The Scariest Things: ‘Halloween’

It may be Christmas soon, but Halloween is still on my mind. This week, I watched “Halloween” (1978), directed by John Carpenter. This thriller tells the story of Michael Myers (Nick Castle, Tony Moran), who brutally murdered his sixteen year-old sister Judith (Sandy Johnson) when he was six. After fifteen years in prison, he escapes while being transferred for a court date and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois in search of his next victims.

Without further ado, let’s start the review.

Halloween by Jula Utzschneider

Fright Factor: How scary is the movie?

Rating: 5/10

The scariest aspect of the movie in my opinion was how emotionless Michael Myers was. The viewers never hear him speak, which makes him seem even less like a person. That being said, the movie itself was not scary and did not create any suspense at all. At some points of the movie that were designed to be scary, like when Michael Myers wore a bed sheet and sunglasses, I actually laughed.

Plot: Is the storyline/script interesting?

Rating: 5/10

While the plot of this movie was original, there were some details that I thought were missing. For example, after Michael Myers killed his sister Judith, it was never made clear what happened to his parents as they were not mentioned or shown in the rest of the film. I also found it strange how he knew how to drive, despite being in a mental hospital from the age of six years old and never having done it before. Also, why would a maximum security mental hospital allow their patients to be roaming around freely outside at night with no supervision? These details made some parts of the movie confusing to watch. I especially did not like how the resolution of the movie ended with an unnecessary cliffhanger designed for the sole purpose of making a sequel.

Quality: How well is it produced? How good is the acting?

Rating: 6/10

I thought the acting was great in this movie, particularly by Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays Laurie Strode. I especially liked how her character didn’t fit the typical “dumb teenage girl” stereotype usually found in horror movies of the time. I would say that this movie was produced very well, as it included classic aspects of horror movies, and especially considering that the movie was made in two months with a budget of only $300,000. My favorite part of the production movie is how at some points the camera is shot through the viewpoint of Michael Myers, making the audience see what he sees as he watches and murders people.

Entertaining: How fun is it to watch?

Rating: 9/10

There were some points during the movie where I was bored rather than scared, which isn’t exactly ideal for a movie in the horror genre. That being said, I thought that this movie was very easy and fun to watch. 

Overall Rating: 6/10

Despite some parts of this movie being disappointing, I would still recommend watching it. It definitely influenced the way horror movies are today, and the genre would not be where it is now without the classic “Halloween.”

Have a frightful Friday everyone, and be sure to come back on January 8 for my review of “The Sixth Sense.”