Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Director:

Steve Miner

Writers (WGA):

Debra Hill (characters) and
John Carpenter (characters) ...
(more)

Release Date:

5 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

This summer, terror won't be taking a vacation.

Plot:

Laurie Strode, now the dean of a Northern California private school with an assumed name, must battle the Shape one last time and now the life of her own son hangs in the balance.

Plot Keywords:

Halloween | School | Michael Myers | Death | Nightmare

Awards:

9 nominations

Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Laurie Strode / Keri Tate
Josh Hartnett	...	John Tate
Adam Arkin	...	Will Brennan
Michelle Williams	...	Molly Cartwell
LL Cool J	...	Ronald 'Ronny' Jones
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe	...	Sarah Wainthrope
Adam Hann-Byrd	...	Charles 'Charlie' Deveraux
Janet Leigh	...	Norma Watson
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Jimmy Howell
Nancy Stephens	...	Marion Chambers Whittington
Branden Williams	...	Tony Allegre
Beau Billingslea	...	Detective 'Fitz' Fitzsimmons
Matt Winston	...	Detective Matt Sampson
Larisa Miller	...	Claudia
Emmalee Thompson	...	Casey
David Blanchard	...	Waiter
John Cassini	...	Langdon Cop #1
Jody Wood	...	Langdon Cop #2
Lisa Gay Hamilton	...	Shirley 'Shirl' Jones (voice)
Chris Durand	...	Michael Myers
Tom Kane	...	Dr. Samuel 'Sam' Loomis (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rachel Galvin	...	Student (uncredited)
Arden James	...	Student (uncredited)
Steve Miner	...	School Financial Advisor (uncredited)
Brit Townsend	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Miner

Writing credits (WGA)
Debra Hill		(characters) and
John Carpenter		(characters)
Robert Zappia		(story)
Robert Zappia		(screenplay) and
Matt Greenberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
Malek Akkad	....	associate producer
Moustapha Akkad	....	executive producer
Paul Freeman	....	producer
Bob Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Harvey Weinstein	....	co-executive producer
Kevin Williamson	....	co-executive producer
Cary Granat	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Ottman
Jeremy Sweet

Cinematography by
Daryn Okada

Film Editing by
Patrick Lussier

Casting by
Ross Brown
Christine Sheaks
Mary West

Production Design by
John Willett

Art Direction by
Dawn Snyder

Set Decoration by
Wanda 'Beau' Peterson		(as Beau Petersen)

