Rating: Summary: The Classic Splatter Flick all about The Night HE Came Home Review: Each year on October 31st, this is the film I have playing when the little ghosts and goblins come knockin' on my door begging for sweeties. But I did not know until today that the mask Michael Meyers wears in "Halloween" was a William Shatner mask from the movie "The Devil's Ram" spray-painted white. See? There are just soooooo many levels of horror to this film, which has not been equaled let alone surpassed by all the low-budget splasher flicks that have come down the road ever since.Why is John Carpenter's film a classic? I think a lot of the credit goes to the two stars in front of the camera. Donald Pleasence certainly brings legitimacy to the role of Dr. Loomis, who keeps warning people who simply refuse to listen. But Jamie Lee Curits is perfect for the role of Laurie Strode. Compare here to the virgin character (i.e., the girl who survives) in all the other splatter flicks (e.g., any "Friday the 13th"), and she is just so much more real than they any of the rest of them. You certainly believe she would be a damn fine baby-sitter. It is almost hard to believe she goes out to be a femme fatale in films like "True Lies" because she is so much the good girl next door in this one. As a director John Carpenter definitely has fun, as evidenced from the opening tracking shot, a homage to the opening of Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil." Actually, "Halloween" is replete with homages to various films ("Sam Loomis" was a character in "Psycho"). But what Halloween does better than any other film in this genre since "Psycho" is use music, which Carpenter wrote. Yes, it is very primitive (compare the music used for the climax of "Halloween" with the more sophisticated stuff used for the same scene when it is used to open "Halloween II"), but it is used effectively throughout the film to create a consistent sense of unease. You have to wonder if Carpenter was thinking in those terms as he shot the film. The film is remarkably free of blood and gore (Annie's throat is slashed behind a dirty windshield). The two big moments are when Laurie discovers the corpses of all of her friends and that great moment when Michael Meyers starts getting up. Oh, how that bit has been done to death (e.g., "Fatal Attraction"), to the point that if the villain does NOT get up after being killed, we are stunned. But this is where most of us remember it happening first. "Halloween" was shot in 21 days on a budget of $300,000 and then went on to become the highest-grossing independent film ever made. I remember the massive word of mouth that this was actually a "good" horror film, something rare to be treasured like "The Exorcist" while Hollywood puts out all those schlock films. You might think there are better horror films that have come out since "Halloween," but most of you are not going to get to your second hand to need fingers to count them.
Rating: Summary: I'm not a big fan of horror movies but this was good! Review: I'm not a big horror fan but I did Like Halloween, it was spooky but it wasn't too gory like a lot of the newer slasher movies. I liked everything in Halloween except what happened to the dog. I did enjoy watching this movie and I really like Jamie Lee Curtis. I highly recommend the movie!
Rating: Summary: Superb indie film Review: What John Carpenter's "Halloween" is a genuine, low-budget shocker that delivers up to all accounts possible on a horror film, which more than likely boosted Jamie Lee Curtis's career through the roof and inspired many weak sequels after it. "Halloween" has an original plot, kudos to that. When a crazed adult brother escapes from a mental institution, he goes to Haddonfield, Illinois to kill his sister (Jamie Lee Curtis), killing everyone in his way, which leads to a superb climax and chilling ending. "Halloween" has everything going for it. Great cast, great plot, and great acting. What also helps is the chilling piano soundtrack, composed by Carpenter himself. See this movie, either on Cinemax or on VHS/DVD. It's guaranteed to scare you silly. Rated R for violence, nudity, and for brief language.
Rating: Summary: misrepresented item Review: The item I received was not the limited edition version listed in the details section. Color Booklet and Hologram Cover are not included with this movie but are listed in the edition details section. However, all other perks listed in the section are included. This movie is a classic, and viewing it in the widescreen, DVD format is worth the price.
Rating: Summary: The one, the only, the classic...John Carpenter's Halloween. Review: First word of advice, forget the sequels...they ruin the interior logic of this suspenseful and terrifying thriller. Second is to see it in the widescreen versions, you'll be glad you did. John Carpenter is every bit the widescreen director. In the dead of night on October 31, 1963 six year old Michael Myers murders his teenaged sister. 15 years later, in 1978, at the age of 21, he is about to be moved to an adult mental health facility. But he escapes and returns to Haddonfield to kill again. And again. And again. It's a simplistic story wonderfully told. Screenwriters John Carpenter and Debra Hill build the characters and the atmosphere, constantly dropping hints that, perhaps, Michael Myers is more than just a serial killing nutcase. He might just be the boogeyman itself. Carpenter relies on cat and mouse techniques, keeping Myers in the background, unseen by the characters but visible to the audience. It is a wonderful manipulation that sends icy spider legs dancing up and down the viewer's spine. A great movie to turn out the lights and watch by the glow of the television after all the trick or treaters have gone home. An essential for any movie library.
Rating: Summary: The very best slasher film ever made Review: Nothing beats Halloween for the slasher genre. The creepy small town, the dark history, the female heroine and the smart-guy doctor, and most frightening, the depths of evil and horror lurking behind that pale white mask. A tremendous epic of terror that will never be rivaled by its own numerous sequels and pathetic clones. The best.
Rating: Summary: A Tradition Review: I don't have a lot of traditions when it comes to movies. I eat the same thing every time I go to the theater (buttered popcorn, nestle crunch, and sprite), but other than that and where I sit in the theater (about a third of the way back, in the center of that row), I only have one move tradition: watching Halloween every October 31. This movie defined modern horror movie cliches. You've seen some of the shots, angles, pacing and editing so many times in so many movies, that you forget just how innovative and spooky this masterpiece was when it originally came out. And even though much of the movie is predictable now, considering we've all seen it and its ilk hundreds of times over the last twenty or thirty years or so, it's so well-done that it still scares me. Every time. The music is creepy and beautiful at the same time. Donald Pleasance is hypnotically melodramatic. Jamie Lee Curtis is young, beautiful, and convincing as the scream queen. And Halloween in the little town of Haddonfield is so much like Halloween in the small town where I grew up that it's unbelievable how believable this movie becomes. And that's the reason this movie is so effective: it combines perfect music, great dialogue and acting, brilliant editing, with a genuine small town atmosphere. We could see ourselves living in Haddonfield, and that makes it easier to see ourselves as possible victims of Mike Myers. And that's what scares us.
Rating: Summary: overrated as heck, but still worth a watch... Review: Pretty good music but lousy acting. Nowhere NEAR as scary as it is reputed to be. I thought the ending was lame. Only worth a rent, if even that.
Rating: Summary: the orignal and best Review: i really think this is a great movie. it set he slasher genre some friday the 13th fans try to say that jason was better but really he just a copy of michel. this flim devilers scare and gives you a creepy feeling long after wards. i relly like the haunt shot at the benging of six year old micheal holding the knife with that look on his face.
Rating: Summary: The best one out of the series Review: Barely on top of all comedy movies, horror is my favorite genre of movies. But, what I don't like about all horror movies, the sequels are terrible! I rented the first Halloween last weekend, and it was very good. But then I rented the rest of the series during the weekdays and I got to admit, Halloween H20 and Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers were pretty scary. But, they didn't have elaborate murders like Halloween 1 did and they didn't have that good of a story. So, if you like Horror movies a lot, get Halloween 1 and if you want to know what happens, rent or purchase the sequels and see Halloween: The Homecoming coming out this Spring.
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