Today’s quick review: Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two. As the months drag on with no clues to the identity of the Holiday Killer, Batman (Jensen Ackles) and Captain James Gordon (Billy Burke) continue to monitor Carmine Falcone (Titus Welliver) and his inner circle. Meanwhile, district attorney Harvey Dent (Josh Duhamel) begins to buckle under the public pressure of the case and speculation that he is the killer.
Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two is an animated superhero crime drama. Part Two spins out the plot threads introduced in Part One. Every new holiday, the killer takes out another target linked to Falcone, with Batman powerless to stop him. Part Two features the same lavish animation as the first, as well as more action and a wider rogues’ gallery. Still, the unruly progression of the investigation will not satisfy everyone.
The sharpest new plot element in Part Two is Harvey Dent’s descent into madness. After circumstantial evidence paints him as the Holiday Killer, he finds himself at the center of a media firestorm that pushes him to his breaking point. Dent’s growing instability shakes up the investigation nicely and adds an urgency the situation as his cat-and-mouse game with Falcone comes to a head.
Even so, the mystery itself is not as compelling as it could have been. Once again, the movie stalls for time, allowing the Holiday Killer to get away with murder without leaving any useful clues. By the time the movie fills the audience in, Dent has taken center stage, almost making the killer’s identity a moot point. The story also indulges in a few subplots without a clear purpose, seemingly just to keep the characters busy.
How much you get out of Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two will vary. Between its gorgeous art, excellent setting, and kinetic action, the movie shows off some of the best features of the superhero genre. However, the nature of its mystery puts some bizarre constraints on its story, forcing Batman into a passive role and keeping the investigation from gathering much steam. Check it out if you’re a fan of the character.
[7.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14402926/). I give it a 7.0 for solid action and a decent plot.