, 92 minutes): While the Television Cut isn't a Rosenthal director's cut, it's more in keeping with his original intentions for the sequel than the Rosenthal/Carpenter hybrid that made it to theaters. The changes and edits are relatively minor, but gone is most of the gore and added is a handful of extra bits and pieces; scenes that don't appear in the theatrical cut. Now if only the Television Cut had been presented in high definition with lossless audio...
• Halloween II Film Script: The Television Cut DVD also includes a copy of the film's script. To access it, open the DVD on your computer, explore its contents, and copy the Halloween2.pdf file to your hard drive.

Disc 5 - Halloween III: Season of the Witch

• Audio Commentary: Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Rob G. from "Icons of Fright," and Horror's Hallowed Grounds' Sean Clark speak on the plot, the history of the Halloween "anthology" that never materialized, the process of shooting various scenes, filming locations, the score, using "London Bridge" as a base for the popular jingle, the cast and performances, and much more. The track is fairly heavy on nostalgia and filming locales. It's a good track and has a very fan-oriented feel. It's well worth hearing. (ML)
• Audio Commentary: Actor Tom Atkins and BD/DVD Producer Michael Felsher discuss the picture's history, fan reaction then and now, Atkins' previous work with Carpenter and landing the role in Halloween III, Atkins' other filmed works, working with the film's cast and crew, and plenty of interesting anecdotes. It's not quite so focused on the film as fans might wish, but Tom Atkins fans should move this to the top of their "must-listen commentary tracks." (ML)
• Stand Alone: The Making of Halloween III: Season of the Witch (HD, 33 minutes): Director Tommy Lee Wallace, Actors Tom Atkins and Stacey Nelkin, Stunt Coordinator Dick Warlock, Cinematographer Dean Cundey, Costume Designer Jane Ruhm, and others offer an honest recount of the film's history, public and critical reaction to it, the plan to make new "Halloween" themed movies every year, the evolution of the script, the work of the cast, cast camaraderie, the process of shooting various scenes, making many of the special effects, anecdotes from the shoot, the film's trademark jingle, and more. There's also highlights from a 2010 screening and a discussion of the film's legacy and revival. (ML)
• Horror's Hallowed Grounds: Revisiting the Original Shooting Locales (HD, 20 minutes): Horror's Hallowed Grounds' Sean Clark tours many of the locations seen in the film, contrasting them with how they look today and how they were in the film some thirty years ago. This is a fun supplement and something that studios should consider including with future releases. (ML)
• Still Gallery (HD, 3 minutes)
• TV Spots (SD, 2 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer (HD, 3 minutes)

Disc 6 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

• Audio Commentary: Actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris offer a breezy, friendly sort of track that recounts various material from not only the film but around the Halloween world. There's a good deal of off-the-cuff, behind-the-scenes, anecdotal sort of dialogue. Dedicated series fans and those with extra time to dedicate to the film will want to hear this commentary. (ML)
• Audio Commentary: Director Dwight H. Little and author Justin Beahm open with a discussion of the opening title sequence. They discuss plot points, Michael's escape at the beginning, casting Danielle Harris, filming locales, character arcs, script variations, and plenty more. This is a smooth, consistently entertaining track that fans will enjoy. (ML)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes): The film's original trailer.

Disc 7 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

• Audio Commentary: Actor Don Shanks and author Justin Beahm begin by speaking on the making of the opening title sequence and proceed to discuss Shanks' casting, shooting various scenes, anecdotes from the shoot, the series' themes and the complexities of the Michael Myers character, and plenty more. This is an enlightening, balanced track that's worthy of a listen. (ML)
• Audio Commentary: Director Dominique Othenin-Girad and actors Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Landman offer an enjoyable commentary that's well-spoken, enthusiastic, and insightful. There's plenty of good detailed technical insight, discussions of the plot, and jovial recount of the general filmmaking process. As with the previous track, this one's well worth a listen. (ML)
• On the Set (SD, 16 minutes): Raw behind-the-scenes footage is intercut with cast interviews. (ML)
• Halloween 5 Original Promo (SD, 6 minutes): A lengthy preview for the movie that offers behind the scenes footage and cast and crew interviews. (ML)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 1 minute): A short trailer.

