I did a review of H2 a couple of months back, and ended up saying it had all the makings of something interesting, but fell flat on the execution. I did state that I hoped the Directors Cut would solve a lot of the mistakes…And you know what, I think it actually has.
From the get go, Rob always said this was going to be Laurie’s film, and that it would deal primarily with her downward spiral into insanity. Watching the theatrical version, it obviously showed signs of this happening, but the new cut delves a lot further into her thoughts and feelings, and shows a lot more of those ‘Bi-polar’ moments Scout Taylor Compton kept referring to in interviews. The Laurie presented here is nothing like the girl we saw in the previous installment, let alone the last 30 years of the franchise. She is a character who has been put through the ringer, lost everything, and wants to lash out at the world, all the while scared of what she is becoming. The degradation of her relationship with Annie (which was completely missed out of the multiplex edition) is of key importance, and makes Annie’s fate all the more poignant in the end…(The finding of her body by Sheriff Brackett still makes me well up…Ahem…)
The new ending was something I much preferred also. You feel the shot of Michael/Laurie/Loomis, all lying together, is where the movie was heading all along. The three characters go through changes, sinking lower as the story progresses, until they have their final reunion, one that would ultimately end with only one (bloody) conclusion.
Oh and Micheal’s speaking of the word “DIE!” to Loomis…I really thought it was gonna be a source of annoyance to me, but it fit in with the character Rob had created. He had so much rage towards this ‘father figure’, that it would make sense that hated would be the thing that broke his silence.
Of course, the improvements bring what is wrong with the film to the foreground. The ‘new’ Doctor Loomis, which basically meant, total arsehole, was given more prominence, and I really do not know why…And the ‘ethereal’ Deborah and mini Michael, are still not explained in the slightest. Really, what is going on…Are they ghosts of some kind!!! Make this clear?? Why would Laurie see them the exact same way as adult Michael does?..Why the white horse!!! WHY!!! Sigh…Oh well.
In the end, Rob has restored my faith in his horror movie prowess. You hit a couple of bumps along the way, but in the end, I was pleased. Kudos to you Mr Zombie!
(I know the the last 2 Halloween films, and RZ as a director, is not to everyone’s taste…I appreciate that, and don’t mind opposing views )