Halloween (1978)

It's a classic for a reason

Guess, I'll finally weigh in on this one. Halloween is a perfect product of it's time and the fact that it was actually scary allows it to continue to live on all these years later. The cast is perfectly awkward, the scares numerous, the soundtrack exceptional, and the nostalgia brilliant. Every year, after we've killed -- er, I mean fed --the last trick-or-treaters, we settle in for this fabulous, low-budget gem. It deserves it's status among fright films. October 9, 2008

the original!

You cant beat the original Halloween! It is fantastic, has a wonderful theme song that gets stuck in your head! Watch this classic horror film with Jamie Lee Curtis in it! October 9, 2008

Brilliant Blu-ray Transfer!!!

I grew up with this film in its various incarnations on home video. And, yes, i probably own it in practically every format. But this version really packs a punch. It is really spectacular to see the crisp images from such a gritty film. You would never know this movie is now 30 years old by the Blu-ray transfer. The only element that was somewhat disappointing is that I noticed the audio dropping out occasionally, probably due to imperfections from the original mono source. Otherwise, you will find new details in this film that you never noticed before on this great hi-def version!!! October 3, 2008

[4.5] Turn off the lights, turn up the volume, and prepare to still be scared

Thirty years later and this horror classic is still as scary as ever. In the Hollywood horror genre today over-run with blood and gore, it is refreshing to take a break and return to the old school when horror films where truly (and still can be) scary. There are many devices that has made Halloween a success. Number one is Michael Myers, perhaps one of the most memorable horror villains of all time. There is no motive for his actions. He seems to kill without cause - an emotion-less villain who has never spoken a word almost his entire life. One moment he appears out of nowhere, glaring from a distance, and the next moment, he's gone. No matter how fast his victims run, Michael is always right behind, ready to make the kill, stabbing his victims with his trademark kitchen knife.

Audio is one of the most important elements that can determine the success of a horror film, and above all else, John Carpenter's Halloween theme sets the tone all too well. Even at the opening credits the theme begins, instantly placing the viewer into a creepy horror state of mind. Slight variations of this simple theme are constant throughout the film, adding tension and suspense, and progressing scenes along nicely that might have seemed longer otherwise.

The usual weak dialouge and acting are certainly present here, as in most horror films, but I can't say it takes away from the fun, as it is to be expected (especially from a film made 30 years ago). Jamie Lee Curis does a memorable enough performance as her charcater Laurie, the babysitter who Michael has targeted on Halloween. Donal Pleasance does a decent job as Dr. Loomis, a man who basically becomes obsessed (and has every right to) on taking down Michael Myers. The remainder of the cast is unimpressive, but serve up well as Michael's victims.

Halloween has spawned off 7 sequals and even a recent remake. Though they don't match up to this original, it says enough that Halloween has become a popular sucess. I wish I could say for a movie that is 30 years old, it might be difficult for first time viewers today to appreciate, but the fact remains that this is from a different era of horror, a time when good horror films presented us with "less is more" Halloween is the perfect demonstration. There is less blood, less gore, less violence, and we know almost nothing of Michael's background, and the end result can be truly scary when we are not given details and must deal with the unknown.

Acting - 2.5
Characters - 4
Horror - 4.5
Music - 5
Story - 4
Overall - 4.5 October 1, 2008

Excellent but slightly overrated

This film is often hailed as Carpenter's masterpiece. Though it isn't (that would be Assault on Precinct 13), it is, nevertheless, one of the greatest slasher films ever made. People also often wrongly state that Halloween is the first slasher film ever made. Not so. There were many Italian slashers before it, including The Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Twitch of the Death Nerve.

The mood and pacing of this film are nearly flawless. The soundtrack is classic. What many don't know is that Carpenter based the theme song to Halloween off of Goblin's theme song from Argento's Deep Red, which was in turn inspired by Tubular Bells from Friedkin's The Exorcist. Though the film takes place in Illinois, it was filmed in California, as evidenced by the trunks of palm trees seen in people's front yards. Further, though the film is set in the fall, it was filmed during springtime. Carpenter had a bunch of fake dead leaves that they would throw in the front yard of the house they were filming at. When they switched houses they would have to gather up all the fake leaves and move them!

By the way, the mask that Michael Myers wears was a William Shatner mask that they somewhat altered. Shatner has since said that he does not appreciate being referred to as "evil incarnate." The crew of the film referred to Myers as "The Shape," implying that he is, as implied in the films, a supernatural force and not a human being.
September 22, 2008

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