Halloween
by John Carpenter (1978)
Michael Myers, at the age of six, is committed to a psychiatric hospital after killing his older sister on Halloween night.
Fifteen years later, he escapes. He returns to his hometown, Haddonfield, to commit a new series of murders.
Quote.
I met him, fifteen years ago; I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; and even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of 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.
(Dr. Sam Loomis)
Evil Exists and Needs No Justification.
Michael is a six-year-old child from a good family, raised without trauma or abuse, without any deprivations. Yet, on Halloween night, he puts on a mask, sneaks into his older sister’s room, and brutally kills her. And in doing so, he shows no emotion.
Fifteen years later, his behavior remains unchanged, only the victims change. Michael does not speak, does not interact with anyone; he is like a menacing black shadow looming without reason. No apparent motive behind his murderous madness, no possible explanation.
Because Michael Myers is Evil in its purest form. And he needs no justification. He simply exists.
Considerations.
John Carpenter, also the creator of the particularly famous and recognizable soundtrack, creates a masterpiece of horror cinema. A film destined to become a reference point over the years. An urban nightmare spanning an entire night. A night filled with sighs, gasps, screams, and murders, where the boogeyman lurks around every corner. He hides in the dark and seems to possess almost supernatural powers. The opening sequence alone, inspired by Bob Clark’s previous “Black Christmas,” which shows the killer’s point of view, has become iconic.
Halloween laid down the basic coordinates for the slasher genre. A masked killer, also known as “The Shape,” with a white mask and seemingly invulnerable. A “final girl” played by Jamie Lee Curtis (Laurie Strode), who becomes the target of Michael’s attention, the only one who seems capable of surviving. And finally, a psychiatrist (Sam Loomis), played by Donald Pleasence, determined to stop his dangerous patient.
But the film also stands out for its use of suspense and night setting. The tension, in particular, derives from a skillful use of photography, editing, and minimalist soundtrack.
Halloween – The Night of the Witches was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics for its direction, suspense, and Jamie Lee Curtis’s performance. It spawned a long series of sequels and remakes, solidifying Michael Myers as one of the most iconic villains in horror cinema.
It remains a reference point in horror cinema, praised for its simplicity and effectiveness in creating fear. The combination of masterful direction, an eerie soundtrack, and a compelling plot has made the film a classic that continues to influence the horror genre.
Read our article on Halloween Theme
Watch the tribute video
