Halloween H20 Has Five Connections to the Scream Franchise (Three Are Subtle, Two Are Not)

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After Wes Craven’s Scream became a huge hit in 1996, many film studios tried to copy its blend of style and horror. While Scream 2 (1997) came closest to matching the original’s success – in the eyes of some fans – Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) also did a good job of following the Scream formula while still being unique. This film not only revitalized the Halloween series after a couple of weak installments, but it also marked a return to slasher films for director Steve Miner, who hadn’t directed one since Friday the 13th Part III over a decade earlier.

It’s clear that H20 (produced by Dimension Films, just like the Scream movies) borrows heavily from Scream. While some connections are obvious, others are more understated. Let’s explore all the ways H20 is linked to both Scream and Scream 2.

The Ghostface-Michael Connection & A Dialogue Reference

The Scream movies are known for surprising reveals of who’s behind the Ghostface mask. But most of the time, it’s not the actual actor in the costume – it’s usually a stunt double, except for rare moments like when Skeet Ulrich briefly wore the Ghostface suit while filming a scene with Randy.

It’s common for slasher films to really put their masked killers through tough situations, and Ghostface is no exception – he faces the same kinds of challenges as characters like Jason or Michael Myers. Interestingly, the stuntman who played Ghostface in Scream 2 was Chris Durand, and just a year later, he went on to play Michael Myers in Halloween H20.

As a horror fan, I always appreciate the little nods filmmakers give to each other. There’s a really cool, subtle connection between Halloween and Scream that most people probably miss. In the original Halloween, Laurie Strode tells Tommy and Lindsey to go to the Mackenzie’s house. Then, in Scream, Casey Becker’s dad tells her mom almost the exact same thing – “Get in the car. Drive down to the Mackenzie’s.” It’s a neat way to connect the two movies, referencing both their origins!

The Mackenzie River story includes a subtle connection to water. A character named Laurie tells her son, John, to go “to the Beckers,” which sounds like “by the creek” – a playful name change.

The Score Sounds Quite Familiar

The original music for Halloween H20 was created by John Ottman, but it didn’t quite fit the film’s suspenseful atmosphere. It was a complex and busy score, and ultimately didn’t feel right for the movie.

To create the exciting chase scenes at Hillcrest Academy, the filmmakers brought in composer Marco Beltrami. Instead of writing completely new music, he contributed existing themes from his scores for Scream, Scream 2, and Mimic to enhance the work of composer Ottman. Beltrami also composed a few additional musical cues right before the final sound mixing for the film.

If you’re watching H2O and feel a sense that Ghostface is close, that’s not a coincidence. The sound cue used is the same one that played when Ghostface pursued Sidney Prescott at Stu Macher’s house. A similar technique happens, for example, when Michael approaches the car Laurie Strode is using to help her son and his girlfriend, Molly, leave the Hillcrest estate.

One Inadvertent Connection & One Intentional Blatant One

The iconic Ghostface mask in the first Scream wasn’t always consistent in appearance. Getting permission to use the official Fun World mask took time, so the special effects team, KNB Effects Group, created a copy. This explains why Ghostface looks a little different in certain scenes, like the opening chase with Casey Becker. They actually used several slightly different Fun World masks throughout the movie, but the difference between those was less noticeable than the difference between the official Fun World mask and the replica made by KNB.

The masks used to create Michael Myers in H20 are surprisingly linked to Scream. Several different masks were used throughout the film, and the results weren’t always consistent. The mask from the opening scene, where Michael attacks Marion Chambers, is the same one used in Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. For most of filming, a mask created by KNB was used – you can see it in the trailer and promotional photos. However, producers felt it looked too pale and lifeless, so Stan Winston created a new mask after some scenes were reshot, and that’s the one seen for most of the movie. There’s also a single scene featuring a poorly-aged CGI mask. Ultimately, this mask usage is a clear connection to Scream, even if it wasn’t planned that way.

Okay, so the filmmakers really want you to know these movies exist in the same universe, and they hit you over the head with it – there’s a moment in H20 where a scene from Scream 2 is actually playing on a TV. It’s a fun Easter egg, sure, but it doesn’t quite make sense. If the Scream movies are just movies within the world of the Halloween films, how can Randy be a fan of them? Honestly, trying to figure it all out is a bit of a circular argument. I say just roll with it, enjoy the nod, and shout ‘Happy Halloween!’ It’s more fun that way.

Stream Scream and Scream 2 on Hulu and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later on HBO Max.

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2025-11-01 03:11