Truly The Definitive 70s Horror Film

Rating: 10/10 (15 January 2009)

"Halloween" has become notorious with every horror fan today, whether they know it or not. The film was made in 1978, at the end of a genre defining decade where Chainsaw-Wielding Maniacs, Switchblade-Slicing Giallos, and Alien eggs took over the big screen, Halloween defines it all.
Halloween wasn't the first slasher film, although it often takes the credit for being the creator of the slasher genre. What really inspired Halloween was the other low-budget cinema being shot in the 70s, such as the low-budget exploitation flicks and Itallian Giallos; as well as classic horror films from the 50s and 60s. Director: John Carpenter really dug the old 50s B-Movies as well as the works of Alfred Hitchcock and Dario Aregento. Halloween blends the attributes of a great thriller with a very strange hint of supernatural undertones.
Everybody reading this knows the story of Halloween: A boy named Michael Myers kills his sister. He then gets admitted into a mental institution where he would soon escape from 15 years later. Michael goes back to his hometown of Haddonfeild, Illinois where he would go on to continue his body count he started 15 years before hand. Not far in his path, his doctor (played by Donald Pleasense) is determined to stop Michael, no matter the cost.
Most of the movie focuses around a group of teenagers: Laurie (played by Jamie Lee Curtis in her first film), Linda (PJ Soles), and Annie (Nancy Keys).
The teenagers are developed in an amazing way. They are realistic characters that the audience could relate to everyday people just as themselves, yet they are interesting enough to keep the viewer interested. All three actresses did a fantastic job and have great character chemistry. Donald Pleasense, who played Michael's doctor did an absolutely fantastic job. Michael (also known as "The Shape) himself was mainly played by Nick Castle, although there is one scene where he was played by Tony Moran for the unmasking scene.
The movie uses suspense rather than gore and loud noises to scare the audience. While I enjoy a good gory horror movie, it's still great to see a movie that builds up the audience for an amazing finale. The movie is tense and creepy all the way through, never slowing up the pace.
One of the most memorable things about the movie is the music, which commonly gives the movie reconition.
Halloween truly stands as one of the best horror movies ever made.
Highly Recommended 10/10