Keep in mind, in the original film, Michael's only reason for killing was simply being evil. Which is one reason why Loomis never really called Michael by "him,." Loomis instead calls Michael "IT." It kind of shows why. He doesn't act or feel human. Later films give Michael more of a reason of why he does and what does. I will not spoil it for you but what I will say is that its much scarier to have no reason why Michael is Michael lol. Oh and the musical score is mostly all synths with very few minor strings.
Yep. One of the things that makes Michael so utterly terrifying. He wasn't abused, he isn't possessed, he's not a mutant or undead or any other sort of supernatural entity. He's a normal kid who grew up on a normal street and one day something in his brain just broke, and every ability to empathize or even communicate effectively disappeared. That's why all the bodies are rigged for Laurie to find at the start of the climax: he's built a haunted house, and he's just trying to scare her, because it's Halloween and that's what you do. He has no concept anymore that murdering people isn't the way to do that.
Concreteowl: Exactly. It seems like most reactors never catch on to the amount of times people reference how Haddonfield is filled with pranksters, to the point that the sheriff is more interested in keeping the peace due to pranksters than trying to help Loomis find what he believes is a harmless asylum escapee. It's weird, but funny
My mother who was 18 in 1978, said yeah adults after 8 got impatient and often would answer the door on Halloween with: 12 gauge Shotgun Colt 1911 .45 ACP .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver
It might not be obvious, but Michael's mask is a modified Captain Kirk mask. Their two options during filming was that mask and an Emmett Kelly Hobo Clown mask. I'm so glad they went with Kirk.
Fun Fact-Janet Leigh who is the mom of Jamie Lee Curtis played Marion Crain in the movie Psycho and her boyfriend's name is...Sam Loomis ...who is also the name of the Doctor in Halloween Dr.Sam Loomis
By today standards Halloween could be considered pretty tame. Very little gore or blood. But what makes it a classic and still scary is the way John Carpenter builds the tension and not know what could be around the corner.
11:33 actually in this first movie Michael’s appeal and what makes him more terrifying to watch was he was only 6’1 and about 160-180 something pounds, he’s average male height and weight but can lift a man with one arm and pierce him with a chef’s knife and hang him to a wooden cabinet door with little difficulty
The cinematography of this movie is so absurdly great. It was Carpenter's first collaboration with Dean Cundey, who would go on to work together again on Escape From New York, The Fog, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. He also was the DP for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future Trilogy, Hook, Jurassic Park, and Apollo 13. Most recently he's been working on Star Wars, lensing two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett and three season 3 episodes of The Mandalorian. The long takes do such an amazing job establishing the neighborhood's geography. At no point during the third act is it ever unclear where the characters are and what they are doing. The highlights & shadows create so much tension because you are constantly expecting Michael Myers to emerge from all sorts of hiding places on the screen. And that shot where Cundey simply opens up the iris to let the white mask materialize in the darkness behind Laurie is a masterpiece of blocking. So many movies took the wrong lessons from this one and it still holds up today, with nowhere near the level of jump-scares or gore that became the backbone of horror later. Also, Tony Moran only played the unmasked Michael. For the rest of the film, he was played by Nick Castle, who went on to become a director himself on films like The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly, Dennis the Menace and Major Payne. Castle was a college friend and bandmate of John Carpenter and was a trained dancer and mime, and much of Michael's movement (such as the head tilt when he pinned the guy to the door) was designed by Castle. Now as far as the sequels....WHOOOO boy, Halloween is the original movie multiverse. There are not one, not two, but THREE different continuities, with only the original film being the connection between all three: THE ORIGINAL SERIES: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers THE REBOOT SERIES: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween: H20, Halloween: Resurrection THE CARPENTER/BLUM SERIES: Halloween, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends Only the most recent series had Carpenter involved for its entirety, as director of the first film and the executive producer for the other three. He also scored all four films. Carpenter wrote & produced the original Halloween II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch. Halloween III is not a Michael Myers film, as Carpenter had originally hoped that the series would become an anthology, with a new horror tale released every year and the season being the thing that ties them together. In fact, Halloween III takes place in a world where the original film is just that...a film. Halloween III was intended to be Carpenters homage to the British horror-sci-fi Dr. Quatermass series, but audiences responded negatively to the movie because if its lack of connection to the first two films, and producer Moustapha Akkad took over the franchise with Halloween IV. However, Halloween III has since been reassessed and is now considered a cult classic in the horror-sci-fi genre. Carpenter would later be able to do a more direct Quatermass homage with his film Prince of Darkness, part 2 of his "Apocalypse Trilogy" that also includes The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness.
