A review of John Carpenter’s Halloween
Since today is Halloween, I thought what better way to celebrate it than to write a review about one of the most infamous and prolific serial killers in all fictional universes? That’s right, this review is about John Carpenter’s Halloween, and the unkillable menace himself - Michael Myers.
Halloween is a time of tricks and treats and general spookiness. However, one Halloween in 1963, a 6 year old Michael Myers, attacked and murdered his sister with a kitchen knife. He then was taken to Smiths Grove mental institution in Illinois, where he met Dr Loomis. Myers was Loomis’ patient for 15 long years, before his eventual escape. Loomis knew Michael was a “different” child, and is quoted saying “I met him, 15 years ago; I was told there was nothing left; no reason, no conscience, no understanding in 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. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up, because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil”. This quotation alone reveals Loomis’ fear and repent of Myers. After he escaped from the asylum, Michael returned to his hometown of Haddonfield, IL, in an effort to kill his long lost sister, Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), ending his family’s bloodline. The plot surrounds Laurie’s life and reactions to Myers constantly chasing her and attempting to murder her, and makes for a pretty gory and grizzly horror flick.
Additionally, one of the main reasons the film was so massively successful, and is still feared by people around the world, is the orchestration. The music in Halloween is iconic and unmistakable. When watching the movie with my mother, it wasn’t five seconds into the film and she screamed at the sound of the opening few notes. The immediately-recognizable piano playing, followed by the symphony of violins and cellos, creates an ominous and disturbing tone, which sends chills down the spine of any creature; monster or human alike, who dares to watch it.
The final, and arguably most pivotal point that makes the movie such a cult-classic, is Michael Myers himself. Michael is portrayed as less than human, which Dr Loomis constantly refers to having said “This isn't a man”. Further evidence that Myers is portrayed as a less than human, devoid of emotion and demonic killer is the chilling quotation from Dr Loomis when he states “ Death has come to your little town, Sheriff.” when talking to Sheriff Brackett regarding the possibility of Myers’ return. Moreover, the actor who played Michael Myers (played by Nick Castle) did a tremendous job putting together Myers’ persona. Myers moves extremely slowly (always walks) and uses very calm and slow movements and gestures to turn his head, evade discovery or, in fact, kill someone. The final nail in the coffin (pun intended) is Myers doesn’t speak. At all. At any point in the movie. He is a silent, collected, prolific and determined serial killer, whose sole purpose is to relieve people of life. He must be fun at parties…
Having said all of that, John Carpenter’s Halloween creates without a doubt one of the most feared and horrifying characters in the history of movies itself, but it is a must-watch. The directing, acting and music make it an instant Halloween classic. So grab your popcorn and something to hide under, because if he sees you… run like hell.
Written by Jack Fowler
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