Costume Design by
Deborah Everton

Makeup Department
Jeff Himmel	....	special makeup effects artist
Voni Hinkle	....	key hair stylist
Louis Lazzara	....	assistant makeup artist (as Lou Lazzara)
James MacKinnon	....	special makeup effects artist (as James Mackinnon)
Tania McComas	....	key makeup artist
Shari Perry	....	assistant hair stylist
Thomas E. Surprenant	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
S. Michael Formica	....	unit production manager
H. Daniel Gross	....	executive in charge of production (as Daniel H. Gross)
Isabel Henderson	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Cotone	....	first assistant director
Stephanie P. O'Brien	....	second assistant director (as Stephanie O'Brien)
Michelle Parvin	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Ignacio Acosta	....	laborer
Patrik Alven	....	leadperson
Ron Ashmore	....	scenic gang boss (as Ronald Ashmore)
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman (as Craig Ayers)
Bryon Baalbergen	....	swing person
Peter J. Bates	....	swing person (as Peter Bates)
Bruce Brewer	....	scenic painter
Stephen Camp	....	swing person
Dana Canfield	....	propmaker
Elixandro Diaz Jr.	....	plasterer
Pat DiGiulo	....	laborer (as Pat DiGiulio)
Carl A. DiSalvo	....	construction gang boss (as Carl DiSalvo)
Edwin Dockus	....	greensman
Kelly Donovan	....	swing person (as Kelly Shultz)
Matthew D. Egan	....	propmaker (as Matthew Egan)
Todd Ellis	....	property master
Nancy Garber	....	swing person
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greensman (as Bobby Garren)
Serge Genitempo	....	scenic painter (as Sergie Genitempo)
Mike George	....	construction production assistant
Ed Grecious	....	propmaker
Kevin Hamm	....	laborer
Paul Harris	....	greensman
Colin Thomas Kass	....	propmaker (as Colin Kass)
Joseph C. Kelley	....	construction gang boss (as Joseph Kelly)
Jack Kerner	....	scenic painter
Kris Klausmeier	....	propmaker
David Krivonak	....	construction office assistant
Rogelio Luna	....	plasterer gang boss
David W. MacDonald	....	construction coordinator (as David MacDonald)
Ben Massi	....	scenic painter
Brien Maxwell	....	propmaker
David Michel	....	swing person
Paul A. Minitello	....	head scenic painter (as Paul Minitello)
Edward Nua	....	construction gang boss
Craig Nycz	....	scenic painter (as Craig Nyez)
David Pahoa	....	propmaker
Wes Perry	....	construction gang boss (as Wesley Perry)
Lars Petersen	....	propmaker
David Pixler	....	propmaker
David Pujol	....	laborer
Charles Pujol Jr.	....	laborer
Tom Reta	....	set designer (as Thomas Reta)
Robert Rodriguez	....	laborer (as Robert Rodrigues)
Christian Rosauer	....	propmaker
Monti Santilli Rainbolt	....	assistant property master (as Monti Rainbolt)
Joan Schafer	....	art department coordinator
Richard Shock	....	propmaker
Keith Stalker	....	propmaker
John L. Sullivan	....	construction foreman
Dawn Swiderski	....	set designer
Robert Tagle	....	scenic painter
Ronald Thompson	....	laborer
Steven C. Voll	....	construction gang boss (as Steven Voll)
Shaun S. Wiggins	....	laborer (as Shaun Wiggins)
Craig Zumbroegel	....	propmaker
Bryan McBrien	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Chuck Roseberry	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	foley editor
Chris Barron	....	machine room operator
Ken Beauchene	....	boom operator
Steve Boeddeker	....	sound designer
Sara Bolder	....	dialogue editor
Tony Eckert	....	foley mixer
Frank E. Eulner	....	sound supervisor (as Frank Eulner)
Andre Fenley	....	sound effects editor (as André Fenley)
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transfers
Marni L. Hammett	....	transfer supervisor
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Lacey	....	foley editor
Kevin Maloney	....	cable person
Marilyn McCoppen	....	adr supervisor
Frank 'Pepe' Merel	....	foley recordist (as Pepé Merel)
Shannon Mills	....	sound effects editor
Al Nelson	....	sound effects editor
Mark Pendergraft	....	sound re-recordist
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gary A. Rizzo)
Steve Romanko	....	machine room operator
Marcie Romano	....	dialogue adr assistant sound editor
Ronald G. Roumas	....	sound re-recordist
Claire Sanfilippo	....	dialogue editor
Christopher Scarabosio	....	sound effects editor (as Chris Scarabosio)
Dee Selby	....	digital sound transfers
Kent Sparling	....	sound mix technician
James M. Tanenbaum	....	sound mixer (as Jim Tanenbaum)
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Jana Vance	....	foley artist
Ethan Van der Ryn	....	sound effects editor
Christian von Burkleo	....	video services
Cody Dorkin	....	adr (uncredited)
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects coordinator (as John Hartigan)
Wayne Incorvaia	....	special effects technician
Scott Patton	....	sculptor
Paul Sokol	....	special effects foreman
Bill Cochran	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Roger Kelton	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Charles Darby	....	matte effects supervisor: Digital Firepower
