The HALLOWEEN series really stalled with the fifth entry, which I consider the worst of the bunch. It's a film entirely devoid of imagination, wit, originality and scares, content to rehash old scenes over and again. HALLOWEEN 6 is marginally better because it seeks to introduce a new element to the plot, involving a sinister religious cult that somehow controls Michael Myers. The film ends up as a failure, but it earns points for at least making the effort.

The problem with the cult plot is that it doesn't have anything to do with the bread and butter of the series, which is the stalk 'n' slash sequences. The cult scenes could have been excised and the film wouldn't be any different, which goes to show how extraneous they are. There are plenty of stalking sequences in this movie, but none of them are particularly engaging and most of them feel tired. When the Carpenter theme tune is still the best thing in the movie, you know it isn't up to much. There are some mega cheesy gore effects to be endured/enjoyed depending on your partiality, but otherwise this is knifing-by-numbers.

Of the cast, Donald Pleasence is the only recurring actor and it's pretty sad to see him in his final days, tottering and weak and with his voice long gone. Needless to say, he still gives the best performance, with the rest of the cast muddled with related characters and TV-level acting. It's not an entirely bad film, because the pacing is strong and the attempt was made to take things in a different direction, but the thing that really spoils it is the direction: Joe Chappelle apparently found Pleasence boring and removed most of his scenes, and in favour of what? More slasher sequel mediocrity.

Jamie Lloyd gives birth in a cult. Michael Myers is coming after her and the baby leaving a trail of bodies. She manages to call a radio station and broadcast out a warning. Retired Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is visited by Dr. Terence Wynn (Mitch Ryan) from the first film when they hear the warning. Loomis returns to Haddonfield, Illinois. In Haddonfield, Halloween has been banned for years. Tommy Doyle (Paul Rudd),whom Laurie Strode babysat in the first film, is obsessed with Michael Myers. Michael kills Jamie Lloyd and Tommy finds her baby. Back in the original Myers home, Kara Strode (Marianne Hagan) has returned home with her son Danny. Her father John is abusive with her mother and brother suffering. Tommy, Kara, and Danny are on the run with Jamie Lloyd's baby.

The first problem is that Danielle Harris doesn't return for Jamie Lloyd. It's hard to understand that it's Jamie Lloyd without her. Donald Pleasence does return for a few scenes in his last outing for the franchise. It's really too bad that the movie isn't better. None of it scary. The jump scares don't work. Maybe the other versions work better and is scarier. To some extend, it's because I don't care about these characters. Other than Pleasence, these characters have connections with the franchise but are played by newcomers. It's a bit of a history test to remember where all of these characters fit. It is interesting to see Paul Rudd when this came out around the time of Clueless. This episode tries to continue the franchise but the only connective tissue is Pleasence and he isn't in it enough to hold this movie together.

Halloween 6 the bad memories the fans have. Loathed, considered one of the worst in the franchise, the weird Halloween movie. I liked it however! Maybe not for the best reasons but I still liked it.

First reason is this is the last movie with Donald Pleasence aka Dr. Loomis. He's an integral part of the Halloween franchise. The soul of Halloween is simply not the same without the original Dr. Loomis. He understands Michael when few do and is one of the few who can somewhat tame him. He's noble and brave and almost like the comforting father figure in the madness called Haddonfield on Halloween. No matter how absurd the plot gets when he gets on it always captivates me.

Second reason is nostalgia. Halloween is one of the first horror movies I've watched. Michael always scared the heck out of me somehow. Always being able to catch up to his prey all while calmly moving around. I can't remember seeing Halloween 6 as a kid. It was always part 2, 4 and 5 on television. I discovered part 6 years later. The nostalgic value for part 6 is that it takes place in 1994/1995. 2 of my most favorite years of the 90s. So seeing the fashion and settings just gives me a good feeling.

Third reason is that Michael is big and bad in this one. Terrifying as the unstoppable bogeyman. I can see how fans dislike part 6 because they feel this movie is far removed from the original. Some of the scenes require suspension of disbelief as things happen that are clearly impossible. But if we want to be honest every Halloween movie had some of these scenes. Ultimately I felt there were enough scary scenes that captured a bit of that frighting Halloween vibe which makes me like part 6 and makes Halloween my favorite horror franchise.