John Carpenter's Halloween

"I feel the need to say that still 40 years after coming out, the film that was almost called The Babysitter Murders, stood the test of time."

Directed by: 

• John Carpenter 

Written by:

• John Carpenter
• Debra Hill

Cast: 

• Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode
• Donald Pleasence as Dr. Sam Loomis
• P. J. Soles as Lynda
• Nancy Kyes as Annie
• Charles Cyphers as Sheriff Leigh Brackett
• Nick Castle as Michael Myers/The Shape
• Tony Moran as Michael Myers (unmasked)
• Will Sandin as Michael Myers (age 6)

Length:

• approx. 91 min​

Genre:

• Slasher Horror

The new Halloween is out today (October 19th) here in the UK, and since it follows the story directly where the 1978 movie left it, I figured it was appropriate to review this classic. You read that right, that means you won’t need to spend a day watching every single one of the 8 Halloween films of the original run or even the 2 (AWESOME) Rob Zombie reboots to refresh your memory of all Michael Myers' antics, because none of that counts for squat in the whole storyline anymore.

That can be a blessing in disguise as some of those are just plain crap like Resurrection, some others were pointless to begin with like Season of the Witch... and the best thing of all, Laurie is still alive!

On Halloween night 1963 young Michael Myers kills his big sister for no reason, and before she has the time to get cold, he is sent to the Warren County's Smith's Grove Sanitarium because he's obviously not mentally fit to live amongst other people...

One in three women will survive this movie.

Fast-forward 15 years, it’s again All Hallows’ Eve and Michael’s biological murder clock starts ticking again.

​The now full-grown man manages to escape the mental hospital and goes back home to the town of Haddonfield, and once more for no other reason apart that he's got a screw loose, he starts taunting three teenage girls and anyone that comes near them.

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After one night of absolute terror while trying to babysit, stay alive and get laid, Laurie is the only one of three friends to see the light of the next day. First one to go is irritating Annie, next is big mouthed Lynda and her loverboy Bob… also let’s not forget the mechanic Mr. Myers kills on his way home where he switches a hospital gown that barely covered his ass with the trademark workman’s overalls.

Donald Pleasence's Dr. Loomis gone but not forgotten.

At the end of the film, after being stabbed with a myriad of different objects by Laurie and getting shot 6 times by Dr Loomis (that shows up just in time to save Laurie's life), and falling out a window, Michael still isn’t dead and disappears into the night. 

§ Roll Credits §

First of all, I feel the need to say that still 40 years after coming out, the film that was almost called The Babysitter Murders, stood the test of time.

​The performances are amazing, especially from Jamie Lee Curtis, this being her first feature and not even liking to watch horror movies, did a splendid job, fully deserving the role of Scream Queen and the Hollywood icon she became.

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​But what still gives me the goose bumps is the soundtrack! That trademark Halloween theme that Carpenter made in a mere four days, is simply spine-chilling, and perfect for every tense scene of the film. I might not love everything Carpenter directed in his career, but I must give credit where credit is due, for an indie movie shot with a small budget, in short time, with limited means, near zero practical effects and no gore whatsoever, Halloween deserves all the praise it gets plus more.
​

"what still gives me the goose bumps is the soundtrack! That theme is simply spine-chilling, and perfect for every tense scene of the film."

I swear 90% of this movie's scenes became some kind of meme.

Halloween 2018 better be worth the wait and the scraping away of years of sequels, and it looks like it could be up to the challenge. Michael seems more deranged than ever (that teeth scene in the trailer!) and Laurie had four decades to make the jump from studious virgin to certified badass. I think this last stand off will be LEGENDARY.
​

​9/10

Written by Mags.

Ronon's Reviews Merch! Only at REDBUBBLE! Click the photo to check the shop.

US Amazon

Halloween [4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray] [2018] $42.65

Aussie Amazon

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UK Amazon

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