I really enjoy seeing people react to this film for the first time. I've seen it countless times and love it so much. But no one has ever noted the Kitty Genovese element when Laurie's cries for help are ignored. Thank you for catching that! Something else that I only just realized now is that the only man who "takes his time" in this film is Michael 🤔
I never saw Michael knocking down the potted plant as deliberate. I always liked it as a mistake that until now we’ve never seen him make;makes him more relatable and therefore, scarier.
Great reaction, as usual, Master Katarn. Yes, you're right: Michael focused on Laurie and Tommy, because they were the first 2 people he encountered upon returning to his hometown...plus, they were both in front of his house, and they resembled 17-year-old Judith and 6-year-old Michael. And, yes, Kyle: Michael's pursuit of Laurie as his "Final Kill", became his undoing...he got a knitting needle to his throat, a wire hanger to the eye socket, a stab wound to his upper body, 6 gunshots from a revolver, and a fall from a 2-story balcony. And, Carpenter and Hill intentionally meant for the (unnerving) ending to mean that the spirit of Michael/The Boogeyman is present everywhere, now, in Haddonfield. He truly went back HOME... A classic.
Many people just assume that Michael is a serial killer in a mask. This isn't the case. This is low key mentioned by Dr Loomis in every scene that he talks about Michael; referring to him as "it", his conversation with the cop in the Myers house. Even in the script it doesn't refer to Michael by name, it instead refers to him as "The Shape". It's even in the credits. You have child Michael, adult Michael, and The Shape. Michael is an evil without an origin and with no apparent reason for killing; that's what makes the story more chilling. John Carpenter had hoped to turn the Halloween franchise into an anthology project, with each movie being centered around Halloween. Halloween 3 was Carpenter's next entry into his anthology idea but people wanted more Michael so the movie flopped. Halloween 3 had nothing to do with Michael Myers. Because of Friday the 13th's success the studio wanted more Michael movies but Carpenter refused leading someone else to direct Halloween 2. Carpenter was offered to do whatever he wanted with Halloween 3 if he stayed on to write Halloween 2. For the TV version of Halloween extra scenes were added to tie it into Halloween 2. We're then left with the seemingly myriad of different Halloween timelines with the first Halloween as the only common thread. Halloween (1978), Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween 4, Halloween 5, Halloween 6 is the first timeline. Halloween (1978), Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween H20, Halloween: Resurrection is the second timeline. Halloween (1978), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends is the last timeline. Halloween (2007), Halloween 2 (2009) is Rob Zombie's remake of their respective titles. Removes the mystery from Michael's origin and much of the supernatural nature of the original story. Edit: Added some things I wanted to include, but forgot, and corrected some errors.
19:11 “This is the first time the Dr. is even smiling in this whole movie” I’ve never thought of it this way but it’s interesting to note that.. We’re so caught up in the fact that Michael IS back that we don’t even consider for a moment how this affects Loomis. Perhaps he never smiles as he himself is a reflection of what was before him the last 15 years-an emotionless void that’s lost all humanity.. or perhaps he himself has gone mad and only finds comfort in his own trauma by the littlest of things I don’t know, just something to think about
Halloween wasn't technically tge first slasher movie but Michael Meyers *was* the first killer we'd ever seen in the 70's who wouldn't stay dead no matter what you did to him. That car scene where Annie gets killed is why 45 years later I still check the backseat of a vehicle before I get in. This movie also accidentally started the trope of only virgins surviving horror movies. That wasn't intended when they made it. Friday the 13th set the tropes of no sex, no drugs, no drinking and never saying "I'll be right back" if you wanted to survive a horror movie in stone.
The classic, and another example of horror that is more about building tension than relying on cheap jump scares and gore. The movie on the TV was The Thing From Another World from 1951. John Carpenter's The Thing came out four years after Halloween.
The great Donald Pleasance is absolutely brilliant as Dr. Loomis, his signature role. His line readings, his expressions, his intensity....all perfect. Also, this was 1978. Carpenter's remake of "The Thing" was in 1982. The version of "The Thing" shown on the TV in the film is the 1951 original which is excellent in it's own right.
John Carpenter's father was a Music Professor at WKU (Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green. I live about 75 miles north. 1st town north of Bowling Green, is Smith's Grove which did have a Sanitarium there. It is there where John met a schizophrenic child that just stared at him with no emotional expression and John said it was one of the most creepy feelings he's had to this day. That is what became Michael Myers 6 years old, and i always wonder where that kid ended up in KY or elsewhere...
