Review: Batman: The Long Halloween Part 2

 

Overview:

The Holiday Killer is still loose, and Batman is attempting to solve the mystery. Unfortunately, as more inmates escape from Arkham Asylum, the more the Dark Knight is distracted. Getting past Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, and the Mad Hatter will be challenging enough. But when the rogue gallery finds a new leader, things escalate quickly on the night of Hallow’s eve.

Meanwhile, the feud between the Falcones and the Maronis is escalating, with the Holiday Killer still killing off their guns. However, their sights are set on Harvey Dent, the district attorney with a motive to take both families down. But, when they push Dent too far, they may be in for more than they bargained for.

 

Our Take:

Batman: The Long Halloween Part One set the bar high. The first feature managed to capture the elegance and mystery portrayed in the original comic books. Created by the stellar team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale, matching a movie to the source content took some effort. But, it was clear early in the first film that much care was put into recreating this complex story.

Thankfully, The Long Halloween Part Two picks up where the first movie left off and exceeds the bar. Not only does the story find a satisfying conclusion, but the film also adds a long list of beloved Batman villains. And while there are a few sidesteps from the original books, as a whole, this double feature recreates the edgy plot fluidly.

Things start off with the aftermath of the after-credit sequence from part one. Poison Ivy has manipulated Bruce Wayne and has him completely under control to sign over his assets. Surprisingly, months have passed under her spell. Artistically, it is one of the shining points of the two films. Especially when Catwoman comes to save the day and the two female powerhouses duke it out.

But the significant part of this story is the origins of Two-Face. Much of the original Long Halloween was utilized as inspiration for the 2008 blockbuster The Dark Knight. While that movie paid great homage, this double feature explored the origin in further detail. Although it burns slow throughout the lengthy plot, the payoff is enormous. It makes the conclusion of this film all that more powerful.

And the ending is explosive. With all of the cards on the table and a full year of Holiday killings through, the Long Halloween has it all. Seven of Batman’s most famous enemies join forces for a collision with the caped crusader. Even fan favourite, The Joker, is limited to a couple of lines of dialogue to make room for the ensemble that also includes Penguin, Solomon Grundy, Mad Hatter, and Scarecrow.

Still, with all of these big names on the table, they are but a distraction from the real problem at hand. The Holiday Killer has thrown Gotham into a whirlwind of gang wars and destruction. 

The story misleadingly puts Harvey Dent at the centre of things convincing the audience and the characters that he is the perpetrator. However, the true killer’s reveal is just as impactful as it was in the source material. And the final moments of this film are worth watching the two movies.

There is also a short after-credits sequence setting up bigger things in the future. Stick around after the film to see which Justice League members make an appearance.

Overall, this wrapped up the double feature with big bangs and satisfactory pay-offs for the underline mystery. As an adaptation, DC has been getting stronger and stronger at having these animated features emulate the source material. But this piece takes bringing comic books to life to new heights. And in the growing collection of Batman films, this will stand out for its intelligent and dark portrayal.