Halloween (1978)

A disturbed 6 year old child named Michael Myers watches his sister Judith make out with her boyfriend on Halloween night in 1963 in a small town of Haddonfield he goes into the kitchen and takes out a knife and then waits for Judith's boyfriend to leave.
Then he sees his clown mask and puts it on and goes up to Judith's room as she is naked and stabs her to death.

Michael is put away in a psych ward at the Smith's Grove-Warren County Sanitarium but doesn't say a word but sits in his room staring out his window.
But his doctor named Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasance) never wants him out of the sanitarium.

Suddenly, it is October 30, 1978 manages to become powerful enough due to his lost sanity in order to escape his room and push the other patients out on a stormy night.
Then takes of with Loomis' car back to Haddonfield where he hides out in his old home that is still for sale but along the way he murders a truck driver carrying Halloween costumes and white Captain Kirk masks and Michael takes a costume and puts on his mask and never takes it off.

On Halloween day he stalks a teenager named Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) by watching her at her house or driving by her school.
Then on Halloween night Laurie is babysitting one of her neighbors named Tommy Doyle (Brian Andrews) while her snobby friend Annie (Nancy Loomis) is babysitting a brat from across the street named Lynsey Wallace (Kyle Andrews). Michael is on the watch and then kills Laurie's friends one by one till she's the last one on his list.

One of the best slasher films ever!!! A true cult classic and the best one to watch on Halloween night. It just seemed necessary to have a horror film taking place on Halloween and a child born evil since Halloween is a night of great power for spirits.
It truly looked great with the surroundings and looked terrific with all that was happening giving the picture a nice dark feel to it and inspired many other slasher films. However, this one proved not to be bloody since most slahser films use that kind of formula to make up not being scary but this one is truly scary in it's time.
Just imagine that some killer is stalking you and watching you all this time and you don't know why till Hallows Eve. It truly is a great party flick too and became a cult classic even if it was put down during the box office run. But it was one of those run of the mill slasher films since not many of them scarry a strong story but so what??? This was an original slasher flick since it doesn't get right into the killings till quarter way through showing your everyday teenagers having fun as well as the main one babysitting a couple of children while they spot a strange man standing outside watching this babysitter while the shrink tries to hunto him down before anyone gets murdered bringing all the pieces all together on why this was all happening.
When the sequel was in theatre's they decided to add additional scene's to this one when it was airing as a movie of the week on TV in 1981 which was enjoyable too.
I can't say anything else but if you have a love for old school Halloween horror then you need to see this one!

The acting is very well done and probably the best acting you'll ever see in a b-slasher flick.
This was Jamie Lee Curtis' first starring role in a motion picture which was also a start to her fame as a scream queen superstar in others like The Fog, Prom Night and Terror Train. She is perfect as the nice wholesome girl next door as Laurie Strode who is getting spooked by Michael watching her and is very energetic with her perfomance especially during the last half of the film when she tries to run away from Michael and due to this really made her career very influential and getting work in other low budget horror blossoming into a scream queen. She's definetely a natural talent compared to any other actresses during this era acting in low budget horror. Then she became a top movie star like her parents were in big time films such as Blue Steel, My Girl, True Lies and Drowning Mona. She did reprise her role in Halloween II, H20 and Resurrection.
I also enjoyed Nancy Loomis' performance as the stuck up Annie as she made me laugh with her smart remarks and does well playing that role and was extremely natural for the character and really knew her stuff. I could see her going places but sadly didn't stick to it.
P.J. Soles really annoyed me with her words "Totally" all the time but of course her part was intentional so she did it marvellously as a bubbly type with a smart allecky attitude. I liked her role as a bully in Carrie but she played a different kind of role in this alltogether. Her performance was alot of fun to watch and really brought out great character to her part and was fondly remembered by fans of this flick.
Charles Cyphers who played her father as well as the county Sherrif was also a natural character actor too as he was one of my favourites in the film. He really shows nice sleazy looking expressions and was charming too.
Of course I can't forget our lead actor Donald Pleasance as Michael's shrink who puts all he's got into this film and worked steadily with Carpenter for a long time till his death. He shows terrific energy and great aggressions with a nice serious behavior too. I couldn't see anyone else play this type of role. Although he had a string of motion pictures before this one he became a hot item for this flick.
Kyle Richards was a very talented child star too as the little brat Lyndsey whom along with Loomis I also laughed as she had her eyes glued to the set of the TV. I've also seen her in the Disney horror family classic The Watcher in the Woods and in Tobe Hooper's flick Eaten Alive. She really brought on a nice charm to play this role which was one of my favourites that she portrayed.

