Halloween (1978) (Movie Review)

     The 1970’s was a game changing decade for Horror cinema, and the point in which nearly every scary movie to follow drew some inspiration from. Movies like “The Exorcist”, “Jaws” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” all left their mark on the genera. Yet, for me, there’s one special film from this decade that’s stuck with me as one of my all-time horror movie favorites … a little flick from 1978 simply titled … “Halloween”. Horror movie titles don’t get any simpler, or more recognizable then that. In truth, the film really needs no introduction, as it’s already regarded as a horror film legend, and is often cited as one of the top 5 most classic of the scary movie genera. It dose admittedly beg the question for less familiar viewers … why so much praise and attention to a film with such a one-note premise, as it’s just a guy in a mask terrorizing people?” The answer all lies within both the execution, and even some reserved subtext. Make no mistake, while I feel “Halloween” has the misfortune of being branded a “slasher film”, I find there’s so much more to it than that. The film-making on display is right on par with the style and subtlety of an Alfred Hitchcock picture, and is far beyond what a simple “slasher film” would offer.

    The movie begins with a terrific title card sequence, with a slow pan-in on a lit-up Jack O’ Lantern, along with the appropriate orange texts glowing against the black backdrop, and that iconic score perfectly setting the mood. Just before the movie begins, we hear a children’s quire singing and rhyming about Halloween night, and it’s such a small, yet eerie detail which I really love. We then segue into one of the most iconic opening scenes in horror movie history, as we follow an unbroken POV shot of a faceless killer approaching a house, and claiming the life of a young woman. The face behind the kill is soon revealed, and shockingly … it was a little boy the whole time, and he apparently just murdered his sister. Holly cow, what an opening … this entire five-minuet lone, one take opening sequence is still highly influential today, and it’s personally my favorite scene of the whole film. Although, there is one detail that always takes me out of it. When this Point-Of-View shot enters the house, the camera is noticeably elevated above the appropriate eye-level of a little boy. You can call it a flub, or maybe the filmmakers did it intentionally to mislead the audience before the reveal. 15 years later, the boy has grown up, escaped a mental ward, and has returned to his home town, and has become the neighborhoods literal Boogeyman. His main target of interest comes in the form of a small group of girls, who are stuck with baby siting duty on Halloween night.  

    Yes, the premise is as simplistic as they get, but the strength of the movie is all in the experience. With a title as basic as “Halloween”, it opens the door for all kinds of possibilities, yet there’s nothing supernatural about the events, and the villain is made of flesh and blood. Sure, human villains had been present in previous horror classics, but unlike “Psycho”, or “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre”, which feature the victims venturing out to isolated locations … “Halloween” features an evil that invades the comfort of our homes. 

As such, the neighborhood setting was one of the most important elements to get right. All through the course of the movie, director John Carpenter makes the unfolding events feel as real, and as in the moment as they get. It’s almost like a simulation, where the audiences feels they're living this ordinary Halloween night in this quiet area, with a genuine lived-in atmosphere, and a faceless evil that’s silently lurking in the shadows, ready to strike at any time. John Carpenter clearly channels the work of Alfred Hitchcock, as he plays with the camera, presents long sequences with our characters walking down the street, or walking over to a neighbor’s house, and gives us an authentic layout of the grounds. It’s also worth noting that the Halloween decorations, and kids in costumes are kept to a minimum … and yet it still captures the atmosphere of both the holiday and the season. The subtle fall imagery with dead leaves blowing around, the family making Jack O’ Lanterns, and the kids blankly watching “spooky” films on TV ... it’s as simple a representation of a Halloween night as they get, and it really adds to the flavor of the experience. It makes me feel completely submersed, and when the scary action goes down, I feel like I’m right there with the characters running from the danger. One detail worth noting is that the kids are watching both "Forbidden Planet" and "The Thing from Another World", highlighting that John Carpenter was a fan of classic Sci-Fi, and wouldn't you know ... his remake of "The Thing" as been hailed a Sci-Fi/Horror classic in it's own right.  

     There’s nothing exploitative, graphic or bloody about the kills in the film, and that’s one of my favorite aspects of this movie … it’s all about the thrill of the chase, and that’s when I feel that horror cinema is at its finest. Speaking personally, there’s nothing that scares me more than seeing a present danger that’s currently at a distance. Because of this, my favorite shots in the movie are when the boy looks out the window, and sees the killer standing motionless at a house across the street. This also applies to the films thrilling climactic chase, in which our hero runs over to one house while we see the threat coming to her from across the street. Little touches like that make my skin crawl more than any of the kills. Another detail at work is playing a figurative game of “Where’s Waldo”, and trying to spot the killer in certain frames in which he doesn’t clearly stand out. Then there’s a stolen car seen throughout the film, which serves the same purpose as the barrels from “Jaws” … allowing the audience to know precisely where the danger is without physically showing it on screen. Another similar element is when the camera holds on two people in bed, and the shadowy shape of the killer quietly passes over them ... it’s so eerie. The distinct sound designs are yet another chilling element in play, especially when parried with details like lights going on, or when the killer appears on screen. Of course, I have to mention John Carpenters brilliant music score, which is personally my favorite horror track of all time. Whenever I hear those music beats, I’m suddenly entranced, and I have goosebumps all through my body.   

