10 Things You Learn Rewatching Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers (1988)
8. Donald Pleasence's Return
Perhaps the most crucial piece of the puzzle to return was Donald Pleasence, reprising his role as Dr. Loomis.
His introductory scene tells the audience everything they need to know about him; he's back and more insanely committed than ever before. At this point, Pleasence could have easily delivered Loomis' monologues in his sleep. But to his eternal credit, he sells each line as if his life depended on it.
One of the greatest scenes in the whole movie is when Loomis and Michael come face-to-face in the gas station, early on. It's a brief moment but one that carries a lot of weight, serving as the first time Loomis has ever spoken directly to Michael in the franchise. And Pleasance's performance makes the moment work beautifully, perfectly capturing the never-ending and cyclical nature of their relationship.
He plays it as if Loomis understands he's doomed to be the Van Helsing to Michael's Dracula for the rest of time, and that unexpected layer of melancholy works wonders.
He's fascinating to watch, even when the script seemingly doesn't know what to do with him for most of the second and third acts.