Halloween (1978)

 

Genre: Horror/Thriller            Time:  1h 30mins            Director: John Carpenter

Quick summary: Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to kill again.

The first thing I want to say is that this film was shot in only 20 days, which makes this film even more impressive to me. It's a classic for its iconic shots, nerve-racking scuttles, and making the slasher genre popular. 

The film oozes talent, down from the screenplay to the young actors, the shots are some of the most clever ones I have ever seen too. 

Micheal Myers is a serial killer who was put into a mental hospital when he murdered his sister at eight years old, only to escape on Halloween night to continue his murders. He stalks people silently, waiting to attack them in their own homes with such precision it's terrifying. Overall, He is one of the scariest serial killers since there is no reason for his kills, he just simply kills for killing's sake (as far as we know) and there are no criteria for his victims. 

He never says a word throughout the film, nothing to taunt his victims or to explain himself. All the frightening parts of him are done through his silent stalking, peaking around corners and through the darkness. It is thrilling to spot him in the background, watching his victim, waiting to see when the correct moment to strike would be. Almost like a game of cat and mouse. The mask he wears also devoids his face from any features, making him honestly more frightening to me since it adds to the animosity of his persona.

What I really liked about this film is that I wasn't sure who the final person will be, you're guessing for most of the film as more and more people are picked off, leaving plenty of room for who does survive to develop a character and get the audience engaged and rooting for them. 

Another really good thing about this film is that the whole thing is built on suspense and nail-biting tension. There is technically little violence in this film, but it really knows how to get your heart racing. It's perfectly crafted with atmosphere, really giving you the feeling of a cold Halloween night. You never get a clear shot of him, they're all so perfectly shot to add to how ominous he is. 

The soundtrack is also one of the most iconic soundtracks; jarring themes provide the perfect backdrop for Michael's stalkings, proving that a film doesn't need a symphonic score to be effective. Carpenter's Halloween main title, one of the horror genre's best-recognizable tunes, can bring chills even away from the film.

Everyone definitely needs to watch this film, even if it is only once. It's a classic for a reason.

10/10