Disc 8 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Theatrical Cut

• Still Gallery (HD, 12 minutes): Though the bulk of the Halloween 666 bonus content has been relegated to Disc Nine, with the Producer's Cut, the Theatrical Cut still includes a few extras, beginning with this stills montage.
• TV Spots (SD, 3 minutes): Nine television promos.
• Theatrical Trailers (SD, 3 minutes): Three trailers round out the disc.

Disc 9 - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers Producer's Cut

• Audio Commentary: Writer Daniel Farrands and composer Alan Howarth discuss the oft-bootlegged cut of the film with a fair bit of amazement; first, that it's finally being released, and second, that they've been given the opportunity to outline the differences between the two versions (pointing out deleted scenes, trimmed footage and alterations along the way), the reasons for the producer's cut's demise, the obstacles faced during the production, and the newly released version's place in the Halloween saga. The two deliver a terrifically candid discussion, and while the movie itself isn't my favorite in the series, theirs was probably my favorite commentary track in the Deluxe Edition set.
• Acting Scared: A Look at the Film's Cast (HD, 19 minutes): Actresses Mariah O'Brien and J.C. Brandy reflect on the sixth entry in the Halloween franchise, touching on everything from director Joe Chappelle's style and approach to the rest of the cast, their experience on set (O'Brien was one of the gang, Brandy was typically isolated in separate scenes), and the manner in which they tackled significant moments in the film.
• The Shape of Things (HD, 12 minutes): More production woes are revealed. Special make-up effects creator John Carl Buechler talks about the return of a more iconic Michael Myers mask (after the departure that was the Halloween 5 design), but soon turns the spotlight onto actor George P. Wilbur, the original man behind the sixth film's mask, who was replaced midway through the movie with a smaller statured actor. From there, Buechler and special effects make-up artist Brad Hardin recall Curse's gory kills and tricky FX.
• Haddonfield's Horrors (HD, 11 minutes): This "Visual Design of Halloween 6" featurette passes the behind-the-scenes baton to director of photography Billy Dickson and production designer Bryan Ryman, who dive into the movie's splashier, more surreal imagery, the film's pacing, and other aspects of the sixquel's sets, costumes and props.
• A Cursed Curse (HD, 10 minutes): An interview with Trancas International president and Curse associate producer Malek Akkad (who says "in retrospect" a lot) and producer Paul Freeman (who gets very little screentime).
• Full Circle (HD, 7 minutes): Composer Alan Howarth muses about his career, his contributions to the saga and, more specifically, The Curse of Michael Myers, the elements used to build a Halloween score, and the aspects of the sixth film that allowed him to play with old themes in new ways.
• Alternate and Deleted Scenes (HD/SD, 7 minutes): A collection of extended scenes, alternate footage and extra bits of graphic violence that doesn't appear in either cut of the film. Though quite rough, the footage "was transferred from the best available materials that were located by the production staff."
• Archival Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage (HD/SD, 8 minutes): An assortment of interviews and production footage, chief among them a brief sit-down with the late Donald Pleasance.
• Additional BTS Footage (HD/SD, 24 minutes): Footage shot by Farrands during the first week of production.
• Jamie's Story (HD, 8 minutes): A not-so-notable interview with actress Danielle Harris.
• Cast & Crew Tribute to Donald Pleasance (HD, 3 minutes): A short tribute to Pleasance.
• Teaser Trailer (SD, 1 minute): A short trailer.
• Electronic Press Kit (SD, 5 minutes): A vintage promo reel.

