Rapid Review: Halloween (1978)

“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.”
– Dr Sam Loomis

SYNOPSIS: On Halloween night of 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers stabbed his sister to death. After sitting in a mental hospital for 15 years, Myers escapes and returns to Haddonfield to kill. – via IMDB

I have been itching for the longest time to rewatch these movies, it has been a good long while since I have! Finally, I decided screw it, it’s time. Watching Halloween made me super nostalgic for old school horror… this is just how horror is supposed to be. Halloween is a prime example of a fantastic horror, and features the introduction of so many things we take for granted in horror movies nowadays (the final girl, sex = death, etc). I absolutely love the iconic intro tune and score for this movie – people just know what this is, and that’s fantastic! Let’s not forget the simple plot that was given to us to introduce Michael Myers, and his subsequent murder binge. It didn’t want bells and whistles, it was all about the horror, and it shows. The movie is shot well and is very atmospheric, which drives in the creep factor. The movie is also quite a slow burn, which is actually a really good thing (though it makes the movie feel a little longer than it is) – it takes time getting into the meat of the movie, and that is okay. It takes time to unnerve the audience, and then Halloween gets right down to the slash and kill factor. The progression is good, never loses the viewer, and it isn’t over the top, and is accompanied by solid performances and an exceptionally memorable score. This movie is a prime example of how less is most certainly more, more often than not. A million people have sung the praises of this film before me, and probably better than I can. Just know that it is a brilliant old school horror that is well worth the watch!