There is brief nudity in the film as it shows a some skin on Sandy Johnson who played Judith Myers as well as cult actress P.J. Soles who played the totally annoying Lynda.

The directing is great as John Carpenter is a terrific director in general.
My favourite scene was when he directed that little boy as Michael performed by Will Sandin by going into the kitchen to grab a knife and then put on a clown mask, then he goes upstairs to kill his sister.
Of course this was mainly the camera with the boys hands when he grabbed the knife but it was perfect timing to make it look suspenseful.
A perfect shot on bit part actor George O'Hanlon Jr. as the father takin the mask off of Sandin and he just stands there with the knife in his hand with the camera panning out.
Good shots on Donald Pleasance and supporting actress Nancy Stephens in car on a stomry night driving to the sanitarium.
There's also a good shot on bit part actor Tony Moran as Michael Myers at 23 running up to the roof of the car as well as a nice shot on Stephens near a car window and then Moran's hand smashes the window.
A good shot on the Myers house and later on Jamie Lee Curtis going up the steps to drop off the key.
There's also a perfect camera shot on Curtis walking down the sidewalk and then Nick Castle as the Shape staring at her.
There's a good dialogue with bit part kid actors Mickey Yablams, Brent Le Page and Adam Hollander taunting Brian Andrews after school telling him that the Boogeyman is coming to get him looking like real school bullies.
A good shot on Le Page running and bumping into Castle and then running the other way after he sees him.
A nice shot on a car slowly driving with Andrews walking home.
We have a nice moment with Curtis, Nancy Loomis and P.J. Soles walking home after school along with typical teenage dialogues towards one another which looked natural along with a shot on a car going by and then Loomis getting fresh with the driver. Curtis does well by telling her off.
A perfect setting with Curtis bumping into Charles Cyphers by surprise letting out a brief scream along with a sleazy looking expression on his face afterwards.
A nice distant shot on Castle standing on the corner of the sidewalk and then hiding next to some bushes along with a good concerned look on Curtis' face while walking with Loomis.
There's also a nice shot on Castle standing in a backyard and Curtis gets frightened from her room looking out from her window and slamming the window door down.
A good dialogue between Pleasance and Cyphers exploring the Myers house especially when Pleasance explains to him what he saw in Michael as a child.
We have nice shots outside at night with kids trick or treating as well as Castle standing outside near a house.
A nice moment with Loomis washing her clothes in a laundry room and shots on Castle staring at her.
We also have a good shot on child actress Kyle Richards having her eyes glued to the TV set.
We spot funny moments with Soles and supporting actor John Michael Graham as her boyfriend arriving at the Wallace's house acting silly and drunk.
A nice shot on Soles in a bed doing her nails along with Castle in a sheet above his head which looks silent as you know what's going to happen.
The best direction was when Curtis enters the Wallace's house and it's too quiet as she tries to look for her friends and then she has a good creeped out expression after what happened to her friends in a bedroom which had a perfect setting to it with a kjack o lantern in the room lit up.
Curtis really knew how to scream and a perfect shot on Castle approaching behind her and bringing the knife down next to her arm and catching her by surprise along with a spinning camera shot on Curtis falling down some stairs. There's the memorable shot on Castle standing at the top of the stairs starting to walk down.
Curtis does well screaming for help outside running around to a next door house.
There is also a good shot on her spotting an open window at the Doyle's house and she sits on a floor with Castle coming up from behind a couch.
There's another terrific struggling moment with Curtis trying to hide in a closet and Castle trying to get at her.
The most creepy shot was with Curtis face up on the camera and Castle from the background supposedly dead and he slowly rises up and looks her.
A good shot on Pleasance shooting his gun during close to the ending of the film.

