Halloween: The Ultimate Terror Film Creation

Rating: Null/10 (14 November 2002)

Today, some may look down on it as a horrible slasher film piece of shlock made in the seventies oozing with teenage sex and violence. They couldn't be more wrong. 'Halloween' (1978) did begin countless slasher films dripping with countless teenage sex scenes and even more violent scenes involving horrible dialogue with one dimensional cardboard cut out stock characters. In every slasher film, it was the same: The big breasted bimbo, the jock, the joker, the stoned out character, the easy-to-kill black character the obvious virginal heroine and her suave sophistichated boyfriend (Although not all had one) who would also be killed off quick. The original thing about this film is that it had all these characters before they became the norm. Back then, it was truly suspensful. Of course, 'Halloween' still rises above the imitators either way, mainly because this one is a truly scary piece of psychological terror that gets even better with multiple viewings, as I discovered recently when I bought it in the 'Halloween: Ultimate Collection' DVD box set. The film begins with a different kind of opening credits. It features an evil, smiling pumpkin which the camera closes up to as the ever so memorable 'Halloween' theme tune runs on. After these credits quickly finish, we find ourselves in the POV of an unkown character outside a house. It's 1963 and we move around the house, eventually killing a young girl called Judith Myers who screams "Michael!" at us. At the end of this long shot the mask is pulled off us by Michael Myer's parents. Michael is 6 years old and has just killed his sister. Cut to 15 years later, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is travelling to MIchael Myer's trial with his assistant Marion (Nancy Stephens) when Michael breaks out of his asylum and steals their car. His mission is to travel to his hometown of Haddonfield to kill a small town babysitter Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, in her first role). The story is simple, I could give more plot points and character names but there is no point to that. The plot and characters are simple. 'Halloween' is meant as a very scary piece of fun and it succeeds on those counts. It's harmless fun yet it will have you jumping miles out of your seat but director John Carpenter does not rely on jump scares all the time. Most of the time, he builds suspense usually with his own haunting score. The film will have you on the edge of your seat more times than jumping out of it. The film's killer, Michael Myers' walks around slowly and patiently wearing a chalk white human face mask with sticky out hair. Michael is a one of a kind villain. Expertly written by Carpenter and Debra Hill and directed by Carpenter, his stalking scenes go up there with famous scenes like the shower scene in 'Psycho' or the any part of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. But the person you have to thank most for those scares is Michael Myers himself, Nick Castle. An all-round nice guy who was cast as the killer because Carpenter saw a "dark side", Castle manages to play Michael in the right frame of mind with the right mood, building some of the best scares in the movies. It is he you have to truly thank for the role. For people who may not know this, an interesting fact is that during the unmasking scene of Michael, it is not Castle's face behind the mask but that of Tony Moran. The rest of the cast also deserve some sort of medal for their roles. Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Loomis and PJ Soles are all excellent as the trio of giggling girls. Donald Pleasance is absolutely brilliant (and completely essential) in his role as Sam Loomis, he really excells in the role. A nice thing to see. Charles Cyphers is pretty impressive in his role as the disbelieving sherrif of Haddonfield, not happy that Loomis is spreading his small happy town with horrible rumours. The camerawork and overall style of the movie is nicely done by Carpenter and makes it essential for repeat viewings, so you can see stuff you missed. I could rave on and on about this movie but I'll finish up by saying that 'Halloween' is essential viewing. It is the father of all horror films and Myers is the father of all serial killers. Go see it.