John Carpenter's Best Film Ever

Rating: 10/10 (6 July 2006)

A perfect summation of the slasher/horror genre. Not a moment is wasted during John Carpenter's best film.
Every element is pitched to absolute perfection, starting with that oh-so-eerie score and the shock of Micheal Myers killing his sister, to the ending with Dr Loomis peering into the night expecting to see a corpse and seeing...nothing! The film builds in suspense with the fantastic moment in the car when Dr Loomis and the Nurse are talking about Micheal's history to the menacing shots of Micheal (wearing that iconic mask) just standing, watching...and breathing. Donald Pleasance hones the art of frustration in getting somebody, anybody, to believe him that pure evil is on it's way and only when the bodies pile up will he taken seriously, however, it's then too late...
Sure, John Carpenter's career has stalled in recent years but looking back this is surely proof positive that a horror film can be dubbed a "masterpiece".