Disc 10 - Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

• Audio Commentary: Moderator Sean Clark hosts director Steve Miner and actress Jamie Lee Curtis in a spirited commentary. Once again, Curtis' enthusiasm elevates the entire track, which is home to a nice mix of production tidbits, anecdotes, insight and fun. There are a few too many times where the duo play the role of chatty audience members, particularly during kill scenes, but Clark does a good job of springing questions to re-focus them.
• Blood is Thicker than Water: The Making of Halloween H20 (HD, 59 minutes): Producer Malek Akkad, producer Paul Freeman, writer Robert Zappia, cinematographer Daryn Okada, editor Patrick Lussier, composer John Ottman, stunt coordinator Donna Keegan, make-up artist Brad Hardin and actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Nancy Stephens, Adam Hann-Byrd, Tom Kane and Chris Durand discuss all things H20 in this sprawling HD retrospective. Missing, though, is Miner.
• Scenes with John Ottman's Original Score (HD, 24 minutes): Six scenes from Halloween H20 are presented with composer John Ottman's original score via an isolated music DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track.
• Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage (HD/SD, 46 minutes): This lengthy collection of interviews features Miner, Curtis and other key members of the cast and crew dissecting the film, their performances, the look and tone of the then-new sequel, and more.
• Still Gallery (HD, 8 minutes): A montage of photos and production images.
• TV Spot (SD, 1 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)

Disc 11 - Halloween Resurrection

• Audio Commentary: Director Rick Rosenthal and editor Robert A. Ferretti may be more measured and soft-spoken than other commentators featured in the Halloween box set, but they're no less informative, moving quickly from the film's premise (which hinges on a gotcha revision that offers an explanation as to how Myers survived his grisly beheading at the end of H20) to its development, production design, cast, performances, pacing and style, and more.
• Deleted Scenes & Alternate Endings (SD, 11 minutes): A collection of six deleted scenes and three alternate endings (or rather what appears to be the bits and pieces of a single alternate ending) are presented with optional director's commentary.
• Web Cam Special (HD, 41 minutes): The team's web cam videos, edited together into a really, really bad running film of sorts with yet another optional director's commentary courtesy of Rosenthal.
• Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage (HD/SD, 37 minutes): An assortment of interview snippets followed by a sixteen-minute reel of fly-on-the-wall behind-the-scenes footage, sans narration.
• Head Cam (SD, 4 minutes): The cast gush over the sequel in this archive featurette.
• Storyboard Analysis (SD, 4 minutes): A series of storyboard-to-film comparisons.
• Set Tour (SD, 7 minutes): Production designer Troy Hansen leads viewers on a tour of the Myers house set.
• Set Interview (SD, 4 minutes): Jamie Lee Curtis briefly discusses her role in the film.
• Still Gallery (HD, 7 minutes): A montage of production photos and other images.
• Home Video TV Spots (SD, 1 minute): Two TV promos (one of which is built around a massive spoiler).
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes): The film's original trailer.

Disc 12 - Rob Zombie's Halloween

• Audio Commentary: Director Rob Zombie has a sort of hypnotic effect in his speech patterns, recounting of the filmmaking process, and his enthusiasm for the film and the commentary experience. It's hard to turn off once he gets rolling, and the track moves along at a brisk pace. Zombie walks audiences through the film, discussing the casting, trivial facts, shooting locations and challenges, the film's excessive use of foul language, props, changes in character behavior between the films, and so forth. (ML)
• Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending & Bloopers (SD, 36 minutes): Next are 17 deleted scenes (22:19) with optional commentary from Rob Zombie, an alternate ending (3:45), again with optional Zombie commentary, and a series of bloopers (10:18). (ML)
• The Many Faces of Michael Myers (SD, 6 minutes): This featurette includes interviews with Zombie, actors Tyler Mane and Daeg Faerch, editor Glenn Garland, costume designer Mary McLeod, and effects artist Wayne Toth. The piece examines the various masks worn in the film, from the clown mask worn by young Michael that was purchased on eBay, to the reproduction of the classic mask worn by the killer in the second half. (ML)
• Re-Imagining Halloween (SD, 19 minutes): A three-part feature that examines various aspects of the filmmaking process. The piece begins with "From Camera to Screen," wherein Zombie discusses the approach he took to set the film apart from the original. Various cast and crew discuss the strengths Rob Zombie brings to a project, the influences of other films such as 21 Grams or The Constant Gardener on Halloween, and the varying approaches to and tones of the film's acts. "The Production Design" examines the film's set designs, color schemes and more. And "The Makeup, FX, Props and Wardrobe" wins the award for most self-explanatory title of the year. (ML)
• Meet the Cast (SD, 18 minutes): Here, the process of assembling the cast is discussed, and is followed by a closer look at each of the film's primary characters and discussions with the actors that portray them. (ML)
• Casting Sessions (SD, 30 minutes): Video snippets from the auditions of 15 different actors. (ML)
• Scout Taylor-Compton Screen Test (SD, 8 minutes): An extended audition sequence. (ML)
• Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2 minutes)