     

    While the majority of the supporting characters are very bland, and exchange some awful dialogue … the two main characters are outstanding, and again help elevate this film above other generic slasher movies. 

“Halloween” of course marked the film debut for Jamie Lee Curtis in the leading role of Laurie Strode. Her mother Janet Lee was already famous for staring is “Psycho”, so it was her daughters turn to make an icon out of another scary movie classic. While she’s often labeled a generations “scream queen”, her performance really was credible in this film, as she carries herself like a professional, and one destined for a long-standing carrier. My favorite character of the whole movie by far is Dr. Loomis, who’s played brilliantly by Donald Pleasence. He was the villains care taker, and knows more then anyone just how evil he is. Loomis in many respects is like the Van Helsing to his Count Dracula, and he has this hypnotizing screen presence. Yet, he has just enough of a personality … like when he teases these boys playing around the abandoned killers house. His best moment of all is when he gives a dooming speech about the evil that lays behind the killers eyes … it might just be my favorite monologue ever spoken in a horror movie. Once again, for as simple as the premise is, it still touches on some deep themes, which still hold relevance to this day. Basically, the film is an examination of evil, and how evil can manifest in someone who seems human on the surface. There’s a very subtle detail given to us early in the film, involving a teacher lecturing a class on how some people can’t escape their fate ... that some people are destined to walk certain paths, and while other forces may try turning the direction, in the end … people always meet what fate has in store for them. Dr. Loomis was destined to be a figurative guardian angel, Laurie Strode was destined to be a survivor, and one Michel Myers was destined to be evil personified.     

   This brings us to our titular main villain himself … and this is the one element of the film that gives me really mixed feelings. Everything I’ve mention about the villain thus far is great, I love that he’s a mysterious figure that spends more time observing his victims rather than just bluntly killing them on site, I love that he’s stealthy like a ninja, and the over arcing theme of him being evil just as nature intends him to be is a very chilling concept. 

Unfortunately for me, I’ve never liked anything else about this character. While everyone views the famous white panted William Shatner mask as something iconic, it’s always stood out as a mild annoyance for me. I feel he is just too recognizable, and too marketable, to the point where I can never feel scared of him. He’s just too ingrained in our pop culture, and thus he never feels like a mysterious, or imposing entity. Honestly, I feel the movie as a whole is so genuinely unnerving, to the point where I don’t think it ever needed a marketable figurehead. I’ve also hated the universal popularity of the name Michel Myers, as I find that the most non-threatening, and laughable name for a horror movie villain ever. Even a name as simple as Ed Gein or Norman Bates has something of an edge to it. Also, I know it’s no fault of the movies, but every time I hear the name Michel Myers, I find myself instantly thinking of the comedian Mike Myers. Personally, I’d rather refer to this film’s villain plainly as … The Boogeyman. Actually, watch this movie in complete isolation of the franchise, and notice that more people refer to him as The Boogeyman then they ever do call him by his name. I can only speak for myself when I say … I wish that this character’s popularity was tied to the title of the Boogeyman rather than the name Michel Myers. Truthfully, I think all those sequel titles would sound more intimidating if they were rearranged like … “Halloween 4: The Boogeyman Comes Home”, or “Halloween 6: Twilight Curse of the Boogeyman” ... but that’s just me.

   Prier to the release of the 1981 sequel "Halloween 2" was a special extended cut of the original movie, with an additional ten minuets added in. It's not uncommon for TV versions to insert previously deleted scenes into the movie to fill the air time, but this was a unique case, as all the added scenes were filmed during the making of the sequel. If you're a fan pairing both films back to back, you may prefer the extended cut, as it sets up Laurie Strode as the villains sister. I personally never liked that twist, or even the sequel itself, and I find the added moments really boring ... so, I'll just stick with the original cut. 

All around, “Halloween” is an ideal movie to watch during October, and obviously one of the most famous horror movies ever made. While I’m not overly fond of the “Slasher Movie Genera” that spawned do the films popularity, I still think “Halloween” stands head and shoulders above the other horror movies with that brand. There’s just so much more to this then senseless killing and repetitive violence. After all, there’s hardly any blood in the film, and there’s clearly a competent, artistic creator behind the project. Using atmosphere and suspense as its tool, “Halloween” is all about the thrill of the chase, and the terrifying notion of something evil invading your peaceful everyday home. Of course, you just can’t beat all those technical details … the lighting is great, the autumn scenery is beautiful, the sound effects are really eerie, and that musical score conveys an especially haunting atmosphere. While “Halloween” is technically a slasher film, it’s also very sophisticated, and undeniably a benchmark in the history of horror cinema.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1978 Horror classic “Halloween” … and treat yourself to one good scare this October.