Mike Emery Austin Chronicle Jul 22, 2026

There's momentary suspense, but nothing special.

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Jack E. Wilkinson United Press International Jun 12, 2026

Spooky at times, but generally just more variations on well-worn theme.

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Kat Halstead Common Sense Media Oct 29, 2025 2/5

This fifth film feels like a faded copy of the previous one, going through the motions with little impact, despite some strong performances.

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Patrick Cavanaugh The Wolfman Cometh Sep 12, 2025 2/5

A baffling decision to have the most compelling addition to the franchise silenced for most of the film, and while there are teases of compelling mythology finally being introduced, it's still ultimately a dud.

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Brian Rowe InSession Film May 3, 2023

The ending of Halloween 4 is a chilling classic scene in the franchise that gets a severely underwhelming payoff in this fifth installment.

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Cody Leach Cody Leach (YouTube) Aug 19, 2022 1.5/5

Halloween 5 is a textbook example of how to completely fail as a sequel. Everything that was accomplished with the fan favorite 4th film is destroyed in this horrendous follow-up. Get ready for one of the most insufferable characters in horror history!

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Chris Stuckmann ChrisStuckmann.com Nov 2, 2020 D

This was the beginning of the end for the Halloween franchise.

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Ellie Lucas From the Front Row Jun 3, 2019

It's clear that the filmmakers didn't know where this was headed, and the result is an aimless, muddled mess.

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Shaun Munro Flickering Myth Oct 21, 2018 1.5/5

It's peak absurdity for the franchise, but Halloween 5 commits the far more egregious sin of also being rather dull.

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Felix Vasquez Jr. Cinema Crazed Oct 31, 2013

Sub-par filler for completists of the series only.

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Dustin Putman TheFilmFile.com Oct 28, 2008 2.5/4

This is an uneven Halloween addition, but also more ambitious than the norm.

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Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy Aug 11, 2008 3/10

Completed the transition to full-fledged brainless slasherdom begun in Halloween 4 at at time when the brainless slasher film was at its very worst.

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Chuck O'Leary FulvueDrive-in.com Aug 18, 2006 C-

Poor Dr. Loomis' nerves are pretty much shot at this point, leading to some unintenionally hilarious moments.

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Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com Jul 20, 2006 2/5

I can see how the hardcore Halloween-heads can find some small nuggets of fun in this particular sequel, but in my eyes the series ended with the explosion in Halloween 2.

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jul 17, 2006 1/4

[The film's been infused] with a run-of-the-mill slasher vibe, complete with oversexed teenagers and moronic authority figures.

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Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 21, 2005 2/5

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Jake Euker Filmcritic.com Mar 8, 2004 1/5

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Frank Swietek One Guy's Opinion Feb 11, 2004 1/5

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Eric D. Snider EricDSnider.com Nov 29, 2003 C-

'Halloween 5: The Failure of Michael Myers' would be more accurate, though admittedly not as appealing in a mass-marketing sense.

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