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Halloween


Halloween (1978)



Director: John Carpenter
Cast overview: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis
Running time: 91 minutes

A horror classic, as far as I'm concerned. Here John Carpenter provides a horror blueprint for what Hitchcock brought to the fore eighteen years earlier. This wasn't the first horror film, or even the first slasher film, but I'm convinced it's one of the best. Carpenter provides atmosphere and suspense that has been lacking in many films since, with gore being preferred by directors and audiences.

You'll be aware of the story, for it has been imitated and copied ever since: psychotic killer on the loose intent on murdering. The psychotic killer in this case is Michael Myers, confined to a mental institution for the past fifteen years. It's a much-tried formula in the horror genre, but I don't think it's ever been used as well as it is here. Not only is there an easy-to-follow and entertaining plot, but there is also a wonderful feeling of suspense and atmosphere, superbly crafted by the scarcity with which our masked killer is seen in the early stages. It's a feeling of knowing something is going to happen, but you don't know when. Carpenter crafts this as well as anybody.

Donald Pleasence is fantastic as Sam Loomis, evoking a sense of desperation that no one believes him about Myers' evil - you can really sympathise with his character. Jamie Lee Curtis is also decent - she plays an ordinary babysitter so an Oscar-winning performance was hardly necessary, but her fear was tangible.

Overall, this is one of the best horror films ever, in my view, with an iconic character in Michael Myers, a beautifully simple yet engrossing plot, marvellous suspense and a haunting score. Horror perfection.



Quotes
Dr. Sam Loomis: I met him, fifteen years ago; I was told there was nothing left; no reason, no conscience, no understanding; and even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil.

[last lines]
Laurie: It was the boogeyman...
Dr. Sam Loomis: As a matter of fact, it was.

Sheriff Leigh Brackett: It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare.

Trivia
Due to its shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest $2 mask that they could find in the costume store: a Star Trek (1966) William Shatner mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes. Shatner admitted that for years he had no idea his likeness was used for this film. It was only during an interview that someone mentioned his mask was being used. He has since stated that he is honored by this gesture.

P.J. Soles went to a screening of the movie after it was released, sitting in the 4th row of a regular audience. She was very amused, when during her nude scene and line of "see anything you like?" a male audience member in front yelled out "hell yes I do!" unaware she was right behind him.

Carpenter considered the hiring of Jamie Lee Curtis as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock who had given her mother, Janet Leigh, legendary status in Psycho (1960).

Trailer