I love how you thought the theme song was a Christmas movie one lol. The “this is Halloween, this is Halloween” song is from Tim Burton’s the night before Christmas
They weren't watching John Carpenter's 'The Thing.' They were watching Howard Hawks' "The Thing From Another World" from 1951. John Carpenter remade it in 1982.
GREAT video. Hallowe'en is such a fantastic film. And it was beyond awesome that Hallowe'en 2 is a direct sequel, continuing the events from October 31st into November 1st. Incredible.
Moran only played Michael during the "unmasking" scene. Producer Debra Hill played Michael as a child - the scene where he murders his sister, Judith. Prodution Designer Tommy Lee Wallace was Michael tearing into the closet-door slates (he had set the slats up to break apart). Last - but not least - The Shape was played by Nick Castle, a long-time friend of Carpenter. Castle was not physically imposing at 5'10" and 160-ish lb, but for whatever reason, as the series progressed, Michael Myers got bigger and bulkier. Go figure.
FYI: THE 1st slasher film, psycho, was inspired by an actual person. Ed Gein. He also inspired the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, & the Silence of the Lambs killer, BUFFALO BILL.
It was Nick Castle who played "The Shape". Tony whatshisface played Michael for the brief few seconds he was unmasked. Nick Castle is a legend for coming back decades later to be Michael for the last trilogy.
I really hope you watch the original sequel to this, Halloween II. It wraps everything up neatly. Then, if you like, you can do the new sequels. And then the Rob Zombie reboot. That's the one where Michael is a giant...mainly due to him being played by Tyler Mane in those films.
I just realized something new many years after seeing this movie many times. That ticking percussion in the soundtrack you hear is actually the signal alarm for a train crossing. There's this whole symbolism between "fate" as discussed in the movie, Michael Myers as a relentless killing machine, and a freight train barreling towards a helpless person. Also, John Carpenter said in an interview I think I read somewhere that all of his movies were actually Westerns in disguise, and trains feature heavily in old westerns. Plus, there is a literal train when Michael kills the guy for his overalls and leaves his body in the weeds.
Special props to actor/stuntman Nick Castle who played adult Michael Meyers throughout, except for the few face reveal moments. It was uncommon in 1978 for anyone to achieve such a scene stealing, monumental screen presence without showing their face or speaking a single word of dialog. Many silent villains populated the slasher wave to follow but none imo did so in such a compelling and original way.
If you view the movie in isolation, and ignore the sequels, I think Michael was just curious at first. I do think he came to Haddonfield to try and recreate his first kill, but I don't think he necessarily intended to harm Laurie or Tommy. The first overtly aggressive action he takes is when Annie shouts at him "speed kills" and he breakchecks. That seems to be what triggers him. Although he does follow Laurie to her house, on Halloween night itself he shows no interest in Laurie at all. It's all Annie, because she's the one that reminds him the most of his sister. Annie is the one he constructs a shrine for with his sister's gravestone. And after he kills her, he makes no attempt to go after Laurie. Everyone else he kills and/or chases are people who came to the house where he was chilling with his creepy sister shrine. And even when he goes after Laurie, he's all business. He springs his ambush and, when it fails, he chases her. He doesn't stalk her all night the way he did Annie. To him, Laurie was no more significant than Bob or Lynda. Of course, the sequels introduce some more context which kind of mess all that up. And even kind of create a continuity flaw in the fact he uses Annie to create his sister-shrine, but eh.
I’ve never heard that perspective before. I guess I’m in the camp that he definitely intended to harm her since he began stalking her as soon as he laid eyes on her. But it’s really interesting to see different perspectives.👍🙂
As someone else said, Peeping Tom fits the bill more. In "Psycho", people keep coming to the hotel and triggering Norman. In "Peeping Tom", this guy is a killer through and through. He even had a gimmick, using a tripod camera to both film his victims and do the killing.
