The Ultimate Horror Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (6 September 2011)

When discussing what the best horror movies of all time are the most common examples include films like Psycho, The Exorcist, Dawn of the Dead and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. While all of these films are great, I hold the opinion that the greatest horror movie ever made is John Carpenter's 1978 film, Halloween. It's not just a must-see film for fans and non-fans of horror alike, but it's also the perfect example of John Carpenter's directorial talent, a great example of budget-conscious filmmaking, the main inspiration for the slasher subgenre, an influential movie for aspiring filmmakers like myself, but most importantly it is a monumental achievement in horror filmmaking and a landmark film for the entire genre that has not been surpassed by any horror film since.
The premise is simple, but absolutely perfect. Michael Myers murders his older sister, Judith on Halloween Night 1963 when he is six years old. He's locked away for fifteen years and is treated by Dr Sam Loomis until he escapes before he is to stand for a trial. What is to follow is a night of terror as Michael sets out to his home town, Haddonfield, to stalk and kill teenager Laurie Strode and her friends on Halloween Night whilst Dr Loomis searches the streets looking for him. It may seem very basic, but it is the perfect set up for the essential horror film.
The main reason why this film is so amazing is how well it is directed. John Carpenter was clearly an absolute genius. The camera angles and lighting perfectly compliment each other and create a great sense of atmosphere that is creepy and the editing is outstanding and the film never feels like it is slow or wasting any time, making the hour and a half running time perfect. However, the greatest aspect of Carpenter's talent has to be the music. He composed it himself, he uses it at the appropriate times and the movie really wouldn't be anywhere near as suspenseful without it. I really don't see how this film could have been directed more perfectly.
Outside of Carpenter's excellent direction, the cast should be commended too. Usually in a horror film you expect the actors to be terrible, but it seems like everyone does a good job here. Jamie Lee Curtis is brilliant as Laurie Strode. She captures the image of the innocent good girl very well and this was her debut performance. Nancy Loomis and PJ Soles are really good as Laurie's friends, Annie and Lynda. Charles Cyphers was great as Sheriff Brackett. The child actors who played Tommy and Lindsey were great, especially for their young age. Nick Castle was excellent as Michael Myers and really gave off a creepy vibe. Despite all these great performances, the best is undeniably Donald Pleasence as Dr Loomis. This man's acting was unbelievably good. The scene in which he gives an eerie monologue in the Myers house is just breathtaking.
As far as kills go, there isn't quite as many as you would expect in a slasher film and the gore is basically non-existent, but this is because Carpenter didn't want to make a splatter fest with piles of bodies and is instead focusing on something much greater. Suspense. This beats violence anyday as it is true terror and it shows off much greater filmmaking quality.
While there were earlier films that influenced the slasher genre such as Black Christmas, Halloween is the one that deserves to take the title as the original slasher movie because it created the basic formula that made later films like Friday the 13th possible. Interesting to think that such a little independent film went on to change the history of horror as we know it. In that sense, I also have a huge level of respect for it and it influences me as an aspiring director.
John Carpenter has certainly made some great movies, but Halloween takes the trophy as it simply is just the perfect horror film. I really can't see how this movie can be beaten. It's suspenseful, spawned a great franchise, laid unimaginable influence and is truly defining of its genre. Do not miss this masterpiece. It's something that you just have to watch regardless as to whether or not you're a horror movie fan.
10/10