The Rewatchables

‘Halloween II’ With Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Van Lathan

October 28, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The hosts generally view *Halloween II* as the best of the *Halloween* sequels, appreciating that it captures the compressed tension of the first film by taking place on the same night. 
  • Michael Myers is debated as the GOAT slasher villain over Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees due to his realism and singular focus on Haddonfield, though Freddy is favored for having more personality. 
  • The reveal that Michael Myers is Laurie Strode's brother in *Halloween II* is cited as one of the worst sequel ideas ever, undermining the original's effectiveness by giving Myers an unnecessary, rooted motivation. 
  • The hot tub murder scene, involving scalding water and the subsequent reveal of less skin, is considered one of the best horror movie murders of the 1980s by the hosts. 
  • Dr. Loomis's descent into madness, culminating in him taking a Marshal hostage and shooting Michael Myers multiple times, is a significant focus of the discussion regarding character arcs. 
  • The Ben Tramer car accident sequence is highlighted as the most rewatchable and absurd moment in the film, often surprising listeners even upon rewatching. 
  • The value of Michael Myers' original mask from the first two *Halloween* films is estimated to be in the millions, potentially rivaling other iconic movie props like Wilson from *Cast Away*. 
  • The hosts debate Michael Myers' unexplained abilities, such as knowing how to drive or understanding concepts like Samhain, attributing it to an 'evil thing in his brain' or guiding voices. 
  • The discussion concludes by noting that the *Halloween* franchise dominates horror films set around the holiday, contrasting with the abundance of Christmas-themed movies, and the hosts express a preference for rewatching *Halloween II* over *Halloween III: Season of the Witch*. 

Segments

Slasher Villain GOAT Debate
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(00:03:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Myers is argued to be the GOAT slasher due to his realism and originality compared to Jason Voorhees, while Freddy Krueger is dismissed as less realistic but possessing more personality.
  • Summary: Michael Myers is considered the GOAT because he is more realistic and came first, being funnier than Jason Voorhees who lacks clear motivation. Freddy Krueger is seen as having the most personality with his jokes and flair, but his existence in the dream world places him in a different bracket than the physical killers. Myers’s ‘Horny Myers’ behavior in the first two films is noted as a unique, voyeuristic trait.
Sequel Structure and Slasher Era
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(00:08:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Halloween II functions as a ‘supersized’ continuation of the first film, occurring on the same night, which is rare for sequels but characteristic of the intense 1979-1981 slasher boom.
  • Summary: The film is essentially Halloween 1A, continuing the kinetic energy immediately rather than jumping forward in time like many other sequels. The period between 1979 and 1981 saw a massive influx of slashers, including Friday the 13th and Halloween II, often made cheaply for high returns. The setting of Terror Train is praised as a good idea for a horror movie location that was poorly executed.
Worst Sequel Ideas Ranking
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(00:12:38)
  • Key Takeaway: The revelation that Michael Myers is Laurie Strode’s brother in Halloween II ranks as the second worst sequel idea discussed, behind 48 Hrs. character shift.
  • Summary: The top four worst sequel ideas include Rocky losing all his money in Rocky V due to bad investments, and Michael Corleone’s daughter falling in love with Sonny’s illegitimate son in Godfather III. The number one worst idea is the reveal that Keo becomes the Iceman in the sequel to 48 Hrs., fundamentally changing the viewing experience of the original film.
Critique of Myers’s Motivation and Abilities
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(00:17:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The franchise is better when Michael Myers has no purpose, as his increasing resistance to death necessitates supernatural explanations that dilute his initial terrifying realism.
  • Summary: The sister reveal in Halloween II is seen as a stapled-on attempt to raise stakes, as Myers’s initial motivation was simply reacting to being called an ‘asshole’ in Halloween. The ineffectiveness of the guns used against Myers, described as ‘Hill Street Blues ass revolver,’ highlights his near-unstoppable nature. Loomis’s decision to keep the threat quiet in the first film is criticized as poor advice, leading to the chaotic lack of public awareness in the sequel.
Hospital Setting and Alternate Sequel Pitch
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(00:21:21)
  • Key Takeaway: The final hour of Halloween II being set entirely in a hospital detracts from the film’s strength, which lies in Myers stalking normal Haddonfield activity.
  • Summary: An alternate, better sequel idea involves Michael Myers escaping transport outside Haddonfield, causing chaos in a new town one town over while it is still Halloween night. The hospital setting distinguishes Halloween II from the first film, but it makes the location generic, losing the unique suburban horror element. Loomis’s character is compared unfavorably to Brian Kelly for consistently failing to stop the threat despite having authority.
