The Trick is the Scares, The Treat is The Film Itself

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2007)

In 1978 John Carpenter introduced Michael Myers to the world in his mega-hit blockbuster "Halloween". Starring Donald Pleasance as the obsessed doctor hunting down psychopathic Michael Myers, the low-budget film immediately became one of the most successful films ever made and spawned seven sequels plus a remake, as well as countless knock-offs. With its introduction of modern day star Jamie Lee Curtis as well as appearances by legends Charles Cyphers and PJ Soles, "Halloween" landed a spot for itself as being a classic, and a well deserved title it is.
The plot is standard and has been copied so many times that you would think the world would be tired of it, but the world will never be tired of the immortal "Halloween" story. It is about a man who murdered his teenage sister on Halloween night fifteen years ago, but who escapes his mental hospital and heads back to his home town where he stalks three teenage girls around the same age as his deceased sister relentlessly. Meanwhile, his obsessed doctor tries to track him down, understand him, and ultimately destroy him with the help of local police.
"Halloween" still has the power to scare people nearly thirty years after its initial release. It is one of the few slasher films that doesn't rely on gruesome deaths, such as "Friday the 13th", in order to deliver a shock. The stalking scenes involving the three teenage girls are unforgettable and realistic - making them all the more terrifying. John Carpenter truly mastered his camera-work to give us not only the point of view of the killer (earlier seen in "Black Christmas" and "Jaws"), but to also give us truly eerie shots involving lighting as well.
Unlike many of its imitators, "Halloween" will keep most everyone entertained while still having the power to scare you. It is not a film people will be turned off due to gore and blood (there is very, very little shown), however slasher fans will enjoy the thrills that the film has to offer (the last chase scene is the one that set the standard for all to come). If you are a slasher fan, this should be a no-brainer, but even if you find those particular films to be nothing but nonsense you should still check out John Carpenter's "Halloween" - its bound to give one good scare and the trick is that you'll find a treat is this nice American classic.
"Halloween" has had a lot of DVD editions due to its popularity, but the one that would most satisfy a fan would definitely be Anchor Bay's 25th Anniversary Edition, which features commentary tracts, radio spots, TV spots, a trailer, an 80-minute documentary, a re-visiting the sets tour, actor and director profiles, photo gallery, and more! A sure treat for "Halloween".