Halloween (1978) is genuinely scary, stylish and tasteful while being an extremely well-made slasher horror classic from the then young director John Carpenter who had previously made two cult classics, Dark Star (1974 � as a college project) and Assault on Precinct 13 (1976 � in which a child is seen to be shot in one scene!)
The low-budget film was shot in 20 days and with it, it created the whole model of a modern slasher film, and many after it would follow its example. Other such true horror classics such as George A. Romero�s black and white masterpiece Night of the Living Dead (1968) and Tobe Hooper�s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), Halloween was a surprise smash hit, especially surprising as it was a cheap independent film. Carpenter envisaged Halloween when he had finished it to be an �in and out� play in a few local drive ins and that would be it. How wrong he was at the time, this incredibly successful horror movie provoked 6 sequels to be made � there are even rumours of an eighth coming to our screens, despite the severe lacking of Myers as a result of Part 7, which was Jamie Lee Curtis� third Halloween film in which she starred. (When a Stranger Calls (1979), Don't Go In The House (1980), He Knows You're Alone (1980), Prom Night (1980), Graduation Day (1981) and Happy Birthday to Me (1981) and many more were cheap films which were inspired afterwards.)
The camera work is smooth and glides with grace while all the main slashing is seen from the viewpoint of the killer, Michael Myers, one time through a clown mask at the age of a child. The atmosphere is intense due to lack of on screen blood letting and little light. Due to the gliding camera tracks, the viewer feels uneasy and fears every darkened corner, waiting for the killer to pounce at the pinnacle of every music note, but often this does not happen, instead leaping out when you least expect it. This is a true classic and remains to this day to be one of the best horror movies ever. |