Thanks, Grizz! 🎃 There are a zillion ways to proceed. If you want to stick with vintage-flair you can watch HALLOWEEN II (1981) and end with HALLOWEEN H20: 20 YEARS LATER (1998). If you want to see the recent trilogy, which I think is pretty good, then directly watch HALLOWEEN (2018), HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021) and HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022). And if you ever want to add a death metal flavor, you'll want to compare to Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN (2007) and HALLOWEEN II (2009). But whatever you do is fine, I just want you to enjoy yourself... and I hope to witness it all. #GrizzledWizard #John Carpenter #Halloween #Halloween1978
Straight up masterpiece and top 5 films of all time for me, in any genre. The only thing that bothers me a little is that she's seen this dude all day. Maybe it's the '70's but I would've been "Wtf is going on here?" hours before. 😂
This film + 3 incidents in my life, and other films, you do not catch me outside of my home without a micro 9mm or a snubnose revolver. Never. Only a couple times has it truly served valid, but thats the point never know when you may need it.
I truly recommend leaving this series alone. It never gets ⅛ as good as John Carpenter's Halloween from 1978, that ending is never remotely matched let alone surpassed.
@Kenny-ep2nf you are free to think that, I don't agree. I don't think any of them came close to JC's Halloween. They never scared me, they never put me on the edge of my seat as JC's Halloween did like in the last act, last ½hour. The chase across the street is so simple yet it's one of the most intense scenes ever made putting you on edge of seat. The other factor is Michael's deep bellowing breathing, it's kind of in Halloween², but generally speaking it's not as effective. NONE of the sequels used that sound effect, the breathing was never right and I see that breathing similar to the Jaws fin, you know he's here when you hear that bellow breathing. I'll also add the lighting in JC's Halloween was unique to the series, it's a very dark movie. I also prefer the idea that he followed Laurie for no other reason beyond she walked up on his porch to drop a key and nothing else, he is fixated on her. Her friends he slays, are all in service for his Halloween elaborate trick to play on Laurie, he very much is still a 6 year old boy. Making a real haunted house Halloween trick to toy with her before finally slaying Laurie. Little things like that make it a masterpiece and none of the sequels came close. I'll also add the ending is one of the best and why I say leave sequels alone, the ending puts you on edge giving the feeling he really is everywhere and nowhere, a force of nature like the wind here now gone now but he is watching and you can feel he is watching & hunting. The sequels imo, deflate that stinging power of the ending of 1.
Michael Myers isn't really that big. He's more slender and feline. It's hard to slip in and out of the shadows and hide behind bushes if you're a huge guy. Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies is usually shown as being a hulk, and some of the subsequent Halloween movies feature a jacked Michael Myers. But in this first one, less is more, which can be said for a lot of the film.
oneironaut: In Halloween I and II, both Castle and Warlock are very average people in terms of height and weight. For me, this cements the idea of The Ordinary that's established in the setting of the movie. Haddonfield is an ordinary small suburban town in ordinary Middle America with ordinary people in it with no reason to think they're in danger at any time. Myers being of average build is how he fools everyone... Except Loomis. He has everyone fooled with his nonthreatening appearance that hides extraordinary intelligence, strength, and abilities all centered around his Evil. That's what's scary about the movie and great about Myers. It seems like he was only made bigger to compete with Jason. But, in the novelizations, his father and grandfather were described as big men, so it's possible he was a late bloomer. haha
@@oneironaut420 That was something that was talked about in the novelization. There were basic descriptions of him, but also, Myers had a few thoughts about it... If I recall correctly. Let me know if you're interested in listening to the audio drama version of the novel here on RUclips
It certainly is Michael at his strongest. The way he kills some people by crushing them with his bare hands... The mask was too clean though...and they got the clown mask wrong for Jamie's costume.
You were possibly thinking of the jingle from the silver shamrock novelties company in Halloween 3. The only entry in the series that doesn't feature Micheal Myers. The jingle plays repeatedly throughout the film as an advert that counts down to Halloween and I think it's pretty well known despite the mixed reception to the film itself.
It's amazing to think that Jamie Lee Curtis only got $8,000. ($24,000. adjusted for inflation), Donald Pleasence only got $20,000. ($60,000. AFI), and Michael only got $25. a day ($75. a day AFI). 🤔 I guess there were actors who cared more art then. 🤠
There are so many movies in this franchise that it can get rather confusing. This may help: ruclips.net/video/Tpc7eYkVmXk/видео.html Admittedly, the video's out of date because it was made before the most recent movie trilogy, but it still illustrates the point. XD Possible spoilers, but I'll still leave it here.
