My Thoughts on 'Halloween' (1978)

[Chakor Channing]

We need to start another thread and get the other one about the remake out of the way.  Last night, I finally got around to watching John Carpenter's original Halloween for what I believe is the third time I've watched it.  I remember first seeing the film on television years ago, but TV versions of horror films are often edited from their original versions.  I finally came across a DVD of the original at my local comic store and popped it in last night.  I don't have much to say, so here are my thoughts.

As usual, I'll start with what I liked.  First and foremost, the overall atmosphere of this film was really something that a lot of horror films of the time were lacking.  I would have to crown this as being the most atmospheric slasher film I've ever seen.  In addition, I really like how John Carpenter was more concerned with using said atmosphere to establish the film's "mood", rather than overdoing it on the blood and gore.  For characters, I loved Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis.  I think he was born for the role.  Jamie Lee Curtis was the perfect fit for the role of Laurie and, being completely honest, was the only female character of the film that I had any love for.  Nick Castle was the perfect fit for Michael Myers as well.  I liked Dick Warlock as Myers in H2, but I like Castle in H1 more.  And, of course, as with any John Carpenter film, the score was outstanding.  While most other John Carpenter films that I've watched (I.E., Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Fog, etc.) tend to extend scenes for the sole purpose of having the score fit the scene(s) better, the original Halloween managed to make the score fit without forcing the scenes to run longer.

Now for the minor things that I didn't like.  For one thing, Lynda and Annie were both nothing special as characters in my eyes.  They were both tramps IMO, not to the extend of the characters in the remake by any means, but still tramps.  Between Annie being a constant smoker and Lynda being slutty (I hope that's not too harsh of a thing to say on this board), I was very happy when Michael Myers finally killed both of them.

Overall, the original Halloween is an undeniable atmospheric classic that I strongly recommend.  This film is in my list of top ten monster/slasher/horror films.

[Wolfman]

We need to start another thread and get the other one about the remake out of the way.  Last night, I finally got around to watching John Carpenter's original Halloween for what I believe is the third time I've watched it.  I remember first seeing the film on television years ago, but TV versions of horror films are often edited from their original versions.  I finally came across a DVD of the original at my local comic store and popped it in last night.  I don't have much to say, so here are my thoughts.

As usual, I'll start with what I liked.  First and foremost, the overall atmosphere of this film was really something that a lot of horror films of the time were lacking.  I would have to crown this as being the most atmospheric slasher film I've ever seen.  In addition, I really like how John Carpenter was more concerned with using said atmosphere to establish the film's "mood", rather than overdoing it on the blood and gore.  For characters, I loved Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis.  I think he was born for the role.  Jamie Lee Curtis was the perfect fit for the role of Laurie and, being completely honest, was the only female character of the film that I had any love for.  Nick Castle was the perfect fit for Michael Myers as well.  I liked Dick Warlock as Myers in H2, but I like Castle in H1 more.  And, of course, as with any John Carpenter film, the score was outstanding.  While most other John Carpenter films that I've watched (I.E., Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Fog, etc.) tend to extend scenes for the sole purpose of having the score fit the scene(s) better, the original Halloween managed to make the score fit without forcing the scenes to run longer.

Now for the minor things that I didn't like.  For one thing, Lynda and Annie were both nothing special as characters in my eyes.  They were both tramps IMO, not to the extend of the characters in the remake by any means, but still tramps.  Between Annie being a constant smoker and Lynda being slutty (I hope that's not too harsh of a thing to say on this board), I was very happy when Michael Myers finally killed both of them.

Overall, the original Halloween is an undeniable atmospheric classic that I strongly recommend.  This film is in my list of top ten monster/slasher/horror films.

A true classic if there ever was one. As far as recommending it, if there's even ONE person on this board that hasn't already seen or heard of it, I suggest they leave immediately, they're in the wrong place. LOL

JP

[the_horror_man]

Halloween is in my top 3 all time favorite films. For Horror films, it ranks either number one or two for all time greatest. As you mentioned, there is almost no other film that has set up a mood like that. Creating that Halloween atmosphere flawlessly.

Christopher Lee was offered the part of Dr Loomis, He turned it down. Later on, Lee said that passing on it was one of the biggest mistakes of his career.

thm

[AlwaysWitty]

First a quick fact check, Halloween III wasn't really a John Carpenter film. Tommy Lee Wallace directed and wrote the screenplay, working from a draft by Nigel Kneale, creator of the Quatermass series. Carpenter did do the music though, collaborating with Alan Howarth.

ANYWAY, there's not much I can say about Halloween that hasn't already been said. It's a masterpiece. It's probably the single greatest slasher film ever made, with only The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Black Christmas coming close to it.

