5.4 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Six years after he was presumed dead in a fire, Myers has returned to kill again.
Horror | 100% |
Thriller | 47% |
Supernatural | 19% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
John Carpenter's original Halloween (1978) begat Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. In an ironic twist, though, The Curse of Michael Myers, the sixth film in the Halloween franchise, was inspired not just by its own vision but by its slasher genre offspring. Myers, once upon a time a terrifying, very human murder machine, was suddenly revealed to have connections to something more sinister and, you guessed it, supernatural. How else could he have survived the events of the first five films? The answer? Horror fans don't really care. What the producers, writer Daniel Farrands and director Joe Chappelle failed to understand was the power of suspension of disbelief. We don't need an explanation. I never spent much time mulling over the how of Myers' decades-long killing spree, just the why. The horror of Michael Myers lies in his crazed, dogged persistence. The eerie silence with which he stalks his prey. The cold, calculating drive born somewhere deep inside. Not his origins, his ability to soldier on through death or the source of his inhuman strength.
It's no coincidence that wrestling with how far to push the series into the supernatural directly led to Curse's production woes. Officially presented for the first time via its theatrical version and vastly different producer's cut, it's clear the real struggle was in where to go with a series that was in danger of repeating itself ad nauseum. The theatrical version rapidly retreats from the supernatural, delivering a more traditional Halloween experience. The producer's cut charges ahead -- rather boldly -- and, regardless of the outcome, offers a more unique take on the mythos. (One heavily influenced by The Omen and Rosemary's Baby.) Which is the more effective installment? Let the debate rage.
Presented on a separate disc from the theatrical version, the producer's cut of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers features an excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer some will wrongfully dismiss as a lesser presentation. The theatrical version is crisper and more vibrant, which is sure to lead to some confusion among casual viewers. However, that crispness and vibrancy is the result of an over-processed image, and suffers from the typical side effects of artificial sharpening and contrast boosting: edge halos, unnatural detail, crush and over-saturation. The producer's cut offers a more filmic, more faithful presentation, with more restrained colors, much more refined and revealing shadow delineation, more eye-pleasing detail, a more consistent grain field, and, in general, a more satisfying encode. Granted, the theatrical version has its merits -- the producer's cut occasionally appears a bit dull and washed out, especially by comparison -- and I'm sure there will be some who prefer the flashier, splashier palette. But there's no indication that the producer's cut boasts anything but the image that was intended. (Or as close to it as a workprint can come.) Yes, there are still instances of slight ringing and a few faint halos to be found (the bright hallways in the third act being home to the worst of it). Yes, black levels aren't exactly inky. And yes, there are other indications that Scream Factory's remaster isn't perfect (minor print damage, among other negligible issues). But in terms of quality and purity, this is the kind of restoration/remastering/presentation Curse's theatrical version, Halloween H20 and Halloween Resurrection should have received.
Like the theatrical version, the producer's cut of The Curse of Michael Myers includes a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. There are a few more prioritization and fidelity inconsistencies; most, if not all, tied to the nature of the film's workprint AV presentation. The good news is this is one of the more stable and consistent workprints I've encountered, with very little in the way of distractions. Similar to the theatrical version's lossless mix, LFE output isn't mind-blowing, but is aggressive enough to lend some much-needed oomph to stretches of the movie that feature Myers, the mysterious man in black, and the cult. The rear speakers, though subdued, are pleasantly engaging, even when used sparingly or simply to bolster the fullness of the score. Dialogue is reasonably clear and intelligible throughout as well, and voices aren't significantly thin or tinny often enough to raise any red flags. Bottom line? For all intents and purposes, the lossless track that accompanies the producer's cut is comparable to its theatrical counterpart, without any serious mishaps to report.
Is the producer's cut of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers better than the theatrical version? It's certainly a more interesting viewing experience. The theatrical version is a rather routine sequel. The producer's cut is a wildly different film; a more divisive film, but one that at least tries something different. That said, once the mystique of the producer's cut wears off -- this is, after all, a version that was only previously available as an unofficial bootleg -- the myth, the legend, the mystery *shiver* amounts to another so-so sequel. It's more ambitious, but better? That's for you to decide. Thankfully, the Blu-ray edition arrives with a strong AV presentation and a generous helping of candid retrospectives and other bonus content. Even if you don't dig the producer's cut, the behind-the-scenes material is worth the cost of admission. Whether it's worth the cost of the Limited Deluxe Edition box set is another matter...
1995
1995
Unrated Producer's Cut | Halloween 6
1995
Unrated Producer's Cut | Retro VHS Collection
1995
Collector's Edition
1995
1995
Theatrical Cut | Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers
1995
(Still not reliable for this title)
Halloween 8
2002
1998
Collector's Edition
1989
Collector's Edition
1988
Collector's Edition
1982
Unrated Director's Cut
2009
30th Anniversary Edition | Includes "Terror in the Aisles"
1981
Unrated Collector's Edition
2007
Collector's Edition
1978
1988
1993
2003
1981
Collector's Edition
1991
Collector's Edition
1990
1987
Unrated
2013
2018
Limited Edition
1980
Collector's Edition
2004