Grizzled Wizard as 4 how Michael The Boogeyman/The Shape Myers inexplicably pops up plus disappears/vanishes he was originally designed/made 2 be an almost Supernatural Force (Superhuman Physique (Durability as well as Arm Strength of unknown degree/limit) who's Supernaturally Edged: Self Healing Factor 4 every kill he commits & seemingly some kind/some sort of/some form of Teleportation) a virtually indestructible/unkillable/unstoppable evil force of nature that's loose though he may appear/look/seem human 2 ya except he's not entirely human otherwise he would've died as well as stayed dead from every physical deadly thing that's been done 2 him such getting hit in the face/head by a big/huge handheld rock or a bag/sack full of bricks!
Would not the fact that an individual up for parole or review requiring over-drugging for docility during the hearing, negate the hearing to begin with?
This was FUN!😃 After you watch Halloween II (1981) please look up the music video Careless Sister by The Merkins here on RUclips. It’s BRILLIANTLY done!😃
@@Kenny-ep2nf It’s a music video made specifically for Halloween. It includes lots of footage from Halloween and then there’s footage from something else but I don’t want to give that away because it’s REALLY well known.😄 They did a brilliant job with the lyrics. It’s a popular video. I just checked and it’s up to 4.1 million views.
Keep in mind, in the original film, Michael's only reason for killing was simply being evil.
Which is one reason why Loomis never really called Michael by "him,." Loomis instead calls Michael "IT." It kind of shows why. He doesn't act or feel human. Later films give Michael more of a reason of why he does and what does. I will not spoil it for you but what I will say is that its much scarier to have no reason why Michael is Michael lol.
Oh and the musical score is mostly all synths with very few minor strings.
Yep. One of the things that makes Michael so utterly terrifying. He wasn't abused, he isn't possessed, he's not a mutant or undead or any other sort of supernatural entity. He's a normal kid who grew up on a normal street and one day something in his brain just broke, and every ability to empathize or even communicate effectively disappeared. That's why all the bodies are rigged for Laurie to find at the start of the climax: he's built a haunted house, and he's just trying to scare her, because it's Halloween and that's what you do. He has no concept anymore that murdering people isn't the way to do that.
My nightmare is that thoughtless, soulless killer. No reason, no escape.
yep Michael doesn't really have a proper reason to do what he does other than the fact that he simply can, he thrives off of it.
The scariest bit is when Laurie is screaming for help and knocking on doors but nobody helps because they just assume it's a prank.
Concreteowl: Exactly. It seems like most reactors never catch on to the amount of times people reference how Haddonfield is filled with pranksters, to the point that the sheriff is more interested in keeping the peace due to pranksters than trying to help Loomis find what he believes is a harmless asylum escapee.
It's weird, but funny
Funny, I thought the scariest bit was the knife wielding psychopath in the mask
@@xavvi hahaha
My mother who was 18 in 1978, said yeah adults after 8 got impatient and often would answer the door on Halloween with:
12 gauge Shotgun
Colt 1911 .45 ACP
.38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver
And it was common back then to pull off such pranks
It might not be obvious, but Michael's mask is a modified Captain Kirk mask. Their two options during filming was that mask and an Emmett Kelly Hobo Clown mask. I'm so glad they went with Kirk.
Fun Fact-Janet Leigh who is the mom of Jamie Lee Curtis played Marion Crain in the movie Psycho and her boyfriend's name is...Sam Loomis ...who is also the name of the Doctor in Halloween Dr.Sam Loomis
Another John Carpenter classic! It's called "The Fog" You will loveeeeee❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I just found this guy and can’t stop watching
By today standards Halloween could be considered pretty tame. Very little gore or blood. But what makes it a classic and still scary is the way John Carpenter builds the tension and not know what could be around the corner.
11:33 actually in this first movie Michael’s appeal and what makes him more terrifying to watch was he was only 6’1 and about 160-180 something pounds, he’s average male height and weight but can lift a man with one arm and pierce him with a chef’s knife and hang him to a wooden cabinet door with little difficulty
The cinematography of this movie is so absurdly great. It was Carpenter's first collaboration with Dean Cundey, who would go on to work together again on Escape From New York, The Fog, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China. He also was the DP for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the Back to the Future Trilogy, Hook, Jurassic Park, and Apollo 13. Most recently he's been working on Star Wars, lensing two episodes of The Book of Boba Fett and three season 3 episodes of The Mandalorian.
The long takes do such an amazing job establishing the neighborhood's geography. At no point during the third act is it ever unclear where the characters are and what they are doing. The highlights & shadows create so much tension because you are constantly expecting Michael Myers to emerge from all sorts of hiding places on the screen. And that shot where Cundey simply opens up the iris to let the white mask materialize in the darkness behind Laurie is a masterpiece of blocking. So many movies took the wrong lessons from this one and it still holds up today, with nowhere near the level of jump-scares or gore that became the backbone of horror later.
