Harry Situation Reviews: Halloween

Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da! Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da!

Today is Halloween, which means it's finally time to review Halloween. Halloween is the 1978 slasher film directed by the king of cult classics, director John Carpenter (The Thing, Christine). This film also marks the first role for Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Laurie Strode, and the introduction of one of the most iconic slasher villains to date, Michael Myers.

The story is set on Halloween night where Laurie Strode is babysitting. All is normal until she realizes she is being stalked by a masked killer who escaped from a mental hospital. This was the infamous Michael Myers, who was committed as a child for brutally murdering his older sister. Michael has returned home and is hunting Laurie as his next victim. Meanwhile a child psychologist Dr. Samuel Loomis (played by Donald Pleasence) is hunting Michael, believing that he is the embodiment of pure evil.

This film marked for the uprising for slasher films. Films like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. John Carpenter directed one of the most brilliant, if not most terrifying films of all time. What really makes it stand out was that this film was made on a really low budget, about $300,000. That was pretty cheap back then. But luckily it was a huge hit, raking in $70 million at the box office.

The biggest star is of course Michael Myers. He's a silent menace that kills without mercy or remorse. Armed with a kitchen knife, dressed in a dark jumpsuit, and wears a William Shatner mask over his face, Michael Myers is a truly scary character. While he may not be one for words, you hear his breathing under his mask throughout the film and it sends chills through your body. One of the most memorable aspects about the character is that he cannot die. For whatever reason this isn't explained (until a few shitty sequels later). I like to think that since Michael Myers is a manifestation of evil he symbolically cannot die, as if stating that you cannot truly kill evil itself.

Now let's talk about our two protagonists starting with Laurie Strode. For her first role Jamie Lee Curtis did an outstanding job. She's freaking terrified of Michael Myers, as you should be. You're pretty much rooting for her to survive in the end.

The second protagonist is the previously mentioned Dr. Samuel Loomis. Many may recognize Donald Pleasance as Ernst Blofeld from James Bond, but I'll always know him as Samuel Loomis from the Halloween movies. Pleasance truly carries the film. He was Michael's doctor when Michael was locked up during his childhood, but the doctor came to realize that there is nothing that can help him. As Loomis described Michael in one of the most memorable scenes in the movie, "I met him fifteen years ago, I was told there was nothing left, no reason, no conscience, no understanding of even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and the blackest eyes, the Devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him and then another seven trying to keep him lock up because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil."

John Carpenter knows how to build suspence as shown in this film. Throughout the movie Michael Myers is just stalking Laurie from a distance and only waits for the right moment to kill off her friends. Probably the most memorable kill in the movie is when the boyfriend of one of Laurie's friends is attacked by Michael Myers. Myers holds him up by the throat then sticks him a kitchen knife, leaving him hanging there. Then there's a brief moment where Michael tilts his head from side to side as he looks at the person he murdered like he was looking at a butterfly collection. Chills, man!

This flick also contains some of the best music for any horror movie. John Carpenter himself orchastrated the music using only a few piano keys and they really take effect by creating the perfect melody of suspense building. The main theme is also one of the best movie themes to date too.

If I were to complain about this perfect movie is that some of the acting, mainly coming from Laurie's friends, are a little hokey. I can't help but make fun of their performances. Well I guess that the other problem is that because of its popularity the film did garner a few sequels and a remake. I should over my thoughts on those real quick, seeing that I'll likely never do any Countdown Reviews for this franchise.

Halloween 2 continues immediately where the first film let off where Michael Myers is chasing Laurie inside a hospital. It's from there we also learn that Laurie is actually Michael's baby sister. Additionally since the first film wasn't bloody enough due to its budget, they made up for it by making the kills really bloody. I actually enjoy that movie. It's almost as good as the original. The original cast returns, the kills are bloody, and it's a worthy follow up to the original. And it also has the best opening title sequence that rivals the original.

Person: "Is this some kind of joke? I've been trick or treated to death."

Dr. Loomis: "You don't know what death is."

*cue theme music* Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da! Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da!

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch is just plain strange. Originally John Carpenter wanted the Halloween films to be an anthology series. This one... I really don't know. There's a conspiracy, there's witchcraft, aliens, government cover ups, I really don't have a fucking clue. Just skip this one.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, this is where the producers learned that everyone prefers to see Michael Myers in a Halloween movie. It takes place 10 years later and Michael Myers awakens from a coma to kill again. This time it's his niece Jamie Lloyd. Yeah apparently Laurie had a daughter and then died. You try to make sense of that. Honestly I like this one too. But too bad it has one of the most fucked up movie endings in existence. Donald Pleasance reprises his role as Dr. Loomis and he's one of the film's biggest highlights.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michaels Myers is more or less the same as its predecessor. Michael tries to kill Jamie again, only this time Jamie shares some psychic connection with her killer uncle with isn't really explained too well. It's a weaker entry to the franchise but I enjoy watching this one from time to time.

Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers is where shit really hits the fan. This is where they give the reason why Michael Myers is killing his family members and introduces the Thorn Cult storyline. It's fucking dumb, just don't bother. This film also marks the first appearance of Paul Rudd and the final film appearance of Donald Pleasance, who passed away during film production.

Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later may have the dumbest movie title ever. Jamie Lee Curits reprises as Laurie Strode, who in reality faked her death, comes face to face with her brother Michael in a destined showdown. This one's alright, it has its ups and downs. The script is shoddy but makes up for it when Laurie fights Michael in the last 20 minutes of the movie.

Halloween: Resurrection... I never saw it but I heard it sucked. So skip.

In 2007 a Halloween remake was made under the direction of Rob Zombie of all people. Okaaay??? Interesting choice? This one goes more in depth of Michael Myers' childhood that led him to be a cold-blooded killer and then recreates the first film all over. This is a mixed bag for everyone, some people like it while others hate it. I think it's okay, a worthy remake for a classic. My problems with the movie is that Zombie's more of an exploitative director, so subtlety is immediately thrown out the window with replacements of more gore and whitetrash characters. Even Laurie is unlikeable. She's as crass and inappropriate as her friends. I'm suppose to root for her? The only characters worth liking are Dr. Loomis (played by Malcolm McDowell), Sheriff Brackett (played by Brad Douriff) and Michael himself (played by Tyler Mane).

With that film's popularity it garnered a sequel also titled Halloween II, and it's absolute shit. Anything likeable from the first one is shat on in this sequel. Don't just skip this one, burn it too!

Overall no sequel or remake could really compare to the original classic. Halloween is definitely one of my favorite horror movies to watch around October, especially on Halloween. Check it out if you haven't seen it!

Positives:

-Michael Myers

-The two protagonists

-Great scares

-Memorable music

-Revolutionary

-One of my favs

Negatives:

-Couple of hokey acting moments

Final Grade: A+

So there's my review of Halloween. Have you seen it? What are your thoughts? What's your favorite movie to watch around Halloween? Please be kind, leave a like and comment, and check out more reviews by yours truly here on Prose!

Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da! Doo-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-da!

Best Quote:

Laurie Strode: "Was it the boogeyman?"

Dr. Sam Loomis: "As a matter of fact, it was."

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