Part of the brilliance of it is in its simplicity. It functions as a sort of quintessential horror film, with common themes and motifs that are more subtle in other horror films being boiled down to their core and placed in a much more realistic story, with supernatural overtones that arguably never really overtake the actual plot (until perhaps the very end) but exist more in terms of the tone. A simple story about an escaped violent mental patient and his doctor's attempts to find him becomes something almost mythic in nature. Michael Myers, nothing more than a normal human man with a damaged mind, becomes an avatar of pure evil. Doctor Loomis isn't just a doctor looking for a patient, he's a sort of prophet of the doom to come, warning us of the evil that has been loosed upon the world. Carpenter pulls off this brilliant magic trick of turning a story that's all too real into a mythic fable about good and evil. It's this quality that makes the film truly timeless.

If anyone is wondering, no, I don't think having sex or smoking is adequate justification for murder. I actually live in 2016, not the Medieval Inquisition, so that didn't bother me. I do think sex may have had a role in Michael's motives, though. If you pay attention to it, he approaches men differently than he approaches women, when it comes to killing them. With the mechanic it seems Michael killed him rather immediately. Lynda's boyfriend Bob is stabbed very quickly and pinned to the door. Meanwhile, he tends to toy with the women he attacks. He stalks Annie, locks her in the laundry room, but noticeably he doesn't lock her in there so he can kill her. He does that in the car. With Lynda he pretends to be Bob, and he waits until she's on the phone to strangle her. Laurie, well, he toys with her throughout the film, stalking her at school and at home, propping up all her dead friends for her to find like morbid decorations, and when he chases her across the street, he takes his time. He's perfectly capable of running after her and killing her right there, but he deliberately chooses not to.

It would seem that Michael gets some sort of thrill out of stalking and scaring women prior to killing them. Laurie, then, is the object of his psychosexual urges. Of course this would be retconned by the sequel which reveals an entirely different motive. Nonetheless the film wisely doesn't do something that Psycho did: it never truly explains Michael's motivations. All I've offered is a theory based on my own observation. In doing that, it allows Michael to transcend his earthly existence and become more of that avatar of pure evil I mentioned earlier.

So yeah. Those are some of my thoughts on the original Halloween.

[Mike...In 3-D!]

First a quick fact check, Halloween III wasn't really a John Carpenter film. Tommy Lee Wallace directed and wrote the screenplay, working from a draft by Nigel Kneale, creator of the Quatermass series. Carpenter did do the music though, collaborating with Alan Howarth.

My friends and I always forget that Season of the Witch wasn't a Carpenter film. We always credit this one to him and have to correct ourselves.

It would seem that Michael gets some sort of thrill out of stalking and scaring women prior to killing them.

That's a detail that I picked up on after a couple of viewings. When I realized that he treated the men and women differently I felt foolish for not picking up on it sooner. It's a nice little wrinkle to the story that gives the character some depth without getting too far into his psyche, allowing the mystery of him to stay intact.

[long live kong]

So yeah. Those are some of my thoughts on the original Halloween.

You hit the nail on the head with regards to what makes Halloween such a great film, it's easily one of my all time favourites. I love pretty much every scene in the movie, but one of my favourite scenes is when Micheal escapes from the hospital. I remember as a kid rewinding and pausing the moment he jumps on the car to try to get a glimpse of his face! I also love the scene when Loomis and the Sheriff check out Myers' old house. A cracking movie all round!

[Wolfman]

I think the main reason he doesn't run across the street after Laurie is two-fold. First, if he did, he would have killed her before she had a chance to get inside. Second, I think it served to build up the tension more. I kind of knew she was going to get in the house, but you put yourself in her place, and that's what ratchets up the tension.

Quick piece of trivia regarding the end scene. John Carpenter wanted Loomis to have a shocked look on his face when Michael was not on the lawn. Donald Pleasence convinced Carpenter to have the look that he fully expected him to no longer be there. Thank God Mr. Carpenter took the advice of Mr. Pleasence. Made for a perfect ending.

JP

[Wolfman]

First a quick fact check, Halloween III wasn't really a John Carpenter film. Tommy Lee Wallace directed and wrote the screenplay, working from a draft by Nigel Kneale, creator of the Quatermass series. Carpenter did do the music though, collaborating with Alan Howarth.

ANYWAY, there's not much I can say about Halloween that hasn't already been said. It's a masterpiece. It's probably the single greatest slasher film ever made, with only The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Black Christmas coming close to it.

Part of the brilliance of it is in its simplicity. It functions as a sort of quintessential horror film, with common themes and motifs that are more subtle in other horror films being boiled down to their core and placed in a much more realistic story, with supernatural overtones that arguably never really overtake the actual plot (until perhaps the very end) but exist more in terms of the tone. A simple story about an escaped violent mental patient and his doctor's attempts to find him becomes something almost mythic in nature. Michael Myers, nothing more than a normal human man with a damaged mind, becomes an avatar of pure evil. Doctor Loomis isn't just a doctor looking for a patient, he's a sort of prophet of the doom to come, warning us of the evil that has been loosed upon the world. Carpenter pulls off this brilliant magic trick of turning a story that's all too real into a mythic fable about good and evil. It's this quality that makes the film truly timeless.