I also loved his other horror flick The Fog which was like a Halloween reunion as it had the same makers as well as some of the same cast.

The music was composed by who else but John Carpenter. Yes this guy's done it all.
Wrote, produced, directed (Even if he was uncredited) and the music. The whole bit.
This was probably his best he's ever done for a scary movie as the synthesiser sounds are chilling and effective and the best I've heard for a 70's slasher film along with the memorable fast paced piano playing too.

There was also a soundtrack by the classic hard rock group Blue Oyster Cult with their #1 hit "Don't Fear the Reaper" during a scene where Curtis and Loomis are cruising in their car on a Halloween afternoon although the songtrack wasn't too memorable in the film.

Marion Chambers: Don't you think it would be better if you referred to "it" as "him"?
Dr. Sam Loomis: If you say so.
Marion Chambers: Your compassion's overwhelming, doctor.

Dr. Sam Loomis: Stop here.
Marion Chambers: Shouldn't we go on up to the hospital and...
Dr. Sam Loomis: Wait!

Dr. Terence Wynn: Now, for God's sake, he can't even drive a car!
Dr. Sam Loomis: He was doing very well last night! Maybe someone around here gave him lessons!

Lynda: [concerning Annie] The only reason she baby sits is to have a place for...
Laurie: [realizing she had forgot something] Shit.
Annie Brackett: I have a place for *that*!
Laurie: I forgot my chemistry book.
Lynda: So who cares? I always forget my chemistry book and my math book, and my English book, and my, let's see, my French book, and... well who needs books anyway, I don't need books, I always forget all my books, I mean, it doesn't really matter if you have your books or not... hey isn't that Devon Graham?

Annie Brackett: [Michael Myers's car cruises by the girls walking home from school] Hey, jerk! SPEED KILLS!
[the car screeches to a halt]
Annie Brackett: God, can't he take a joke?
Laurie: You know Annie some day you're going to get us all in deep trouble.
Lynda: Totally.
Annie Brackett: I HATE a guy with a car and no sense of humor.

Lynda: So Annie, are we still on for tonight?
Annie Brackett: I wouldn't want to get you in deep trouble, Lynda!
Lynda: Oh come on Annie! Bob and I have been planning it for weeks.
Annie Brackett: Alright, the Wallace's leave at seven.
Laurie: I'm babysitting the Doyle's, it's two houses down. We can keep each other company!
Annie Brackett: Oh terrific, I've got three choices: Watch the kid sleep, listen to Lynda screw around or talk to you!

Lynda: It's totally insane. We have three new cheers to learn in the morning, the game is in the afternoon, I have to get my hair done at five, and the dance is at eight! I'll be totally wiped out!
Laurie: [sarcastically] I don't think you have enough to do tomorrow.
Lynda: Totally!

[the Shape is lurking by a bush on the sidewalk]
Laurie: Annie, look!
Annie Brackett: Look where? I don't see anything.
Laurie: That guy who passed us in the car before, the one you yelled at!
Annie Brackett: Subtle, isn't he?
[marches over to the bush]
Annie Brackett: Hey, creep!
[pauses]
Annie Brackett: Laurie, dear. He wants to talk to you. He wants to take you out tonight.
Laurie: [seeing there's nobody there] He was standing right there.
Annie Brackett: Poor Laurie! Scared another one away. It's tragic, you NEVER go out. You must have a small fortune stashed away from babysitting so much.
Laurie: Guys thinks I'm too smart.
Annie Brackett: I don't, I think you're wacko. Now you're seeing men behind bushes!