Melissa Darby	....	executive producer: Digital Firepower
Dave Fiske	....	general manager: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic
Matt Handgis	....	digital compositor: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic
Eli Jarra	....	composite supervisor: Digital Firepower
Brian Jennings	....	visual effects supervisor
Roger Kupelian	....	2D animator: Digital Firepower
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	digital effects supervisor: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic (as Raymond McIntyre Jr.)
Belinda S. Merritt	....	executive producer: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic
Reid Paul	....	digital compositor: OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic
Patrick Flanagan	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Tyler Foell	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Laura Albert	....	stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts (as Gil Combs)
Brennan Dyson	....	stunts
Marguerite Happy	....	stunts (as Marguerite M. Happy)
Marcia Holley	....	stunts
Donna Keegan	....	stunt coordinator
Julie Michaels	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Amerian	....	best boy electric
John Boccaccio	....	first assistant camera
James F. Cornick	....	rigging gaffer (as James Cornick)
Alex Cruz	....	rigging best boy grip
Keith Davis	....	lighting technician
Roch Dutkowiak	....	rigging electrician
Jim Etter	....	lighting technician (as James Etter)
Renan Galindo	....	lighting technician
Joe Louis Garcia	....	grip
Brett F. Gates	....	second assistant camera (as Brett Gates)
Nicola Goode	....	still photographer
Augustus Gordon	....	rigging electrician
Germaine A. Gray	....	rigging electrician (as Germaine Gray)
Lamarr Gray	....	rigging electrician (as Lamar Gray)
Willie J. Gray	....	rigging best boy electric (as Willie Gray)
Dehn Harper	....	video assist operator
Jason D. Hodges	....	dolly grip (as Jason Hodges)
Mike Hodges	....	key grip
Casey Hotchkiss	....	camera operator
Jacques Jouffret	....	Steadicam operator
Timothy 'Guido' Magaraci	....	lighting technician (as Tim Magaraci)
Pat Maxwell	....	dolly grip
Larry McCarron	....	grip
Mark Morton	....	lighting technician
Steve Pellant	....	rigging electrician (as Steve Pelant)
Rico Priem	....	grip
Ronald J. Pure Jr.	....	rigging electrician (as Ronald Joseph Pure Jr.)
Freddie Saba	....	rigging electrician (as Freddie Saba III)
Brian Sata	....	rigging grip
Edmondo Sepulveda	....	rigging key grip (as Edmundo Sepulveda)
Dan Squires	....	camera loader
Chris Thornton	....	grip
Victor Worrell	....	best boy grip
Jeff Zucker	....	gaffer
Matt Jackson	....	grip (uncredited)
Ken Rudolph	....	additional stop-motion photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Leigh French	....	adr group voice casting
Tom Grode	....	casting assistant
Cassandra Kulukundis	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Leah Brown	....	key costumer
Carolyn Dessert	....	costume supervisor
Julie Glick	....	key costumer
Sonny Merritt	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Maggie Cone	....	post-production coordinator
Paul Covington	....	apprentice editor
Greg D'Auria	....	assistant editor (as Gregory Alan D'Auria)
Lynn Dupre	....	apprentice editor (as Lynn Dupré)
Bob McMillian	....	color timer
Lisa Romaniw	....	first assistant editor (as Lisa Mozden)
Michael Spenelli	....	editorial assistant
Roger La Prairie	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Marco Beltrami	....	composer: additional music
John Carpenter	....	composer: theme music
Melanie Dimmick	....	orchestra contractor
Frank E. Eulner	....	music supervisor
Ed Gerrard	....	music supervisor
Amanda Goodpaster	....	music editor
Damon Intrabartolo	....	conductor
Damon Intrabartolo	....	orchestrator
Jonathan Klein	....	assistant music editor
Janice Lester	....	music preparation
Deborah Lurie	....	additional orchestrator
Frank Macchia	....	orchestrator
George A. Martin	....	music editor (as George Martin)
John Ottman	....	orchestrator
Suzie Slaka	....	music preparation
David Slusser	....	music editor
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Chuck Alsobrook	....	driver
Dean Caltogirone	....	driver
Marc Cristopher	....	driver
Vince del Castillo	....	transportation coordinator (as Vincent Del Castillo)
Martin Delia	....	driver
Carla Christina Formica	....	transportation office coordinator (as Carla Formica)
David Joseph	....	driver
Clifton Kearns	....	driver
Betty Konz	....	driver
Joe Lewis	....	driver
Dana Mackey	....	driver
James Maurer	....	driver
Raymond A. McLaughlin	....	transportation captain (as Ray McLaughlin)
Richard McLaughlin	....	driver
Robert E. McLaughlin	....	driver (as Robert McLaughlin)
James Moreno	....	driver
James 'Obee' Oberman	....	driver (as James Oberman)
Dennis Power	....	driver
Vincent Puccio	....	driver
Duke Sella	....	driver
Juan Suarez	....	driver
Wilbert Tolliver	....	driver (as Lee Tolliver)
Michael P. Walsh	....	driver (as Michael Walsh)

