This film follows on straight after the events of the first film. Michael Myers has been shot six times by Dr Loomis but there is no sign of a body. Loomis is convinced that he is still alive and will kill again. As Loomis and the police search for Myers, Laurie Strode is taken to the hospital for treatment. Myers is there soon picking off doctors and nurses in various ways.

The original film was very scary but not excessively gory; this film notably increases to level of gore but unfortunately it isn't as scary. This is because once Myers gets into the hospital it is just a succession of characters we don't really care about getting brutally murdered. The characters we do care about, Laurie and Dr Loomis, are side-lined for too long as she is in bed, off screen and he is out looking for Myers in places he isn't. The hospital setting is good although one has to suspend ones disbelief more than a little as it seems remarkably quiet. Overall this is a decent enough film but a little disappointing considering how good the first was... that was a classic; this isn't.

The thing I like about HALLOWEEN II is that it offers up a direct continuation of the original movie, set literally minutes after the first film ends. Much of the tense atmosphere is still here from the first film, along with the important cast members. The general look and feel of the movie is the closest to the first film out of all the sequels, which is no surprise given that it was the first sequel and the later ones were made during the glossier period of the late '80s.

Let's also make something clear: this isn't as good as the original. It can't be, because it doesn't have John Carpenter back as director. Rick Rosenthal does the best job he can, but he's not going to equal Carpenter's level of sheer style so emulation is the best he can do. The good news is that the classic synthesiser music is back from the first and just as chilling as it ever was. The same can be said for Curtis and Pleasence, who might as well have shot these films back-to-back, so exact are they in their performances. The stalk 'n' slash sequences are effective, and the finale is memorably over the top, so slasher fans will be in their element.

This follows the events of the first movie picking up from the final few scenes of that movie. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is transported to Haddonfield Medical Clinic. Meanwhile Michael Myers continues to leave a trail of victims as he hunts Laurie. Dr Loomis tracks down Myers with the help of Sheriff Brackett.

This movie is unlike most other movies because there is no setup. It just continues from the original as if it's the next episode in a series. This way there isn't as much of a build up. We're just jolted right into this movie.

The story meanders around until we get to the hospital. Once we get there, the killings are better set up. The desolate nighttime hospital is very conducive to the eerie slasher killer vibe. The movie works quite well in that section.