MovieChat Forums > Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) Discussion > Anyone Notice the Goof about Brackett's ...

Anyone Notice the Goof about Brackett's Retirement?

posted 4 years ago by MinorityRules15 (963)
9 replies | jump to latest

Halloween II was made in 1981, but it was still set on Halloween night of 1978.

When Loomis goes into the police station, (which is now Halloween of 1988), he asks for Sheriff Brackett and one cop says, "Brackett retired in '81." He should've instead said, "Brackett retired in '78."

It's a goof because II came out in '81 and the cop was referring to the year it came out instead of 1978 when it was actually set. Just a minor brain fart by the writers, I suppose.

[–] Sidha108 (2671) 4 years ago

Maybe Brackett decided to stay Sheriff until Annie’s classmates graduated high school to personally ensure their safety after what happened to his daughter while they still lived in Haddonfield and then retire to get away from the events of Halloween 1978.

[–] jakemon45 (1125) 4 years ago

Why do we know that he retired the year the first movie took place? Does it say that somewhere?

[–] MinorityRules15 (963) 4 years ago

Because in Halloween II (1981), Brackett learns that Annie died and he sees her body. Then the comment of, "Brackett retired in '81" seems to indicate that he retired because his daughter died, which would be Halloween night of 1978.

Just seems very odd that the writers chose 1981 for his retirement and not 1980 or 1982 or 1983, but they picked 1981 when Halloween II came out. Going by the evidence, we can assume it was a goof and they should've said 1978.

[–] jakemon45 (1125) 4 years ago

That doesn't make sense to me. The comment of "Brackett retired in 81" seems to indicate that he retired in 81. I don't see where it indicates he retired because his daughter died. I think you're making a connection that isn't there, personally. Yes, '81 is when Halloween II came out, but that is not at all evidence that it's a goof and they actually should have said 78.

[–] MinorityRules15 (963) 4 years ago

Ha, I wish someone still alive who worked on this movie would come on here and settle this once and for all. Just seems the coincidence is too great. Halloween II came out in 1981 and they said Brackett retired in 1981.

[–] Sidha108 (2671) 3 years ago

Kind of reminds of the dates getting all mixed up in the Rocky series. Rocky III takes place 3 years after the events of Rocky II which means it should take take place in 1979. Then Rocky V states that Mickey (who died in Rocky III) willed his gym to Rocky’s son in 1982 (the year Rocky III was released), which means there must have been a delay in the reading of his will or the writers of Rocky V forgot to pay attention to the dates of the movies.

[–] MinorityRules15 (963) 3 years ago

That's funny.

[–] JigsawX (265) 3 years ago

I caught this myself. Whether it was a mistake or not, I don't know, but I just choose to take it at face value.

Maybe after his daughter died, and with the overwhelming support of the community, he remained the sheriff for a couple more years, and perhaps it became to much, and thus retired.

Like you said, though, it easily could be a mistake, and unless someone says something, we'll likely never know for sure.

[–] MovieKnut (184) 3 years ago

There is no evidence to support this being a mistake. Brackett could very well have retired in '81. The fact that Halloween 2 was released that year does not suggest a mistake by the writers.