Disc 13 - Rob Zombie's Halloween Bonus Disc

• Michael Lives: The Making of Halloween (HD, 260 minutes): The second Halloween disc contains a massive 4.5 hour documentary that covers the entire spectrum of the filmmaking process. Broken into several parts, including Preproduction and 8 segments that look at all 42 days of the shoot, "Michael Lives: The Making of Halloween" is one of the most comprehensive, painstaking, and thorough documentaries to date. Zombie begins by discussing his preference for original material, but also understands the opportunity of re-inventing an icon. After the first few moments, viewers will become enthralled in the piece; the candid trip into the world of the finer nuances of the filmmaking process is like an amusement park ride for film enthusiasts. The hard work that goes into making the film -- from scouting locations, the costume design, the casting process, creating storyboards, choosing the right props, and, of course, the day-by-day process of shooting the film -- is made accessible to everyday movie audiences. A title card announces the day of the shoot and the content of the shoot. The process of applying makeup to the actors, applying the finishing touches to the set, dousing people and places with blood, and most anything else one might imagine went into the making of the film is examined. Interview snippets with the cast and crew, as well as shots from the film, intertwine with the feature. Honest, fast-paced, intriguing, and highly watchable. (ML)

Disc 14 - Rob Zombie's Halloween 2

• Audio Commentary: From the get-go, writer/director Rob Zombie addresses the "white horse" issue, speaking on his inspiration for the motif and its place in the film. Additionally, Zombie covers a broad range of topics with a refreshing honesty, speaking on problems with the shoot, filming locations, conditions on the set, connections with the first film and necessary changes from one picture to the next, gore and special effects, and more. Though he occasionally does little more than describe the on-screen action and pauses for several long moments, Rob Zombie proves himself a well-spoken and engaging personality that cares about his craft and creating the best movies possible. (ML)
• Audition Footage (HD, 10 minutes): Audition footage is included for Chase Wright Vanek, Angela Trimbur, Jeffrey Daniel Phillips, Chris Hardwick, Mary Birdsong, Richard Brake and Octavia Spencer. (ML)
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes & Blooper Reel (HD, 30 minutes): Next up is a collection of twenty-three deleted and alternate scenes (25:14) and a blooper reel (4:26). (ML)
• Make-Up Tests (HD, 4 minutes): "Michael-Interior," "Michael-Exterior," and "Deborah Myers." (ML)
• Uncle Seymour Coffins' Stand-Up Routines (HD, 9 minutes): A three-part collection of full-length routines from one of the film's tertiary characters. (ML)
• Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures Music Videos (HD, 19 minutes): Also included are six music videos -- Zombie A Go Go, Honky Tonk Halloween, Redneck Vixen From Outer Space, Dr. Demon & The Robot Girl, Transylvania Terror Train, and Macon County Morgue -- by Captain Clegg and the Night Creatures.(ML)

