Halloween (1978) Movie Review

Synopsis:

A young Michael Myers murdered his sister Judith on Halloween night in 1963. Fifteen years later, he returned to Haddonfield, Illinois, to resume his reign of terror.

Review:

Halloween, even 45 years later, is the quintessential slasher film.

As a whole, Halloween’s premise and execution are simplistic. Regardless, director John Carpenter’s use of suspense defined the film for generations.

His use of suspense is on display throughout Halloween’s runtime. This is also exemplified by the iconic musical score.

Halloween’s score has several recognizable piano notes to build on the film’s atmosphere. For context, the score is John Carpenter's own.

Halloween’s theme is by far the film’s most memorable quality.

It is also used well in conjunction with the film’s use of Michael Myers himself.

Michael is an unstoppable monster without a conscience. Despite this, his approach to picking off his victims remains calculated.

John Carpenter also builds the suspense. It does this by having Michael watch the film’s protagonist, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), from afar.

This includes either watching her from behind a clothesline or from across the street.

Yet again, this builds tension and suspense, captivating the viewer throughout.

Bringing Michael Myers to life in adult form is Nick Castle.

He embodies the unstoppable force of the character, from his heavy breathing to the way he walks.

For a very brief scene during the climax, Myers’s mask gets removed, portrayed by the actor Tony Moran.

Halloween’s other protagonist is Dr Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence). Donald's character portrays Michael’s former psychiatrist.

Loomis’s presence is not as focused on compared to Laurie Strode. Despite this, Donald’s performance gives an interesting insight into Michael’s actions.

As stated, Donald Pleasence’s Dr Loomis makes sporadic appearances throughout the film.

Later on, though, he plays an essential part in putting a momentary stop to Michael’s spree during the film’s conclusion.

Halloween relies on its atmosphere to achieve audience investment. Halloween has around four human deaths in total.

These include Laurie’s friends Annie Brackett (Nancy Kyes) and Lynda Van der Klok (P.J. Soles).

Lynda’s boyfriend, Bob Simms (John Michael Graham), is also a character in the film.

Despite being a minor character, Bob has the most unique death, having Michael pin him to a wall with his machete.

What adds to this scene is how Michael stares at Bob after his death, being almost surprised by his strength.

This scene’s lighting is also atmospheric. Take the blue lights from the outside shining through the house’s pitch-black darkness as an example.

Laurie’s friends Annie and Lynda are your typical high school girls. There is little to them other than their defined roles.

Still, they serve the film well in building suspense and tension. This culminates in Laurie’s confrontation with Michael.

This is where Jamie Lee Curtis’s acting excels. She turns from a believable damsel in distress to a more resourceful character.

Conclusion:

To conclude, John Carpenter’s Halloween remains the standard for all slasher films.

It prioritizes suspense and atmosphere over unearned jump scares.

John Carpenter’s iconic theme is a major reason why the movie’s atmosphere is palpable. Its use at the right moments hooks the audience.

Michael Myers’s presence throughout the film is sporadic. Despite this, he's used to great effect, portrayed as a calculating, emotionless entity.

Jamie Lee Curtis also portrays Laurie Strode to an effective degree. Her final scenes toward the movie’s conclusion are her standout moments.

Donald Pleasence also gives a capable performance as Dr Sam Loomis.

This provides the audience with intriguing insights into the mind of Michael Myers.

Laurie’s friends Annie and Lynda serve a basic purpose. Despite this, they all make decent use of their respective scenes.

Lynda’s boyfriend Bob, whilst being a minor character, gets the film’s most iconic death. His death also highlights its atmospheric visual style in the process.

As a whole, Halloween is an atmospheric film that builds tension the more it progresses.

For slasher enthusiasts or John Carpenter’s style, Halloween is a spooky recommendation.

Sam’s Action Reaction score:

Characters - 7/10

Story - 7/10

Atmosphere - 8/10

Visuals - 7/10

Soundtrack - 8/10

Overall score: 7.4 out of 10