Welcome to Day 6 of Spooky Season!! I was originally planning on ranking the death scenes in Halloween Kills, but I don’t really know that one well enough yet. Rob Zombie’s Halloween was my introduction to Michael Myers and I immediately loved how big and brutal this killer was. This one will always be my favorite film in the entire franchise. I ranked these death scenes based on a few elements, including special effects, pacing, characters, dramatics, and overall execution. I also know there are two different versions of this film, so I went with the one I know the most. I hope you enjoy and let me know your favorite death scene in Halloween!! (MAJOR SPOILERS!!!)

13. Deborah Myers

Deborah Myers (Sheri Moon Zombie) had a tough life, from dealing with a scumbag of a boyfriend, to trying to cope with having a psychopath for a son. After working late on Halloween night, Deborah came home to find that Michael (Daeg Faerch) killed her daughter, Judith, along with both of their boyfriends. Michael was arrested and committed to Smith’s Grove. As time went by, Deborah knew that she was losing Michael to whatever darkness dwelled within him. After she witnessed him attack a nurse, she couldn’t even recognize her son anymore. As she watched old videos of her family, she cried and pulled out a gun. It all became too much for her and she shot herself. I always put off-screen deaths last on my list because there’s not much to see, therefore, not much to judge. It’s a very sad scene and I hate that she killed herself without making sure her baby was in a safe place.

12. Ismael Cruz

While Michael was locked up at Smith’s Grove, he was looked after by Ismael Cruz (Danny Trejo). Ismael became the floor warden and senior prison guard over his years of working there. He believed that he and Michael had a special bond and he was good to Michael for so long. When Michael killed the other guards and staff on the floor, Ismael walked into a massacre. He barely had time to do anything before Michael appeared before him. He tried his best to appeal to Michael’s humanity, but when he tried to get cuffs on him, Michael wasn’t having that. He threw Ismael all over the place, then he dunked his head in water over and over again. Too weak to move, Ismael had to just lie there and watch Michael grab a large TV and drop it on his head. Now I know Ismael had to die, but this was definitely overkill. It ran a bit long which I felt was unnecessary. Plus, I always get distracted by the blood that poured out of his mouth each time he was dunked.

11. Mason Strode

Mason (Pat Skipper) and Cynthia Strode were a nice couple who adopted baby Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton) and gave her a good life for many years. On Halloween night, they expected a peaceful and uneventful evening together while Laurie babysat at another house. After they saw their daughter off, Cynthia went inside while Mason idled on the porch for a minute. When he turned, Michael (Tyler Mane) slit his throat and dragged his body into the house. Now I will admit, this was a great jump scare. It certainly got me the first time I watched it. However, it’s just hard to believe Mason didn’t see or hear Michael coming until he was THAT close to him. Plus, it just happened too fast for me. One minute, he’s there and the next, he’s not. I know there are a lot of fast death scenes, I could just be nit-picking here.

10. Bob Simms

Bob Simms (Nick Mennell) was Lynda’s hippie boyfriend. On Halloween night, they went to their usual spot to have sex, the abandoned Myers house. Unfortunately for them, it would be their last night there as Michael returned home. After they had sex, Lynda sent him out to grab more beer for them. On his way back, he thought it would be funny to wear a sheet like he was a ghost. He was interrupted when Michael grabbed him and slammed him against the wall. He then lifted him up and dug his knife into him, pinning him to the wall. This death scene was okay. I thought it was a great visual seeing his feet just slowly start to dangle.

9. Paul Freedman

Paul Freedman (Max Van Ville) was Annie’s (Danielle Harris) boyfriend and another poor soul in Michael’s path. After getting out of being grounded, he and Annie planned a special night together. After Annie dropped off the kid she was babysitting, they used the kid’s house to sleep together. It was a very romantic setting with dim lights. Unfortunately, Michael was able to hide in the dark thanks to those dim lights. I really love how Michael just grabbed this kid by the throat and lifted him up with little effort. Then he just plunged his knife right into his chest. It’s pretty low on the list because even though I like the scene, it wasn’t really anything special, especially compared to the other death scenes.

8. Lynda Van der Klok

Lynda (Kristina Klebe) was Laurie and Annie’s best friend. After getting in trouble at school, Lynda planned on making things better with her boyfriend, Bob, on Halloween night. Like always, they snuck into the abandoned Myers home to spend the night together, unaware that Michael was home again. After they had sex, Lynda sent Bob out to grab her some more beer. When she got off the phone with Laurie, she turned back around and saw who she believed was Bob with a sheet on him, looking like a ghost. After some playful banter, Lynda had enough and started berating “Bob” for not handing her the beer. She snatched it in frustration and when she had her back turned, Michael came up and strangled her. This one was brutal and he really took his time here. I love the expression Lynda had when she looked up at him and realized it was the man she was toying with just hours before. She toyed with him in the suburbs, and he toyed with her right back with that sheet gag.

