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ON THIS DAY IN HORROR - July 12th

"HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION" released in 2002

Michael Myers has survived more than a few injuries that would have killed most people - shot, stabbed, blown up (by his arch nemesis Dr. Sam Loomis), crushed, run over, and, most recently, seemingly beheaded by his long suffering sister, Laurie Strode (in the last movie, Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later (1998)). Not content to let horror's favorite Boogeyman rest in peace, filmmakers brought Michael back for one more rampage in Halloween: Resurrection!

Watch the Halloween: Resurrection trailer below!

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Set three years after Michael's murder spree at Hillcrest Academy, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has since been committed to a mental institution due her accidentally beheading an innocent paramedic she believed was her brother, Michael Myers (Brad Loree). But it isn't long before October 31st comes again with Michael tracking her down at the institution and finally succeeds in killing Laurie. One year later, reality TV producers Freddie Harris (Busta Rhymes) and Nora Winston (Tyra Banks) recruit six college students - Bill Woodlake (Thomas Ian Nicholas), Donna Chang (Daisy McCrackin), Jen Danzig (Katee Sackhoff), Jim Morgan (Luke Kirby), Rudy Grimes (Sean Patrick Thomas) and Sara Moyer (Bianca Kajlich) - to spend Halloween night in the infamous Myer's house in Haddenfield. Rigging the house with multiple cameras, Harris has planted props throughout the house to suggest Michael Myers is still there, eventually planning to impersonate Myers himself during the evening to frighten the participants. However, as the long night begins and the group separates from one another, the real Michael appears and starts to pick off the intruders one-by-one in full view of the Internet-based audience, including Sara's friend, Myles (Ryan Merriman). Realizing the deaths being broadcast aren't being staged, Myles desperately tries to guide Sara out of the house before she is found by Myers!

Top:   The contestants start to realise they're not alone in the 

house!; Above:   Michael Myers (played by Brad Loree) doesn't

like strangers in his house.

Aron: Don't do it. That's the house where it all started. He walked it's hallways. Hide in it's closets. Dreamed in it's bedrooms. Helped his Mother in the kitchen. Watched TV in the living room with his Dad. Played in his Sisters bedroom. Then one day he picked up a knife and he never put it down again.

Originally, the executives of Miramax wanted to continue the series by creating a whole new story of which didn't have anything to do with Michael Myers after the last film, in a similar manner to Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982). But fan reaction was extremely negative and producer's instead developed the elaborate subplot explaining Michael's survival at the hands of Laurie Strode from the last movie - apparently attacking a paramedic and crushing his larynx (so he couldn't speak) before exchanging clothes. With Michael's "death" having to be explained, the producer's also changed the title from Halloween: Homecoming to Halloween: Resurrection.

Top:   TV producers Freddie Harris (Busta Rhymes) and 

Nora Winston (Tyra Banks); Above:   Sara (Bianca Kajlich)

 tries to stay alive!

Having considered the return of previous Halloween characters, including Laurie's son John (Josh Hartnett) and Jamie Lloyd (Danielle Harris), producers Malek Akkad and Moustapha Akkad finally convinced Jamie Lee Curtis to return for the sequel under the understanding that it would be a small part and would leave no possibility of her character returning for another film (hence, Laurie's early death scene on the institution's rooftop). Dwight H. Little was originally approached to direct the movie but turned it down, then Whitney Ransick was released right before filming was to commence as the studio wanted a more experienced director, eventually turning to Halloween II (1981) helmer Rick Rosenthal.

Top:   Michael finally finds his sister, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis);

Above:   Laurie finally meets her end

Laurie Strode: [to Michael as she dies] I'll see you in Hell!

Halloween: Resurrection had a troubled production, particularly with star Bianca Kajlich who was incapable of screaming, needing her screams to be dubbed entirely in post production! Over the course of principal photography, over seven endings were written and four were actually filmed, meaning even the cast had no idea how the film was going to end. Rosenthal at one point suggested releasing a different ending to different theaters (similar to the comedy/thriller Clue (1985)) before the scene morgue scene was eventually chosen; the other three endings appearing as extras on the DVD. This particular ending was chosen to leave the door open for a potential new series of films.

Halloween: Resurrection opened to lukewarm box office gross and highly unfavorable reviews. Lou Lumenick of the New York Post said, "It's so devoid of joy and energy it makes even Jason X look positively Shakespearean by comparison." PopMatters and WorldsGreatestCritic.com journalist J.C. Maçek III wrote, "The special effects are silly, the situations are contrived and the dialogue is alternately weak and humorous. When the final credits roll, most of us with a proverbial LICK of sense realize that it just doesn't add up, man (it really, really doesn't, folks)." The only "positive" review to be found was from Glenn Lovell of the San Jose Mercury News: "No, it's not as single-minded as John Carpenter's original, but it's sure a lot smarter and more unnerving than the sequels."

Top:   Behind the scenes filming Laurie's final confrontation with Michael;

Above:   Busta Rhymes and Tyra Banks on set with director Rick Rosenthal

Instead of continuing the series, Dimension Films would eventually opt for a complete remake with Rob Zombie's Halloween (2007) with Scout Taylor-Compton and Tyler Mane appearing as Laurie Strode and Michael Myers respectively. The remake also featured longtime Halloween actress Danielle Harris, although in a completely separate role, and Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Samuel Loomis. Zombie's reboot was a success which led to the not-so-well received sequel Halloween II (2009). On May 23, 2016 - after years of development - it was announced that Miramax and Blumhouse Productions were developing a new Halloween film which they will co-finance. John Carpenter is set to produce the project and act as creative consultant. Carpenter stated, "Thirty-eight years after the original Halloween, I'm going to help to try to make the 10th sequel the scariest of them all!"

ROTTEN TOMATOES SCORE:   12%

Also released today in 2013 - "V/H/S/2"
Read the Blog below!