If anyone is wondering, no, I don't think having sex or smoking is adequate justification for murder. I actually live in 2016, not the Medieval Inquisition, so that didn't bother me. I do think sex may have had a role in Michael's motives, though. If you pay attention to it, he approaches men differently than he approaches women, when it comes to killing them. With the mechanic it seems Michael killed him rather immediately. Lynda's boyfriend Bob is stabbed very quickly and pinned to the door. Meanwhile, he tends to toy with the women he attacks. He stalks Annie, locks her in the laundry room, but noticeably he doesn't lock her in there so he can kill her. He does that in the car. With Lynda he pretends to be Bob, and he waits until she's on the phone to strangle her. Laurie, well, he toys with her throughout the film, stalking her at school and at home, propping up all her dead friends for her to find like morbid decorations, and when he chases her across the street, he takes his time. He's perfectly capable of running after her and killing her right there, but he deliberately chooses not to.

It would seem that Michael gets some sort of thrill out of stalking and scaring women prior to killing them. Laurie, then, is the object of his psychosexual urges. Of course this would be retconned by the sequel which reveals an entirely different motive. Nonetheless the film wisely doesn't do something that Psycho did: it never truly explains Michael's motivations. All I've offered is a theory based on my own observation. In doing that, it allows Michael to transcend his earthly existence and become more of that avatar of pure evil I mentioned earlier.

So yeah. Those are some of my thoughts on the original Halloween.

Thank you for mentioning Black Christmas. Not enough talk or credit is given to this film (even on this board). I've brought this up a few times in other threads (I may have even started one, not sure), and got nary a response to it. While I like Halloween more, BC is as scary a movie that has ever been made, imo.

JP

[the_horror_man]

I think the main reason he doesn't run across the street after Laurie is two-fold. First, if he did, he would have killed her before she had a chance to get inside. Second, I think it served to build up the tension more. I kind of knew she was going to get in the house, but you put yourself in her place, and that's what ratchets up the tension.

Quick piece of trivia regarding the end scene. John Carpenter wanted Loomis to have a shocked look on his face when Michael was not on the lawn. Donald Pleasence convinced Carpenter to have the look that he fully expected him to no longer be there. Thank God Mr. Carpenter took the advice of Mr. Pleasence. Made for a perfect ending.

JP

Then ensues with part 2. "I shot him 6 times. I shot him in the heart. This guy..he's not human" Halloween is just one of the greatest films ever made. Also, imo, the greatest use of a mask in a film.

thm

[the_horror_man]

Thank you for mentioning Black Christmas. Not enough talk or credit is given to this film (even on this board). I've brought this up a few times in other threads (I may have started one even, not sure), and got nary a response to it. While I like Halloween more, BC is as scary a movie that was ever made. imo.

JP

I need to watch Black Christmas again. Well, I believe I saw it. However, it was so long ago, that I actually don't remember if I did. It is Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Black Christmas that first used the format of kids running around getting killed.

thm

[AlwaysWitty]

Thank you for mentioning Black Christmas. Not enough talk or credit is given to this film (even on this board). I've brought this up a few times in other threads (I may have started one even, not sure), and got nary a response to it. While I like Halloween more, BC is as scary a movie that has ever been made, imo.

JP

Indeed it's a fantastic film, and it kills me how underappreciated it is. There are actually more great, atmospheric slasher films out there than are often given credit for it. Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp get a lot of credit for backwoods horror but Just Before Dawn is a very effective take on that branch of slasher films with gorgeous outdoor cinematography at times, a pair of very creepy hillbilly killers, and an early score from Brad Fiedel of The Terminator and Fright Night fame which is pretty effective at setting the mood.

[Wolfman]

I need to watch Black Christmas again. Well, I believe I saw it. However, it was so long ago, that I actually don't remember if I did. It is Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Black Christmas that first used the format of kids running around getting killed.

thm

Yes, if you haven't seen it in a long time, or worst yet, never saw it, make it a HIGH priority to do so.

JP

[Monsters For Sale]

The original "Halloween" has grown on me over the years.  I was very disappointed by it the first time I saw it.

I suppose it was the title.  It astounded me that no one had ever thought to use that one magic word as a title for any movie before.  It must have been my own unreasonable expectations that made the first theatrical viewing such a letdown.  I imagined something that more heavily utilized the holiday - like "Trick 'r Treat".  In any case, there wasn't enough Halloween and kids out at night to suit my taste.  I felt the title "Halloween" was wasted on a movie that had surprisingly little to do directly with the holiday and everything to do with a crazy killer.  It could have just as easily been set on any holiday, or on no holiday at all.

Repeated viewing has made me love the movie and make it a must see every Halloween.  I think what I appreciate most about the movie is the unique 5/4 music theme and the hand-held camerawork.  It really does grab your attention and put your nerves on edge about what action is to follow.

Later, the series was to deliver another title that was wildly misleading:  "Halloween III".  I won't rate it on it's individual merit, but I thought the title was an awful cheat.  I still do.