7. Larry Redgrave, Zach “Z-Man” Garrett, Patty Frost, & Stan Payne

Larry (Tom Towles), Zach (Bill Moseley), Patty (Leslie Easterbrook), and Stan (Steve Boyles) were security guards at Smith’s Grove where Michael was held for many years. When Dr. Loomis (Malcolm McDowell) realized there wasn’t anything more he could do for Michael, he ordered for him to be transferred to another facility. 4 escorting 1, the guards were armed and ready for anything… well, not anything. They certainly didn’t expect Michael to break free from his chains and go right for them. He knocked Zach out of the way pretty quickly, then he bashed Larry’s head in pretty good. Patty did her best to shoot him, but he used Stan as a shield. Then he tore Patty’s throat RIGHT out and left her to writhe. Okay, I know this may be cheating to put all these characters into one spot, but I wasn’t sure if I could do them individually. Anyway, this scene was really well done. Michael really showed that, even against 4 people at the same time, he was practically unstoppable.

6. Judith Myers

Judith Myers (Hanna Hall) was Michael’s older sister. On Halloween night, she was asked to take Michael out trick-or-treating, but her boyfriend, Steve stopped by and Judith prioritized her time with him instead. After having sex, Judith threw on her headphones in bed as Steve went downstairs to grab something to eat. After Michael killed Steve and Ronnie downstairs, he made his way up to Judith’s room and grabbed the mask Steve brought. When Judith saw Michael standing there, she began to yell at him and hit him. That’s when Michael pulled his knife out and plunged it into Judith’s stomach. Judith tried to get away, but she couldn’t run and it didn’t take long for Michael to catch up. He sliced and stabbed her over and over again until she collapsed. This one was so brutal, especially hearing every single slice and stab. I really loved Judith’s scream and crying, it really added to the horror of the scene.

5. Steve

Steve (Adam Weisman) was Judith Myers’ hippie boyfriend. Instead of taking Michael trick-or-treating, Judith and Steve headed upstairs for some passionate love-making. He even brought over the mask that Michael would later hold onto for the rest of his life. After he and Judith were done, Steve headed downstairs and made himself a sandwich, unaware that there was a dead body in the next room. As he was eating, Michael snuck up behind him with a big metal bat. He hit him and Steve hit the ground and started to convulse. I never forgot his twitching as Michael stared at him before hitting him again and again. This kid seemed to have the same anger towards him as he did with his bully, Wesley.

4. Cynthia Strode

After adopting Laurie when she was just a baby, Mason and Cynthia Strode (Dee Wallace) had a peaceful and happy family for many years. When Michael escaped, the only thing on his mind was finding his sister, and killing anyone who stood in his way. It didn’t take him long to find her house. After they saw Laurie off to babysit on Halloween night, Cynthia went back into the house. Merely seconds later, Michael stormed in with her husband’s dead body. After being attacked, Cynthia tried to crawl away, but Michael grabbed her and tried to get her to tell him where Laurie was. When she refused, he threw her through a glass table and grabbed her by the hair. As she stared up at him, he whipped her head back hard enough to snap her neck. This is one of the simplest ways Michael has ever killed someone and I think that’s why it stuck with me so much. It was like he was simply disposing of someone he no longer found useful to him and it wasn’t about his urge to kill.

3. Big Joe Grizzly

After Michael escaped from Smith’s Grove, he needed new clothes, and Big Joe Grizzly (Ken Foree) was the man to provide them. Joe was a trucker making a stop to get his truck washed. As he was waiting, he headed to the bathroom for a little peace and quiet, and a little light reading. Peace and quiet was not what he got when Michael showed up, knocking on his stall. Joe tried to tell him nicely to give him a little privacy, but the niceness wore off when Michael didn’t budge. So, he grabbed his knife, ready for a little confrontation. I just love this whole scene. I love how the camera shook every time Michael slammed Joe’s hand against the stall wall. I think it really added to the intensity of the moment. Joe went out fighting and that’s one of the reasons I love it so much!

2. Ronnie White

Ronnie White (William Forsythe) was the scumbag boyfriend of Deborah Myers. The only thing that this guy worked was his mouth. He constantly put down his girlfriend, threatened her son, and leered at her teenage daughter. On Halloween night, he passed out drunk in his chair. Michael pulled out a roll of duct tape and completely tied him to the chair. He couldn’t move a thing, not even his head. Taking his time, Michael walked behind him and slit his throat. Ronnie woke up as the blood poured and there was nothing he could do but stare up at the kid he spent most of his time berating. This is such a haunting scene. I love how Ronnie was all talk and when it finally came down to it, he was completely helpless. I also love that Michael took off his mask long enough for Ronnie to see his face before he died.

1. Wesley Rhoades

Wesley Rhoades (Daryl Sabara) was Michael’s childhood bully… and first human victim. After a bathroom confrontation when Wesley and his friend mocked Michael’s family, all three kids got into trouble with the principal. While Dr. Samuel Loomis was discussing Michael’s mental state with his mother, Michael snuck out of school to deal with Wesley. As Wesley was walking home, he cut through the woods, where Michael was waiting for him with a large branch. Getting the upper hand immediately, Michael beat him mercilessly. This is the death scene that stuck with me the most. You could hear and almost feel every blow. Not to mention the fact that these were just kids in this horrible situation. With the blood and the crying, this scene is truly unforgettable.

I wanted to give an honorable mention to Nurse Wynn (Sybil Danning), since I don’t know if she actually died. She was still alive when we last saw her, but I still feel like I should include her here.