Iconic Kills and Hospital Shenanigans
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(00:34:45)
  • Key Takeaway: The opening sequence of Halloween II, which remixes the end of the first film with new music, is considered one of the best horror movie starts ever.
  • Summary: The Ben Tramer death scene, where a teenager wearing a Myers mask is incinerated by a car crash, is highlighted as the most hilarious and grotesque sequence, despite the profound tragedy of killing an innocent bystander. The hot tub scene in the hospital is noted for its gratuitous 80s nudity and the unhygienic setting of a physical therapy tub being used for sex. The hypodermic needle double murder is also recognized as a strong kill sequence.
Lori Strode’s Weak Role
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(01:03:38)
  • Key Takeaway: Jamie Lee Curtis’s character, Lori Strode, is considered a ‘zero’ in Halloween II due to being incapacitated in a fugue state for most of the film.
  • Summary: Lori Strode’s character is criticized for being essentially sidelined, making her a weak link in the film. The hosts suggest killing her off entirely or relocating her would have been a better narrative choice than keeping her in a passive state. Michael Myers is argued to have more personality than Lori in this installment.
Dick Warlock’s Stiff Myers
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(01:05:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Dick Warlock’s portrayal of Michael Myers is criticized as too robotic and stiff, possibly due to his interpretation of Myers having CTE after the fall in the first film.
  • Summary: Dick Warlock played Myers in Halloween II, and his performance is noted for being overly stiff compared to the more athletic portrayal in the original. The mask fit Warlock’s head differently because he has a different head shape than Nick Castle. Some fans on Reddit support Warlock’s interpretation, arguing Myers should be more zombie-like after being shot multiple times.
Worst Aspects of the Film
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(01:06:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Jamie Lee Curtis’s visible wig, especially on modern screens, is cited as the worst visual aspect of the movie.
  • Summary: The wig Jamie Lee Curtis wore during filming is highly noticeable because she had cut her hair for another project, possibly Trading Places. Another poorly acted element noted was the facial expression of the Marshal when Loomis failed to recognize his assistant, Marion Chambers, immediately.
1981 Urban Legends and Halloween
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(01:08:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The urban legend of razor blades in Halloween candy is identified as a real fear in the late 70s/early 80s that contributed to Halloween becoming an adult-focused holiday.
  • Summary: The discussion touches on the fear surrounding contaminated Halloween candy, which the movie incorporates via the young boy subplot. The hosts note that Michael Myers’ rampage on Halloween night was part of the cultural atmosphere that made the holiday feel unsafe. One host recalls a specific neighborhood legend about a house where a child allegedly ate a razor blade.
Michael Myers’ Hospital Efficiency
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(01:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Myers demonstrates highly efficient, tactical sabotage upon arriving at Haddonfield Hospital, cutting communication, transportation, and leadership.
  • Summary: Myers systematically disables the hospital by cutting phone lines, slashing tires, killing the security guard, and cutting fuel lines. He decapitates the ‘intelligentsia’ by killing the ER doctor, ensuring the staff cannot rally effectively.
Ben Tramer’s Absurd Death
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(00:52:25)
  • Key Takeaway: The death of Ben Tramer, who is hit by a police car that mistakes him for Michael Myers, is considered the funniest and most absurd moment in the film.
  • Summary: The hosts repeatedly cite the sequence where Ben Tramer is killed by police confusion as a highlight. They marvel at the absurdity of the situation, especially the fact that the police officers involved are not held accountable for the accidental death.
Loomis’s Descent and Weaponry
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(00:51:25)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Loomis’s ‘descent into madness’ is evident when he takes a Marshal hostage in a cop car, while the film showcases a variety of creative kills beyond simple stabbing.
  • Summary: Loomis’s erratic behavior includes threatening the Marshal at gunpoint to gain control of the situation. The film features diverse kills, including scalpel murders, hypodermic needle attacks, and the iconic scalding water death, showcasing an escalation in Myers’s methods.
1981 Aesthetics and Nurse Uniforms
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(00:53:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The presence of a kid walking downtown with a boombox and the traditional nurse uniforms with small hats are cited as distinctly 1981 elements.
  • Summary: The hosts debate when nurses stopped wearing the traditional small hats, settling on the late 1990s as the likely cutoff point. The boombox boy walking downtown at 11 PM is also noted as a period-specific detail.