Sheriff Leigh Brackett: It's Halloween, everyone's entitled to one good scare.

[into phone]
Dr. Sam Loomis: You've got to believe me, Officer, he is coming to Haddonfield... Because I know him - I'm his doctor! You must be ready for him... If you don't, it's your funeral!

Graveyard Keeper: Yeah, you know every town has something like this happen... I remember over in Russellville, old Charlie Bowles, about fifteen years ago... One night, he finished dinner, and he excused himself from the table. He went out to the garage, and got himself a hacksaw. Then he went back into the house, kissed his wife and his two children goodbye, and then he proceeded to...
Dr. Sam Loomis: Where are we?
Graveyard Keeper: Eh? Oh, it's, uh, right over here...

Dr. Sam Loomis: He came home!

Annie Brackett: Still spooked?
Laurie: I wasn't spooked.
Annie Brackett: LIES!
Laurie: I wasn't! I saw someone standing in Mr. Riddle's back yard.
Annie Brackett: Probably Mr. Riddle!
Laurie: He was watching me.
Annie Brackett: Mr. Riddle was watching you? Laurie, Mr. Riddle is eighty-seven!
Laurie: He can still watch.
Annie Brackett: That's probably all he can do!

[referring to a partially eaten dog]
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: A man wouldn't do that.
Dr. Sam Loomis: This isn't a man.

Sheriff Leigh Brackett: Every kid in Haddonfield thinks this place is haunted.
Dr. Sam Loomis: They may be right.

Dr. Sam Loomis: I met him, fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blind, 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 for I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... EVIL!

Dr. Sam Loomis: [pulling his gun after being startled by a crash] You must think me a very sinister doctor... oh, I have a permit.
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: Seems to me you're just plain scared.
Dr. Sam Loomis: Yeah, yeah I am...

Tommy Doyle: I don't like that story anymore.
Laurie: I thought King Arthur was your favourite.
Tommy Doyle: Not anymore
[takes out a stack of comics]
Tommy Doyle: My mom won't let me have these.
Laurie: Laser Man. Neutron Man. I can understand why.

Tommy Doyle: Laurie, what's the boogeyman?
Laurie: There's no such thing.

Lynda: Now when we get inside, Annie will distract Lindsey and we go upstairs to the first bedroom on the right. Got it?
Bob: First I rip your clothes off...
Lynda: Don't rip my blouse, it's expensive you idiot!
Bob: Then I rip my clothes off, then I rip Lindsey's clothes off, yeah I think I got it.

Lynda: [exposing her breasts] See anything you like?

[as Lonnie is about to enter the Myers house]
Dr. Sam Loomis: Hey! Hey, Lonnie, get your ass away from there!
[Lonnie and his mates run. Loomis smiles to himself as a hand grabs his shoulder. He spins around, surprised, to find Brackett]
Dr. Sam Loomis: Oh! Jesus!
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: Are you all right?
Dr. Sam Loomis: Yeah.

Sheriff Leigh Brackett: I have a feeling that you're way off on this.
Dr. Sam Loomis: You have the wrong feeling.
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: You're not doing very much to prove me wrong!
Dr. Sam Loomis: What more do you need?
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: Well, it's going to take a lot more than fancy talk to keep me up all night crawling around these bushes.
Dr. Sam Loomis: I- I- I watched him for fifteen years, sitting in a room, staring at a wall, not seeing the wall, looking past the wall - looking at this night, inhumanly patient, waiting for some secret, silent alarm to trigger him off. Death has come to your little town, Sheriff. Now you can either ignore it, or you can help me to stop it.
Sheriff Leigh Brackett: More fancy talk.

Laurie: Lynda, if this is a joke, I'll kill you!

[after Michael falls off the balcony]
Laurie: It WAS the boogeyman.
Dr. Sam Loomis: As a matter of fact... it was!