Other crew
Cody Baker	....	office assistant
Joe Basile	....	set assistant
Mark Carter	....	key set assistant
Laurel Chaney	....	assistant: Ms. Curtis
Richard Cody	....	craft service (as Rich Cody)
Paul Croghan	....	production coordinator
Jessica Cunningham	....	assistant: Mr. Miner
Michael S. Dunitz	....	location assistant (as Michael Dunitz)
Kiley Fascia	....	first assistant accountant
Brian Fulgham	....	office assistant
Terry Goldman	....	assistant: Mr. Ottman
Jill Hahn	....	accounting clerk
April A. Janow	....	production accountant (as April Janow)
Chris Kocher	....	accounting clerk
Mable Lawson-McCrary	....	script supervisor (as Mable McCrary)
Michael J. Linowes	....	business and legal affairs: Miramax (as Michael Linowes)
Paxon Malloy	....	set assistant (as Andrew Paxon Malloy)
Kevin Manthei	....	synthestration
Michael J. McKelvey	....	construction medic (as Michael McKelley)
Gary Meadow	....	business and legal affairs: Miramax
Jeff 'Doc' Porter	....	construction medic (as Jeff Porter)
Ethan Salsitz	....	office assistant
Buck Sanders	....	guitar wrangler
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment
Janel S. Schuh	....	set assistant (as Janel Schuh)
Gil Seton	....	production counsel (as Gil Seton Esq.)
Dorothy Sidwell	....	assistant: Mr. Freeman
Laura Simmons	....	set medic
Jonathan Slater	....	location manager (as Jonathan Slator)
Elizabeth Speckman	....	post-production accountant: Prep Shoot Post
Thomas Trafelet	....	location assistant
Wes Ward	....	assistant location manager
Shelley Wolfe	....	payroll accountant
Timothy Worley	....	craft service (as Tim Worley)
Isaac Lipscomb	....	adr artist (uncredited)
RuDee Lipscomb	....	adr artist (uncredited)
Patrick Peach	....	production executive (uncredited)
Judy Sharinger	....	completion supervisor (uncredited)
Laurence Starkman	....	title designer (uncredited)
John Torrijos	....	video services (uncredited)
Peter Christian White	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Donald Pleasence	....	in memory of (as Donald Pleasance)