The Sister Reveal Controversy
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(01:04:09)
  • Key Takeaway: The plot twist revealing Lori is Michael’s sister is viewed negatively, as it sidelines Jamie Lee Curtis’s character for the entire movie.
  • Summary: The hosts argue that making Michael and Lori siblings over-mythologizes their relationship and gives Lori nothing active to do. John Carpenter reportedly felt there wasn’t much story left after establishing this connection.
Pamela Susan Shoup’s Set Experience
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(01:03:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Actress Pamela Susan Shoup (Nurse Karen) reported that Deborah Hill intervened to stop crew members from pressuring her into performing full frontal nudity during the hot tub scene.
  • Summary: Shoup stated that 19 dudes were watching her during the intimate scene, despite being promised a close set. She also mentioned the hot tub water was freezing and dirty, causing her to get an ear infection, contradicting the on-screen implication that it was boiling.
Michael Myers’ Post-1981 Evolution
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(01:11:20)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts theorize that Michael Myers’ on-screen behavior regarding race changed significantly after the OJ Simpson trial, suggesting pop culture radicalized him.
  • Summary: The discussion notes that Michael Myers did not kill a Black character on screen until Halloween: Resurrection (2002). Van Lathan suggests that watching Court TV coverage of the OJ trial while institutionalized influenced Myers’s later actions and increased his body count in subsequent films.
Michael Myers Unanswerable Questions
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(01:39:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Myers’ unexplained abilities, such as driving or knowing about Samhain, are attributed by one host to an internal, guiding evil force.
  • Summary: Unanswerable questions regarding Michael Myers include how he learned to drive, what Samhain is, and how he understands medical tools like needles. One theory proposed is that an ’evil thing in his brain’ provides him with voices that guide his actions. This highlights the inherent logical gaps in the character’s capabilities within the narrative.
Memorabilia Value of Mask
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(01:40:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The original mask from the first two Halloween films could be worth millions, potentially exceeding $5 million, given the high value of other Hollywood props.
  • Summary: The mask from the first two Halloween movies is considered the number one piece of memorabilia from the film, potentially valued between five and six million dollars. This valuation is benchmarked against the $700,000 sale price of the volleyball from Cast Away. The mask’s historical significance as the starting point for 50 years of horror movies contributes to its high collector value.
Michael Myers’ Survival and Lori’s Actions
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(01:42:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Michael Myers’ persistence, surviving the fire and returning in subsequent films, is noted, alongside Lori Strode’s surprising complicity in turning on the gas.
  • Summary: Michael Myers is recognized for his commitment to the role, having survived the fire and returning, which sets up future installments. Lori Strode’s action of also turning on the gas during the climax is pointed out as an unusual move that the other hosts questioned. The discussion confirms that Michael is considered the character who dominates the movie in terms of scenes and arc.
Appeal of Halloween Setting
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(01:43:08)
  • Key Takeaway: The appeal of Halloween II lies in its perfect horror sweet spot, the fantastic score, and the charming, warm aesthetic of the town during the fall season.
  • Summary: The film is praised for hitting a sweet spot that is scary but not overly terrifying, making it a preferred type of horror for one host. The town setting is described as charming and warm, making listeners want to be there, complemented by the film’s 90-minute runtime and fantastic score. The conversation also touches on the lack of major horror films specifically set on Halloween, unlike the abundance of Christmas movies.
Halloween Celebrations and Haunted Experiences
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(01:44:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Halloween celebration intensity varies significantly by region, with Los Angeles adults decorating houses extensively, contrasting with the Bible Belt’s focus on intense, specific haunted attractions.
  • Summary: Halloween is celebrated more extensively by adults in Los Angeles, particularly regarding house decorations, compared to the Bible Belt where such displays are rare outside of places like New Orleans. The evolution of Halloween included a period where haunted house experiences, like the haunted hayride or Halloween Horror Nights, gained popularity. One host recounts an extremely immersive haunted experience in upstate New York involving a zombie outbreak scenario on a school bus ride through cornfields.
Escape Rooms and Future Rewatchables
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(01:47:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Escape rooms are a significant trend in Los Angeles, and the hosts indicate a willingness to rewatch Halloween H2O but not Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
  • Summary: Escape rooms are noted as a major activity in LA, with one person mentioned having attended 30 of them. The hosts confirm they would consider rewatching Halloween H2O for a future episode of The Rewatchables. They explicitly state they are ‘out on Season of the Witch,’ suggesting it is unlikely to be chosen.