Halloween (1978)

Director: John Carpenter

Writer: John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Tagline: The Night HE Came Home!

Actors: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards, Brian Andrews, John Michael Graham, Nancy Stephens, Arthur Malet, Mickey Yablans, Brent Le Page, Adam Hollander, Robert Phalen, Tony Moran

Runtime: 1h 31m

Category: Slasher

Synopsis: Psychopathic killer, Michael Myers has been institutionalized for fifteen years. On Halloween night he breaks out of the sanitarium and sets out for Haddonfield, IL where he grew up. Michael begins to stalk Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and brutally slaughters everyone in his path except the only one who seems to care about him, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance). You quickly realize that Michael is after Laurie for a reason, but can the good doctor stop Michael before he finishes his task on Halloween?

Review: Loved it. I have been watching horror for a long time and I loved a few key things about this movie. First off, it really felt like this could happen anywhere. What I mean is not that a psychopath could dress up like that, drive a car and brutally kill a bunch of people and not get killed when stabbed in the eye or neck and shot four times; but that for 3/4 of the movie seemed like he was just a nut job stalking and killing people. In the sick twisted world we live in now is that really such a far out concept? John Carpenter did a brilliant job of drawing you into the story by adding three cute lead and supporting actresses. The only pair of boobs you don’t see in the move are Jamie Lee Curtis’. Her rackage remains hidden here. Her two friends are, in one hand, happy to show them off, and in the other hand, ready to get it on. Don’t they know better? Apparently not! When I found out that Laurie was Michael’s sister I was blown away. That was a great plot twist. It made it more personal for the characters.

We were without when it came to the blood. There was little blood but the death scenes were great. For a low budget movie in 1978 they kept you in the story without a ton of unnecessary blood and gore. Don’t get me wrong, I love that too but if something can get you into it without that other stuff that is quite impressive. Since we are all desensitized to blood and gore, it seems that we need more and more with each new slasher flick. It was great to be drawn in by the lack of it.

Rating: 23. Scream Queen Curtis is top notch while demanding that the children follow her orders and tries to survive the onslaught that is the indestructible Michael Myers. I was thoroughly impressed by the acting and since I totally dig Donald Pleasence it worked out to my advantage. I recommend getting this if you have been under a rock for thirty years or if you are just at the ripe age where this kind of movie is an option. See this before you see the remake by Rob Zombie. (23of25).