Halloween: H2O (1998)

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Williams, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Josh Hartnett, Adam Arkin

It's been twenty years since Laurie Strode escaped her brother's wrath. Now, it's time for one hell of a family reunion.

She changed her name. Her face. Her life. Living in the small town of Summer Glen, California, Keri Tate (Jamie Lee Curtis) runs the prestigious Hillcrest Academy. But Keri Tate is hiding a secret. Underneath the headmistress is Laurie Strode, the sister of dreaded killer Michael Myers. Having faked her death in a car crash, she went into hiding with her son John (Josh Hartnett). But it's October 31st again.

In Illinois, Marion (Loomis' nurse from the original film) finds files related to Laurie Strode stolen - by the Shape! Making his way cross country, Myers tracks his sister to Summer Glen. There, Keri isn't dealing with the anniversary well. She's an alcoholic who can't even be helped by her lover/school counselor Will (Adam Arkin). She knows her brother waited 15 years to come after her before. Why not another 20?

Her son John, his girlfriend Molly, and their friends Charlie and Sarah decide to throw their own private Halloween party while the rest of the school heads off on a field trip.

The only other person on campus is Ronnie, the security guard, unaware that The Shape has tracked down his sister, and is ready to carve up more than pumpkins.

As Laurie discovers that her demon from the past is back, she decides it's now or never. In a bold move, she locks herself into the school, ready for a battle to the death between her and Michael.

A pounding finale will leave your heart beating as Laurie Strode takes her revenge in the most ambitious HALLOWEEN film yet.

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HALLOWEEN 7 was a guarantee after HALLOWEEN 6 proved to be a box office success. As development of the project progressed, Dimension Film executives wanted to take the story out of Haddonfield, which conflicted with many fans' opinions. In January of 1997, SCREAM was released to audiences who loved it and a new generation of horror movie fans was born. After signing a deal with Miramax Pictures, Williamson agreed to write a seven page treatment for HALLOWEEN 7 as a favor to Dimension Films head Bob Weinstein.

Meanwhile, Jamie Lee Curtis was thinking about a return to Laurie Strode. "I thought, mmmm, wouldn't it be interesting if we made an anniversary movie, see what happened to Laurie Strode. That's how it began," she says. While filming VIRUS in North Carolina, Curtis was introduced to Kevin Williamson by her FOREVER YOUNG director Steve Miner, who was working with him at the time on the pilot to DAWSON'S CREEK. "I thought it [H20] could be a great collaboration between Jamie Lee, Kevin, and myself," says director Miner. "For me, HALLOWEEN heavily influenced the making of SCREAM," Williamson remembered.

Curtis first approached original director John Carpenter and his producer Debra Hill, but scheduling conflicts prevented their associated. Williamson and Jamie Lee Curtis had lunch at Hollywood's famous Polo Lounge, where they tossed around ideas of where Laurie Strode would be twenty years later. Together, they came up with a story that Jamie Lee wanted to star in. "In an effort to protect her life, Laurie faked her death. Through a series of events related to the late Dr. Loomis, Laurie thinks Michael Myers is coming after her. The setting and the situation are very cool," writer Kevin Williamson told Fangoria magazine.

Screenwriter Robert Zappia was brought in and Steve Miner was enlisted. Jamie Lee Curtis signed, much to the delight of HALLOWEEN fans worldwide. "Since we have Jamie Lee Curtis back, it must focus on Laurie Strode and her relationship with her brother Michael Myers, and why he's come after her again," producer Paul Freeman told us as the production was coming together. The working title HALLOWEEN THE REVENGE OF LAURIE STRODE was assigned to the project. Suddenly, the project became an event, and the H20 title gradually replaced it. Casting began in early January, with production slated to start in early February. Location scouting began, looking for places such as a private school and houses around the Los Angeles area.

"The whole idea is, let's take a little responsibility for these movies. Let's see what happens to one of the people 20 years later," Curtis told Total TV. After a few weeks of delays, production began February 18th. "There are always problems," producer Paul Freeman explained. "It's always a last minute scramble." He also revealed that the production company was going for a look "closer to 1 and 2" in regards to the Shape's mask. Charles S. Dutton was originally cast in the film, but as rewrites came in, his character of "the detective" was eliminated.

The first day of shooting took place at a rest stop. The second day of filming brought Jamie Lee Curtis back in front of the HALLOWEEN cameras.

Janet Leigh was brought in for a cameo. At the insistence of Jamie Lee Curtis, the film was shot in the widescreen 2.35:1 Panavision format. "With the wide frame anything can happen," says cinematographer Daryn Okata. "HALLOWEEN had a pattern of waiting, using long sustained takes where really nothing much happened. The times have changed, the audience is more sophisticated thanks to home video, but we don't want to give them all their candy at once either. So we're taking a similar approach but with more happening within the shot as it evolves." As production wrapped on the film, Curtis and director Steve Miner were unhappy with the look of the mask for this installment. Reshoots took place the final week, with the all new "closer to the original" mask being the star. Production wrapped on April 20th.

The two principle shooting locations were the small town of La Puente, California, as the fictitious Summer Glen, California and a remarkable hilltop mansion in the Silver Lake area near Hollywood that was built in the 1920s for silent film star Antonio Moreno and is now registered as an historical landmark. Production designer John Willet says, "The design [for this film] all stems from the mask. I wanted to create a visual metaphor for it; kind of plain, a bit uncomfortable but calm on the exterior, while inside it's totally crazy, just whacko."

Everyone seemed to have a good time while shooting the film, thanks to Jamie Lee Curtis' excitement. "Her passion," commented Michelle Williams, "is what has made it such a thrill to be a part of this project."

Jamie Lee Curtis Laurie Strode / Keri Tate
Adam Arkin Will Brennan
Michelle Williams Molly Cartwright
Josh Hartnett John Tate
Joseph Gordon-Levitt Jimmy Howell
LL Cool J Ronnie
Jodi Lynn O'Keefe Sarah
Janet Leigh Norma
Nancy Stephens Marion Whittington
Adam Hann-Byrd Charlie
Chris Durand The Shape

Steve Miner Director
Robert Zappia &
Matt Greenberg Writers
Paul Freeman Producer
John Ottman Music
Moustapha Akkad
Cary Granat Executive Producers
Kevin Williamson
Bob Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein Co-

Halloween hit early in the United States on Wednesday, August 5, 1998, when HALLOWEEN H20 opened on over 2,000 screens. The film became an instant blockbuster, earning $30 million in its first week. Opening against SNAKE EYES, it landed in third place during its first weekend.

The movie went on to make over $55 million in the US alone, making it the highest grossing HALLOWEEN film yet.

The film arrived on video in December, 1998 and made its way to DVD in a special edition in October of 1999. Although the DVD advertised a commentary track and DTS sound, neither was included on any release.