Halloween

Halloween

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles

Directed by John Carpenter

The Story:
In small town Haddonfield, Illinois in 1963, six-year-old Michael killed his sister.  Fifteen years later, Michael escapes from a mental asylum and makes his way back to Haddonfield, with Doctor Loomis (Donald Pleasence) hot on his heels.  He was taking care of Michael when he escaped, and knows that he's returning to Haddonfield to kill again.

High schooler Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends Annie (Nancy Kyes) and Lynda (P.J. Soles) are only concerned with ordinary high school affairs, and while Annie and Lynda are both boisterous and outgoing, Laurie is more introverted and goody-goody.  Michael takes a particular liking to Laurie, following her around town.  On Halloween night he makes his presence known, and it's a night Laurie will never forget.

The Synopsis:
Horror movies are the easiest to make, as they typically don't involve a lot of big budget ideas, but rather that which terrifies us the most: the unknown.  John Carpenter shot "Halloween" on a shoe-string budget (so much so that Jamie Lee Curtis had to bring her own wardrobe), and amassed such a profit that it was heralded as one of the most profitable independent movies ever.  Not just that, but the film has become an icon in cinema as a whole, and whose legacy lives on today.  Without "Halloween," there would be no "Friday the 13th."  Without "Halloween," there would be no "A Nightmare on Elm Street."  Without "Halloween," there would've been a huge gap in the cinema world.

Along with Crystal Lake and Elm Street, Haddonfield is synonymous with horror and fear, much like the name Michael Myers invokes the same fear as Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger.  The three titans of late 70s/early 80s horror loom large over the horror landscape, and their legacy is one that will remain untarnished for decades to come.  "Halloween" is the quintessential horror film, one which has garnered several copycats and wannabees, and inspired a whole generation of horror directors to bring their own unique visions to the big screen.

Enough about the legacy of "Halloween," how does the film itself stand out?  By using simple tactics involving lights, shadows, and a simplistic score, John Carpenter brought to life everyone's biggest fear - being watched by a stranger, someone who stalks his prey and slowly amasses a plan to achieve his goal, to the shock of the person being stalked.  As the girls are walking down the street, Michael (known as "The Shape") simply stands off to the side and stares.  When Laurie looks out her window, she sees Michael staring at her.  When she's in school, she sees him staring at her from outside.  Michael is not a thoughtless killer - he's a methodical maniac who bides his time until the exact right moment to strike.

It's during this time that Carpenter introduces us to the characters, and even though they more than live up to their tropes (Lynda being the loose girl, Annie being the wild one, and Laurie being the nice, shy, quiet girl), you grow to care about the characters and the actresses who play them do so with a youthful innocence that's endearing.  Nancy Kyes and P.J. Soles do admirably, but it's Jamie Lee Curtis (the future Scream Queen and daughter of "Psycho" legend Janet Leigh) who steals the show - even more impressive because it was her first filming gig.  She plays Laurie with a youthful innocence, but also a resilience that the other girls don't have.  She's resourceful and has a fighting spirit, and refuses to give up.  Donald Pleasence is also a presence on screen as Dr. Loomis, who took care of Michael in the mental hospital.  He knows the danger Michael will bring, even if no one else believes him.

What makes "Halloween" such a visceral experience is how Michael acts.  He's not your typical serial killer who announces his plans, uses guns and actually talks, but rather Michael is the silent killer, who uses a knife that doesn't create noise, and hides in the shadows.  When your guard is down, when you least suspect it, he strikes.  When he does, it's terrifying.  The other amazing aspect of the film is the score, whose notes on the piano resonate to this day, and is one of the most recognizable tunes in all of music.  It's become synonymous with Halloween itself, and can be heard at several haunted attractions even now.

The Summary:
With a blockbuster score, chilling story, terrific lead actress and stealthy, silent killer, "Halloween" encompasses every aspect of horror into a beautifully wrapped present, just waiting for you to open and enjoy.

The Score: A+