Production Companies

• Dimension Films
• Nightfall Productions

Distributors

• Dimension Films (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (1998) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1998) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (1998) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paris Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digiscope (digital visual effects)
• Digital Firepower (digital matte effects)
• OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic (digital visual effects)
• Rainmaker Digital Pictures (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• New Wave Entertainment  end title design
• New Wave Entertainment  main titles
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Varèse Sarabande  rejected score album released by

Also Known As:

Halloween 7 (USA) (working title)
Halloween 7: The Revenge of Laurie Strode (USA) (working title)
Halloween: H20 (USA) (promotional title)
Halloween: H20 (20 Years Later) (USA) (promotional title)
Halloween: The Revenge of Laurie Strode (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for terror violence/gore and language.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:18A (British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:R (Manitoba) | Iceland:16 | USA:R (certificate #36140) | Brazil:18 | Spain:18 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Italy:VM14 | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Canfield-Moreno Estate - 1923 Micheltorena Street, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

The teenagers at the beginning are watching Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959).

Goofs:

Continuity: A yearbook page with Laurie Strode's picture on it is shown toward the beginning of the film. Above her picture it says "Class of 1978." But if she were in school in October 1978, then she wouldn't normally have graduated until the following spring, in 1979. So therefore, she is Class of 1979.

Quotes:

Laurie Strode: My name's not Keri Tate.
Will Brennan: Oooh, what is it?
Laurie Strode: Laurie Strode.
Will Brennan: [laughs] Strode?

Movie Connections:

References Carrie (1976)

Soundtrack:

WHAT'S THIS LIFE FOR

This should have been the last true sequel to "Halloween".

When a nurse (Nancy Stephens) comes home from work but she thinks, her house is been rubbed. After finding broken glass on the front door, when she's too frighten to check inside. She asks one of her neighbors to check it out, but they don't find nothing inside. Expect her office is been trashed. When the nurse goes back to her home, she finds out the file of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has disappear. She slowly realized that her estranged murdering brother Michael Myers (Chris Durand) has find out, where she lives. But the nurse finds herself killed by Michael and the neighbors as well. Now Laurie is living the life as a head mistress at a private boarding school in California. But Laurie is living in the name of Keri Tate to protect her real identity. Laurie is a alcoholic, she also has an 17-year old son John (Josh Hartnett), she has an boyfriend Will (Adam Arkin) who's also working in the school but she still fears that Michael will find her one day. Since Michael's dead body disappear 20 years ago from the hospital. Now Laurie feels that the day is coming that Michael will strike again anything soon.

Directed by Steve Miner (Day of the Dead "2008", House, Lake Placid) made an enjoyable if flawed sequel to the classic "Halloween". Which "Halloween:H20" is certainly better than most of the "Halloween" sequels (Although i did enjoyed "Halloween 4:The Return of Michael Myers"). Director Miner certainly knows the rules of a slasher/horror movies. Since he directed the better "Friday the 13th" sequels (Part 2 & Part 3) and he also worked with Curtis before in "Forever Young". Curtis gives one of her best performances in her career returning to the role that made her famous (especially her old days as the "Scream Queen", she was certainly one of the originals). She originally wanted John Carpenter to directed this but he wisely walked away and let some other director handle the material. Since he was never comfortable with the sequels.

DVD has an sharp non-anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer and an good Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The Canadian DVD says it's enchanted for 16x9 televisions but it is not true, since it is the same transfer from the 1998 DVD. But it is at least, one of the better non-anamorphic transfer from that time. DVD also included an featurette, music video and an amusing trivia game (Which it should been more complicated). I would have loved to hear an running commentary track by director Miner and actress:Curtis but sadly, we didn't. There's no deleted scenes as well, since some television versions added some additional footage. The cast are good here including Michelle Williams as John's girlfriend, LL Cool J, Jodi Lyn D'Keefe and Adam Hann Byrd. There's also cameos by Janet Leigh in a good scene with Curtis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the opening sequence.

"Halloween:H20" was a surprise box office hit. Many critics enjoyed Curtis' performance, which it is one of the reasons why "Halloween:H20" is worth watching. But the screenplay by Robert Zappia and Matt Greenberg (The Prophecy 2, 1408, Reign of Fire) has some major problems. The seventh film of the series suffers a bit too much from false scares and humour (Certainly from the LL Cool J character, i liked this actor/rapper but his role as the security guard/wannabe cheesy romantic writer seems out of place with the film). Also one of the problems, i felt it was too short. The screenplay should have been more complex. But it has enough thrills, suspense and excitement to make it better than it is. Overall "Halloween:H20" is truly a good sequel that should have ended there. Although i enjoyed "Halloween:Resurrection" on a guilty pleasure level. I felt the final scene between Laurie and Michael to be oddly intriguing, especially it nearly humanized Michael. This is certainly one of the most underrated sequels of all time, this is worth re-discovering since it's been 10 years from its release. Kevin Williamson, the then hot-screenwriter of "Scream" and "I'll Know What You Did Last Summer" did some re-writes in the screenplay. Which he's only credited as one of the co-executive producers. Super 35. (****/*****).