John Carpenter’s Halloween is a seminal work in the horror genre, credited with establishing many of the slasher tropes that would define the genre for decades to come. Released in 1978, the film’s masked, seemingly invincible killer, and vulnerable, unsuspecting victims set the template for countless imitations decades on. While it’s often revered as a masterpiece of minimalist horror, there are some areas where the film falls short, preventing it from achieving perfection.
Direction and Atmosphere:
Working with a modest budget of around $300,000, Carpenter creates an atmosphere that is familiar, yet disturbingly eerie. The suburban setting of Haddonfield, Illinois seems idyllic at first glance—white picket fences, quiet streets, and trick-or-treaters celebrating Halloween night. However, this tranquil environment is subverted by the presence of Michael Myers. Carpenter’s usage of long takes and wide shots allows the audience to glimpse Myers in the background or periphery, silently watching his prey. This creates a sense of dread or dramatic irony for the oblivious characters on screen.
Carpenter’s use of shadows and light is another key element of the film’s visual language. Myers emerges from darkness, appearing almost as if he is an extension of the night itself. This technique demonstrates that Michael Myers is not just a man, but an embodiment of pure evil, something beyond humanity. The steady pacing of the film allows tension to build gradually, making the moments of violence feel more impactful when they occur.
Characters and Performances:
Jamie Lee Curtis shines in her debut role as Laurie Strode. She brings vulnerability and authenticity to the character, making Laurie a relatable and grounded protagonist in the horror genre. Laurie is intelligent and resourceful, qualities that help her survive the night. However, her ordinariness makes her compelling—she isn’t a superhero, just a regular teenage girl doing her best to protect herself, and the children she’s caring for. Curtis’s portrayal laid the groundwork for the “final girl” trope, which has become a staple within the horror genre ever since.
On the flip side, many of the supporting characters need to be more developed. Laurie’s friends, Annie and Lynda, are largely reduced to horror archetypes: the flirtatious girl, the rebellious girl, etc. They exist as fodder for Michael Myers’ killing spree, and while their deaths are effective in raising the stakes for Laurie, it is difficult to feel remorse for them due to their lack of on-screen presence. The film doesn’t invest much time in building their personalities, which makes their eventual fates less impactful for the audience.
Dr. Loomis, played by Donald Pleasence, is a standout character, though his role is more expository. Loomis is the voice of warning, repeatedly reminding the audience that Michael Myers is something far more sinister. Pleasence’s performance is intense and powerful, and his delivery of lines like “He’s pure evil” adds a mythic quality to Myers. However, Loomis is mostly a passive observer until the climax, and his characterization can sometimes feel one-note or static.
Soundtrack:
Otherwise known as John Carpenter’s Halloween, a 1978 American slasher movie centred around psychopathic murderer Michael Myers. Produced, directed, and scored by movie horror mastermind John Howard Carpenter, a creator of many cult classic movies, and soundtracks in the late 70s and 80s. John was the genius behind the now famous score that helped create the success that the Halloween franchise would turn into, but how was it written you may ask? Taking inspiration from his music professor, father Howard Carpenter, conflicting reports say that John wrote the score in the span of three, or four days, up to just a couple of weeks. He also recorded most parts on his piano at home, with slight modifications made using a synthesizer. The main theme plays throughout large parts of the movie and many of the haunting scenes, where Michael can be spotted stalking his future victims. The theme, though simple as it was, would prove to become a hit amongst critics and audiences, creating a terrifying atmosphere as a watch psychopath haunts and murders his victims, one by one in horrific manners.
Villain:
And though the score creates a haunting atmosphere by itself, so does the movie’s villain, Michael Meyers. He first appears as a young boy, dressed in a clown costume at home, with his older sister. That’s also where he kills his first victim, in their own home on Halloween night 1963. From then on Michael spends the next 15 years locked away due to his crimes, but no prison could keep Michael Myers locked away forever. Nearly fifteen years later Michael escapes and returns to the town where he murdered his elder sister. It’s where a frightening and stalking man clad, in a terrifying human-like mask makes his return, and unknowing to the town of Haddonfield, the townspeople would soon be in grave danger. The Bogeyman had returned…
Flaws and Limitations:
While Halloween excels in many areas, it has its drawbacks. The dialogue, especially the ones involving Laurie’s friends, can be clunky, lacklustre, and stilted. The casual conversations between teenagers often feel unnatural or odd, and this takes away from the realism Carpenter aims to build.
The film’s minimalism, while a strength in many respects, also limits its depth. There’s little in the way of subtext or thematic exploration, beyond the underdeveloped battle of good versus evil. It could be viewed that the lack of character development or exploration of Michael’s psychology is a missed opportunity. However, this is also part of what makes Halloween effective and fun: it’s a straightforward horror experience. A movie that strips away the fat or unnecessary exposition that is present in our modern horror films.
Rating:
If we take every point discussed in this review into account, such as the direction, soundtrack, and flaws, we reach a positive rating of 7. The director spent the budget of the movie and resources wisely, concerning what equipment existed at the time. As a result, it is a well-regarded and created horror movie. And though the effects may not have aged gracefully, Halloween still resides in a high spot on many fan-created lists. That is why we chose to give it a rating of 7, overall. It’s a good movie even 40 years after its release, so if you’re ever in the mood for something scary, but not enough to frighten you out of your seat, we recommend John Carpenter’s Halloween. A perfect movie for a dark and stormy October night.
Conclusion:
And with sequels still releasing nearly every other year, the name Michael Myer’s is a name not easily forgotten to time.
And so, to all of you readers out there, we wish you a happy Halloween and a warning to stay safe if you ever see yourself in the vicinity of a knife-wielding white masked man.
[AS1]This part isn’t really necessary. I would keep the two final sentences, but we don’t need a summary for a review.
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