Overview:
This week marks the 30th anniversary of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. Writer Daniel Farrands sat down with Presence News to discuss how he became involved in the sixth installment of the Halloween franchise, his approach to resolving unanswered questions from earlier films, and why the movie remains one of the most divisive entries in horror history.
Halloween season means candy, costumes, and, of course, horror movies. Few franchises define the genre more than Halloween. On Monday, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) turned 30. The film continues to divide fans—some consider it a flawed but fascinating addition, while others see it as the franchise’s weakest link. Either way, it offers a unique take on Michael Myers, the infamous masked killer who first terrified audiences in 1978.
The Chosen One
Daniel Farrands, then a young writer in Los Angeles, recalls how he first connected with franchise producer Moustapha Akkad. Determined to prove himself, Farrands created an elaborate notebook tracing Michael Myers’ mythology.
“I sat down and did this backstory, research, almost like a family tree, and compiled all this information into a notebook,” he told Presence News Author Will Barber. “I put a fancy cover on it and changed the A in Halloween to a thorn symbol.”
Years later, after nearly giving up hope, Farrands received a call telling him he had been chosen to write Halloween 6.
Picking Up After Halloween 5
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers left multiple storylines unresolved. Farrands felt it was essential to address them.
“We could have done the simple thing and moved on to something new,” he said. “But Moustapha and I felt that they must address those things that had kept audiences in suspense for five years.”
Theatrical Release vs. Producer’s Cut
Despite his vision, Farrands’ script underwent heavy editing for theatrical release.
“It was a heavily cut, weirdly edited, suspenseless, kind of gorefest that the studio ordered,” he explained. Reshoots, rushed in just two months before release, altered the film dramatically.
Over time, however, fans sought out the elusive Producer’s Cut, which offered a very different version of Halloween 6. Once a bootleg collector’s item, it eventually saw an official Blu-ray release thanks in part to Farrands’ efforts. Many fans consider the two cuts almost separate films.
The Legacy of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
Three decades later, The Curse of Michael Myers still sparks debate.
“It’s a divisive movie,” Farrands admitted. “But it’s also one that has lived for 30 years and has made many people happy.”
While not every fan embraces Halloween 6, its polarizing nature has ensured that it remains part of the cultural conversation—a fate many forgettable horror films never achieve.
Beyond Halloween
Daniel Farrands has since expanded his career as a writer, director, and producer. His credits include The Haunting in Connecticut (2009), The Amityville Murders (2018), and The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019). For a full list of Farrands’ works, visit IMDb.
Sources:
- William Barber Interview with Daniel Farrands, September 29, 2025
- IMDb: Daniel Farrands
- IMDb: Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
- IMDb: Moustapha Akkad
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