Disc 15 - Additional Bonus Features

• John Carpenter's Halloween: Extended Version: The 101-minute extended cut of John Carpenter's Halloween is presented in its entirety in 1080p with DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround. No subtitles are available, and there aren't any major AV issues to report.
• Halloween Unmasked 2000 (HD, 27 minutes): This archive documentary covers a lot of the same ground as the extras featured on Discs One and Two, but still offers enough unique interview segments, production tidbits and other little gems to make it worth watching. At least for the diehard Halloween fan, which I assume you are if you're nabbing a 15-disc franchise set for your collection.
• Halloween Interview (SD, 1 minutes): A very brief interview snippet with producer Moustapha Akkad.
• Halloween Still Gallery (HD, 12 minutes): A montage of images and production photos.
• Halloween III: Season of the Witch Interview (HD, 6 minutes): A short interview aimed at franchise completists, this one with Season of the Witch make-up effects artist Tom Burman.
• Halloween III: Season of the Witch Radio Spots (HD, 2 minutes): Three radio spots.
• The Making of Halloween 4: Final Cut (SD, 17 minutes): While the bonus content included on the Halloween 4 disc is limited to two commentaries, Disc Fifteen makes up for it with several extras that delve into the sequel's production. Up first is an archive "Making Of" featurette with executive producer Moustapha Akkad, director Dwight Little, screenwriter Alan B. McElroy and other key members of the cast and crew.
• The Making of Halloween 4 (HD, 48 minutes): Far more extensive and worthwhile is this newly produced Scream Factory retrospective featuring Trancas International president Malek Akkad, director Dwight Little, screenwriter Alan B. McElroy, composer Alan Howarth, producer Paul Freeman, special make-up effects artists John Carl Buechler and Ken Horn, stuntmen Tom Morga and George P. Wilbur, and actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Kathleen Kinmont, Beau Starr, Raymond O'Connor, Erik Preston and Sasha Jensen. Vintage interview snippets are also included, most notably with executive producer Moustapha Akkad. Once again, a Scream Factory documentary is better than the film it examines. Not that I'm complaining...
• Halloween 4 Still Gallery (HD, 6 minutes): A montage of images and production photos.
• Inside Halloween 5 (SD, 15 minutes): "There's no way Michael could survive! Right!?" Moustapha Akkad leads the fifth sequel charge in this archive DVD featurette, which, you guessed it, isn't nearly as revealing or entertaining as the newly produced retrospective that follows it, "The Making of Halloween 5."
• The Making of Halloween 5 (HD, 44 minutes): Yet another in-depth Scream Factory undertaking; one that doesn't sugarcoat any aspect of the production, from its rushed beginnings to the assembling of its cast and crew, its rocky production, and the many difficulties the filmmakers encountered along the way. Interviews with producer Malek Akkad, line producer Rick Nathanson, composer Alan Howarth and actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Wedny Kaplan, Jeffrey Landman, Jonathan Chapin, Frankie Como, Tamara Glynn, Matthew Walker and Don Shanks (the fifth film's Michael Myers) are included.
• Halloween 5 Still Gallery (HD, 6 minutes): A montage of images and production photos.
• Horror's Hallowed Grounds (HD/SD, … minutes): Horror's Hallowed Grounds host Sean Clark and, in some cases, special guest Don Shanks visit the shooting locations visit the sets of Halloween 4, Halloween 5 and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. Also included is HHG's pilot episode, which focuses on John Carpenter's original film, and a special "Fan Edition" episode shot with, and for, a group of fans who board a bus tour of locations used in the first three films (as well as Zombie's remake). Episodes are as follows:
  
  
  • HHG: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (HD, 25:50)
  • HHG: Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (HD, 24:03)
  • HHG: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (HD, 23:09)
  • HHG Pilot Episode: Halloween (SD, 20:39)
  • HHG Fan Edition: Bus Tour (HD, 11:25)
• TV Spots (SD, 4 minutes): Assorted TV spots for Halloween 4, Halloween 5, and director Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) and Halloween II (2009).

Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

So, question of the Halloween season: is it all worth the cost of admission? For diehard fans of the series, yes. For more casual horror aficionados, that depends entirely on how much value the new, previously unavailable supplemental content adds to the collection. (As one forum member so eloquently put it, it isn't "a matter of, Will anything be wrong with the set? but rather, What will be wrong with the set, and can I live with it?") For a Complete Collection set, this one isn't definitive by a long shot. It all feels a bit piecemeal, despite the wealth of new extras. Too many discs are simply repurposed from earlier releases (not always a bad thing, mind you), too many of the films desperately need newly restored and remastered presentations (from the original elements), and the set's bonus disc is largely a catchall for new material devoted to the fourth and fifth films. Ultimately, there's some good stuff here, particularly if you don't own any of the Halloween releases already on the market. And while I strongly suspect the sixth, seventh and eighth films will be released individually in the future, there's no shame in getting everything in one content-packed box set. Diehards add it to their holiday wish lists regardless -- or go all out and splurge now -- but everyone else should approach with much more caution.