A Classic Horror Flick is Still Terrifying

Rating: Null/10 (7 November 2016)

John Carpenter is without a doubt one of the most influential horror and science fiction directors of all time. In 1978 he directed and scored "Halloween" a simple horror movie that would revolutionize the horror genre forever. Its antagonist Michael Myers has become one of the most iconic movie villains of all time. The painted and disfigured William Shatner mask that was used in the movie is immediately recognizable to anyone who has ever lived through the Halloween season. Though it was filmed for a mediocre budget of 300,000 dollars it managed to rake in nearly 47 million at the United States box office. This makes it one of the most profitable films ever made and in 2016 it was estimated to have earned around 267 million (not counting any of its seven sequels). Despite the influence that this movie made on the horror genre, does it still hold up today? The premise here is sinfully simple: A man escapes an insane asylum on Halloween night and returns to his hometown to cause mayhem on a group of promiscuous teens and their friend. While its 2016 and this concept has been beaten to death by hundreds of horror movies over the last several decades this concept was original for its time. I can't in all honesty criticize the plot here because for its time it was unique. Halloween is well known for popularizing the slasher horror subgenre that would blow up in the 1980's. Many factors lead to the movie becoming such a success, and thankfully many of those same factors are as impactful as they were in 1978. One of the things that works best in this film is the pacing. This movie is intelligent and it never allows its viewers to have a moment of tranquility. The film takes its time building tension while at the same time never feels slow or lethargic. However, when Michael Myers does start down his killing rampage the movie never loses its sense of terror and fear. This is due to Carpenter's amazing direction. John Carpenters direction is easily what made this movie so good. Carpenter shows incredible control over all aspects of this movie from the creepy sound design to camera angles that make the viewer tremble. Overall Carpenter's direction is what carries this film past mediocrity and into horror film fame. A notoriously horrible aspect of this film when it first premiered was the atrocious acting. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasence) are the only likable and somewhat relatable characters in the film. The rest are awful. I mean it, almost every other character in this film is poorly acted and incredibly stupid. This is one of those cases where the acting is so poor that it gives the film an almost lighthearted nature. Since viewers can't relate to these characters they might end up cheering for their demise. I know that's harsh to say, but viewers of the film will completely understand. Thankfully, the rest of the movie balances out. The score (written by John Carpenter himself) is a classic. Every time the theme song plays, viewers know that Myers is near and ready to strike. The theme song is immediately recognizable while at the same time thrilling, even after nearly 40 years. Honestly, sound design here is remarkably impressive especially for a film with such a low budget. The most impressive feat that this film accomplished is without a doubt the fact that even after so many years this films is still scary. This film is nearly timeless and it evokes a sense of dread among its viewers that few movies can claim. Nearly every scene in this movie is wonderfully shot and its cinematography is terrifyingly beautiful. Ultimately, Halloween stands the test of time as one of the best horror films ever made and a film that still terrifies audiences today. Score: 9.5/10