Action Figure Review: Michael Myers (Halloween: Resurrection) from Halloween by NECA

 

   NECA is slowly but surely working their way through a different version of Michael Myers from each of the Halloween films and today I'm finally checking out the newest NECA Ultimate: Michael Myers from 2002's Halloween: Resurrection. Yes, the one with Katee Sackhoff where Laurie Strode dies in the first few minutes, Tyra Banks and Busta Rhymes host a "reality" show on Halloween at the Myers house, and Busta Rhymes kicks Michael Myers out a window and at one point saying "Trick or Treat, mother%^&*$%." Yes, that one. It isn't the high point of the Halloween series at all. I think it's fair to say that it's a low point for the series in many ways and, yet, I find it one of the most entertaining. At times it almost approaches being a parody of Halloween and a commentary on the revival of classic slashers post Scream. I actually wouldn't put it at the bottom of my ranking of Halloween films; surprisingly, I think I'd put it probably somewhere in the middle as it is a blast to watch even if you're rolling your eyes and cringing at times. Still, NECA seems to be trying to release at least one Michael for all of the films, so we now have this one covered. Ready to check out Michael Myers from Halloween: Resurrection? Then join me and my fellow members of Dangertainment after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 7 5/8ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, "boot" swivels, swivel/hinge knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, swivel/hinge shoulders, double swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck base, and a barbell jointed head.

Accessories: 2 swappable portraits, 7 swappable hands, 4 knives, Jack O' Lantern, and camera, and doll. 

Non-Scalper Price: $38 -$42 dollars

The Positives:

* As I have to mention every time I review one of these figures, while there are small variations in the figure you might not initially catch (and some stuff that's not correct, like the boots), overwhelmingly most Michael Myers figures look the same, right? Yes, the masks are different, but Michael is still wearing charcoal coveralls (that looks almost bluish in the film) and a blue t-shirt. While the arms and legs are reused from previous releases, the main body of the coveralls is new. The details are excellent on everything and unless you're obsessed with the idea of having a Michael Myers from every film (guilty), I could see many collectors being happy with just this one as a general depiction of the character. I mean, he looks like Michael Myers. What else are you asking for?

* The masks are the biggest difference between the various films and this one is pretty good. I like the Resurrection mask much better than the mask from the Thorn sequels and H20 (which had a couple horrendous masks in it and one decent one) and it looks pretty good here. This one is based on the pretty good Stan Winston designed mask from H20 though it has some more lines on the face and prominent eyebrows, making it look kind of "angry" rather than emotionless. Still, it looks pretty good here and NECA captured the mask quite accurately. While I'm not wild about the hair on the mask in the movie sometimes, the mask usually looks really good with the eyes just barely visible. 

* The second portrait included here is the burned mask. This one is really creepy and definitely offers up a nice, unique mask for this series of figures. I really like the standard mask here but this one will absolutely stand out as something different on your shelf. The paint and texture nicely capture the look and feel of burnt latex while the eyes feel hollow and lifeless. Interestingly, inside of both masks (where you attach them to the barbell neck peg) is a reference for 8A and 8B, so if you mix these up you'll easily know they're from Resurrection, the eighth film in the series. Yes, this is only used for a jump scare at the end of the film, but it is something different. 

* The back of the suit looks wrinkled with plenty of creases and folds. You can even make out the stitching on the pockets and the belt. It's a good sculpt and I am impressed that this one seems to be different from the other ones in this line. I think the fit around the hips is better than most previous figures, too, so that's a plus. 

*  I don't have too much new to saw about Michael's articulation compared to every other version of him released. He has reused limbs and probably a reused torso under the overlay, so he's similar to the modern NECA Michael Myers figures. Michael ain't Busta Rhymes pulling off kung-fu kicks and roundhouses, but the articulation is still very solid and capable of doing most of what you'd expect from Michael. He can hold his weapons well, look menacing, and emote nicely with subtle body language. The double hinged elbows and the balljointed neck really allow you to tweak the figure to get the expression you want and, since he's solid and very sturdy, you can pose him without worrying about fragile joints. He also has true ball hip joints that feel incredibly sturdy. 

* Seven swappable hands are included to allow Michael to utilize all of his accessories. You get four different right hands with a variety of open palms, gestures, and grips for holding the knives with thinner handles and three different right hands with similar grips. They all swap easily and I didn't have any issues. 

