Woodyanders Review of Halloween 4: Final Cut

Halloween 4: Final Cut (2001 Video)

Nifty retrospective documentary

[8/10 · 25 February 2013]

This terse and to the point 17 minute retrospective documentary nicely covers the making of "Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers." Executive producer Moustapha Akkad discusses buying back the rights to the original so he could make more movies in the franchise. Screenwriter Alan B. McElroy reveals that he penned the script in eleven days in order to beat a pending writers' strike. Director Dwight H. Little notes that he had his agent pursue the project after he first heard about it. The adorable Danielle Harris not only beat Melissa Joan Hart out for the role of Jamie, but also celebrated her eleventh birthday on the set. Ellie Cornell was cast as Rachel because of her natural charm as an actress. Stuntman George Wilbur kept reminding Harris in between takes that everything was just pretend. Moreover, since this film was shot in the spring the leaves had to be imported and squash was painted orange to look like pumpkins. Other topics discussed are the rooftop chase set piece, the opening title sequence evoking the spirit of Halloween the event, Donald Pleasence is remembered by everyone as a kind man, and composer Alan Howarth asked for John Carpenter's okay prior to agreeing to do the score. Recommended viewing for fans of the film.