Review of Halloween (1978) by Texasvet0407 — 01 Jun 2019

John Carpenter's Halloween is not only the godfather of the slasher sub-genre, but also one of the greatest, if not, THE greatest horror film ever made. It is a true horror masterpiece. It tells the immortal story of escaped mental patient Michael Myers, who returns to his hometown on Halloween night to stalk and kill a group of babysitters. There are many aspects of this film that make it one of the crowning jewels of the horror genre. First is the setting...it takes place in what appears to be a normal suburban neighborhood. Many of us who grew up in an area such as this can easily identify with the characters. This is the type of neighborhood where you feel safe, but if trouble starts to brew, nobody wants to lift a finger or get involved.

The 'grainy' feel of this film also adds to its legendary prowess. Nowadays, they seem to sharpen up the image of every movie, giving us every possible detail of the monster we are supposed to be afraid of. In Halloween, John Carpenter never really lets us get a complete look at Michael Myers, as he always seems like he is one with the shadows, which is what I believe makes him a truly ominous figure. Overall, it is a genuinely terrifying film that continues to stand the test of time. Now, by today's standards, it isn't as graphic and visceral, but it delivers on all the other levels most horror movies fail to achieve today. The atmosphere that John Carpenter creates is so creepy, and the fact that it is set in a quaint, mid-west town is a testament to his ability. The lighting effects are down right horrifying, with "The Shape" seemingly appearing and disappearing into the shadows at will. The simple yet brutally effective music score only adds to the suspense.

The performances by all the players are well done and worthy of praise. Jamie Lee portrayed Laurie Strode absolutely perfectly, mainly because she is so likable and vulnerable. It is all the more frightening when she is being stalked by Michael Myers because the director and viewer have invested so much into her that we want her to survive and get away.

Donald Pleasance plays Dr. Loomis like a man on a mission. He adds a sense of urgency to the predicament the town finds itself in because he knows what evil stalks their streets.

If the film has one flaw, it would be the passage of time. Since the release of this film nearly 40 years ago, countless clones, copies, rip-offs, and imitators have come along and taken the films best elements and rendered everything about this masterpiece as 'familiar.' Combined with the changes for audience expectations and appetites, one finds much of the films raw power diluted. To truly appreciate it in this day and age, it must be viewed as it once was, as something unique, which it always will be in my eyes as a true horror fiend.