* Four knives are included with Michael Myers. These first two are standard kitchen knives, similar to what Michael usually wields. I believe these two are meant to be two of the knives from the butcher's block in the Myers House (clearly stuff put their by Dangertainment, though) and they're used when Rudy (Sean Patrick Thomas) fights Michael in the kitchen. Spoiler: It doesn't go well for Rudy. These are decent knives and allow you to pose Michael with whatever you think looks best.

* The larger knife here seems to be Michael's main knife in the film as it's covered with blood. The thinner knife seems like a bread knife and is another knife from the fight scene between Rudy and Michael in the kitchen. Both look great, though I don't imagine most folks are going to use any of these except for the main long, bloody knife. 

* This doll is really creepy and it's found in Michael's bed. Not his bed in the Myers House, which Dangertainment staged with weird props to make it more creepy, but in the sewers below the Myers House where it seems Michael was actually hiding out and living. The accessory is great and creepy: A ragdoll with bolts coming out of its eyes. It's weird, though, as it seems to legitimately be something Michael keeps with him. What do you think? Is Michael really sleeping with a doll with screws in the eyes? Seems like something you'd see more in the Rob Zombie remake than in one of the mainline films but it is a cool, weird prop that's kind of the opposite of the Raggedy Ann dolls often connected to Laurie. 

* I just watched Halloween: Resurrection this weekend again to help with this review. Michael mostly kills with his knife and his bare hands though he does impale Charlie, the camera man. This is a pretty neat accessory: An early 2000s camera with a cord, a tripod, and one very sharp tripod leg. Why? I don't know. It's bloody, though, so Michael has clearly already used it. The camera actually rotates and is hinged, so that's kind of neat. The cables are soft and flexible, too. 

* Last up is a Jack O' Lantern. You only get one but it has two faces. These show up along the streets of Haddonfield during scenes of trick 'r treating in progress and in the hotel conference room where the Dangertainment meeting is held. They're not anything crazy that stands out nor are they used in any memorable way but I'm never going to turn down a pumpkin accessory. This is a very classic and silly Jack O' Lantern face and it is hollow with a yellow center panel. 

* Flip is around and you get this slightly eerier looking Jack O' Lantern. This one's a bit more unique.

   I know that Halloween: Resurrection is not a popular and well loved Halloween film. Still, how did NECA do? I mean, this is a good figure of Michael Myers. The standard mask is great, the burned mask is something more unique and unusual, and the basic figure works and has a nice assortment of knives. The more film specific accessories are also solid. The doll is a fun, creepy little extra and the Jack O' Lantern adds a little something special to a fun shelf display, too. The camera is neat and is probably the only really unique kill in the movie. Personally, I really wanted NECA to include an alternate set of hands and an alternate portrait so you could turn this figure into Freddy (Busta Rhymes) when he sneaks around the house dressed like Michael. I think not including that was a big miss on NECA's part as it's definitely the most memorable part of the movie for me and it's reminiscent of how they included the alternate "Ben Tramer" mask with the Halloween II figure. Still, this is a Great and a 1/2 figure with good accessories available at retail. Not bad at all! 

   If you're a fan of Michael Myers/ The Shape/ The Boogeyman, then check out these other reviews: The McFarlane Movie Maniacs Michael Myers, the One:12 Collective Michael Myers, the POP! Movies Michael Myers and POP! Town Michael Myers with Myers House #25, the ReAction Horror Series Michael Myers, the Funko Savage World Michael Myers, Mezco's Designer Series Michael Myers, NECA's Cult Classics Icons 2007 Michael Myers, Halloween 2018 Ultimate Michael Myers, Michael Myers (Halloween Kills), Michael Myers (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers), Michael Myers (Halloween H20: Halloween 20 Years Later), and Halloween II Ultimate Michael Myers, the Toony Terror Michael Myers, the Funko 5 Star The Curse of Michael Myers, the Michael Myers Candy Case from CandyRific, and the knockoff Lego Michael Myers.

For more NECA Halloween figures check out the following:

Silver Shamrock Trick-or-Treaters (Halloween 3: Season of the Witch)

Laurie Strode
Michael Myers (Halloween 2018)
Michael Myers (Halloween 2) 
Michael Myers (Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers)

Michael Myers (Halloween H20: Halloween Twenty Years)
Michael Myers (Halloween Kills)