Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers – Collector’s Edition (4K UHD Review)

Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
Review Date: Oct 29, 2021
Format: Blu-ray Disc

Director

Dominique Othenin-Girard

Release Date(s)

1989 (October 5, 2021)

Studio(s)

Trancas International/Galaxy International (Shout!/Scream Factory)

Film/Program Grade: C+
Video Grade: A
Audio Grade: A
Extras Grade: A-

Review

The success of Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers prompted producer and rights holder Moustapha Akkad to quickly rush another film into theaters only a year later. At the time, many big films and high profile sequels were hitting screens, leaving others to get lost in the shuffle. But in the case of Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, it might have been too much too soon. It had the most aggressive visual overhaul in the series up to this point with very little lighting and Gothic horror sensibilities, the Myers house was transformed into a mansion of sorts, the Thorn curse storyline was introduced a bit more (and heavily explored in the following sequel), a major character from the previous film dies within the first twenty minutes, and the ending of the previous film went essentially unexplored. Opening at number two behind Look Who’s Talking, Halloween 5 was not a satisfying follow-up for most fans. It offers a lot of visual prowess, but it truly began the downward spiral in quality for the original Halloween series.

A year has passed since Michael Myers was supposedly gunned down by the police of Haddonfield. Jamie (Danielle Harris) has been committed to a children’s psychiatric hospital, suffering from aggressive nightmares and rendered unable to speak. Her foster sister Rachel (Ellie Cornell) remains by her side, along with Rachel’s new friend Tina (Wendy Kaplan). Unbeknownst to them, Michael is very much alive after being taken in by an old hermit and nursed back to health. On Halloween, Michael returns to Haddonfield for another killing spree while still searching for Jamie, but Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is ready for him this time. Unfortunately for all of them, a mysterious man in black has come to town with ties to Michael.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers was shot by director of photography Robert Draper on 35 mm photochemical film, using Arriflex 35 BL-III cameras and spherical lenses, and finished on film at the 1:85:1 aspect ratio. Scream Factory’s Ultra HD has been sourced from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative, framed at the correct aspect ratio, and graded for High Dynamic Range (Dolby Vision and HDR10 options are available). It’s another outstanding presentation. Grain is heavier than its predecessor, but it’s well-managed, never appearing chunky outside of the slow motion footage at the end. Detail levels are higher and more refined, allowing for added visual information in the shadows and on costumes. The color palette tends to be limited at times, though shots of Haddonfield’s greenery and Halloween-themed signs and costumes all offer a nice variety of reds, greens, oranges, and purples. The new HDR pass and wider gamut reveals more shadings in these moments, and skin tones are more naturally pink. Blacks are deepened and contrast is often excellent. The imagery is stable and clean, outside of a minor bit of white speckling, and everything appears organic and true to its source.

Audio is included in a new English Dolby Atmos mix (7.1 Dolby TrueHD compatible), as well as the previous English 5.1 and 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio mixes (the latter I assume to be the original Ultra Stereo soundtrack). Subtitles are available in English SDH. All of these mixes are extremely similar to each other in terms of panning and placement. The more speakers added to the sound stage, the bigger the same soundtrack gets, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Regardless of which option you choose, Halloween 5 has a very immersive and active soundtrack. Dialogue exchanges are at the front, but there’s plenty of ambience and movement all around. Alan Howarth’s score is given some aural muscle, and the kinetic sound effects heard during the film’s opening titles (as well as the various chases in the latter half of the film), put each speaker to work. The new Atmos track adds a minor bit of height, but still maintains the original sound design. All of these tracks are excellent.

Scream Factory’s 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition release of Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers is a 2-disc set, featuring the film on Ultra HD on Disc One and on Blu-ray on Disc Two. The second disc is sourced from the same new 4K transfer and features all of the Ultra HD’s audio and subtitle options. Each disc features the following extras:

DISC ONE (UHD)

Audio Commentary by Don Shanks and Justin Beahm
Audio Commentary by Danielle Harris, Jeffrey Landman, and Dominique Othenin-Girard

The first audio commentary with Don Shanks and Justin Beahm was recorded for the 2012 Anchor Bay Blu-ray release. The two men discuss the film while watching it together, with Justin asking Don many questions about portraying Michael Myers and his work in the film. The second audio commentary with Danielle Harris, Jeffrey Landman, and Dominique Othenin-Girard was recorded in 2006 for Anchor Bay’s Divimax DVD release. The two actors and director get along well as they reminisce about the making of the film, providing lots of great information.

DISC TWO (BD)

Audio Commentary by Don Shanks and Justin Beahm
Audio Commentary by Danielle Harris, Jeffrey Landman, and Dominique Othenin-Girard
Of Darkness and Shadows: The Cinematography of Halloween 5 (HD – 18:53)
Inside Halloween 5 (SD – 15:11)
Dead Man’s Party: The Making of Halloween 5 (HD – 44:26)
On the Set: Behind the Scenes Footage (SD – 16:16)
Halloween 5 Promo (SD – 5:50)
Additional Gore Footage (HD – :28)
The Doctor Is In: The Alternate Dr. Death Opening Sequence (HD – 7:37)
Horror’s Hallowed Grounds (HD – 23:59)
Theatrical Trailer (SD – :44)
Newsprint Ad Gallery (HD – 14 in all – 1:48)
TV Spots (SD – 3 in all – 1:12)
Still Gallery (HD – 46 in all – 6:16)

Of Darkness and Shadows features an interview with director of photography Robert Draper about the look of the film. Inside Halloween 5 is a DVD-era featurette by Mark Cerulli about the making of the film with the cast and crew. Dead Man’s Party is an extended making-of documentary about the film featuring even more members of the cast and crew. On the Set features random sets of fly-on-the-wall behind-the-scenes footage. The Halloween 5 Promo is an EPK featurette made during the film’s production. The Additional Gore Footage offers minor trims to appease the MPAA, but it does feature the infamous shot of Michael actually stabbing Jamie in the leg while she’s in the laundry chute. One of the most interesting extras is The Doctor Is In, a recreation of the film’s original opening, which was thought to be lost for decades. The newly-rediscovered footage has been assembled by Michael Felsher. And since the audio couldn’t be located, it has been redubbed using existing score and sound effects, with Sean Whalen providing the voice of Dr. Death. This opening, as well as the unseen original closing, would have explained the Thorn curse more thoroughly. In Horror’s Hallowed Grounds, Sean Clark returns to highlight the filming locations with special guest Don Shanks. Next is the film’s trailer and a set of TV spots. The Newsprint Ad Gallery features local newspaper clippings from the film’s theatrical engagements. The Still Gallery features 46 images of posters, behind-the-scenes stills, and promotional photos.

The two discs sit inside a black amaray case featuring new artwork by Joel Robinson on the front and the original US theatrical artwork on the reverse. This is housed in a rigid slipcase featuring the same new artwork. Extras that didn’t carry over from Anchor Bay’s DVD releases of the film include a 2000 introduction to the film by Danielle Harris and Ellie Cornell and the On the Set of Halloween 5 featurette.

The final selection in Scream Factory’s Collector’s Edition Ultra HD releases of the Halloween series, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers features a strong A/V presentation with a nice array of new and old bonus materials, especially the newly-discovered footage. As such, it’s another highly recommended upgrade.

- Tim Salmons

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