Also, Tony Moran only played the unmasked Michael. For the rest of the film, he was played by Nick Castle, who went on to become a director himself on films like The Last Starfighter, The Boy Who Could Fly, Dennis the Menace and Major Payne. Castle was a college friend and bandmate of John Carpenter and was a trained dancer and mime, and much of Michael's movement (such as the head tilt when he pinned the guy to the door) was designed by Castle.
Now as far as the sequels....WHOOOO boy, Halloween is the original movie multiverse. There are not one, not two, but THREE different continuities, with only the original film being the connection between all three:
THE ORIGINAL SERIES: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
THE REBOOT SERIES: Halloween, Halloween II, Halloween: H20, Halloween: Resurrection
THE CARPENTER/BLUM SERIES: Halloween, Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends
Only the most recent series had Carpenter involved for its entirety, as director of the first film and the executive producer for the other three. He also scored all four films.
Carpenter wrote & produced the original Halloween II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
Halloween III is not a Michael Myers film, as Carpenter had originally hoped that the series would become an anthology, with a new horror tale released every year and the season being the thing that ties them together. In fact, Halloween III takes place in a world where the original film is just that...a film. Halloween III was intended to be Carpenters homage to the British horror-sci-fi Dr. Quatermass series, but audiences responded negatively to the movie because if its lack of connection to the first two films, and producer Moustapha Akkad took over the franchise with Halloween IV. However, Halloween III has since been reassessed and is now considered a cult classic in the horror-sci-fi genre. Carpenter would later be able to do a more direct Quatermass homage with his film Prince of Darkness, part 2 of his "Apocalypse Trilogy" that also includes The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness.
It is, but The Thing is both Carpenter & Cundey's best work, especially when a flare is lit
@@LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto Yeah, those anamorphic flares are 100% Cundey.
Halloween 2 picks up right at the ending of this one. I actually like it more.
this and Halloween 2 are the best
@@Kenny-ep2nf Halloween 2 was the first R rated movie I watched in the theatre with my mom. Remember it like it was yestetday.
I really enjoy seeing people react to this film for the first time. I've seen it countless times and love it so much. But no one has ever noted the Kitty Genovese element when Laurie's cries for help are ignored. Thank you for catching that! Something else that I only just realized now is that the only man who "takes his time" in this film is Michael 🤔
Favorite moment: "Why are you still there? Why aren't you moving? Why aren't you moving?" lol
I never saw Michael knocking down the potted plant as deliberate. I always liked it as a mistake that until now we’ve never seen him make;makes him more relatable and therefore, scarier.
Yeah it goes to show he learnt to be more stealthy after a while.
Great reaction, as usual, Master Katarn. Yes, you're right: Michael focused on Laurie and Tommy, because they were the first 2 people he encountered upon returning to his hometown...plus, they were both in front of his house, and they resembled 17-year-old Judith and 6-year-old Michael. And, yes, Kyle: Michael's pursuit of Laurie as his "Final Kill", became his undoing...he got a knitting needle to his throat, a wire hanger to the eye socket, a stab wound to his upper body, 6 gunshots from a revolver, and a fall from a 2-story balcony. And, Carpenter and Hill intentionally meant for the (unnerving) ending to mean that the spirit of Michael/The Boogeyman is present everywhere, now, in Haddonfield. He truly went back HOME...
A classic.
Many people just assume that Michael is a serial killer in a mask. This isn't the case. This is low key mentioned by Dr Loomis in every scene that he talks about Michael; referring to him as "it", his conversation with the cop in the Myers house. Even in the script it doesn't refer to Michael by name, it instead refers to him as "The Shape". It's even in the credits. You have child Michael, adult Michael, and The Shape. Michael is an evil without an origin and with no apparent reason for killing; that's what makes the story more chilling.
John Carpenter had hoped to turn the Halloween franchise into an anthology project, with each movie being centered around Halloween. Halloween 3 was Carpenter's next entry into his anthology idea but people wanted more Michael so the movie flopped. Halloween 3 had nothing to do with Michael Myers. Because of Friday the 13th's success the studio wanted more Michael movies but Carpenter refused leading someone else to direct Halloween 2. Carpenter was offered to do whatever he wanted with Halloween 3 if he stayed on to write Halloween 2. For the TV version of Halloween extra scenes were added to tie it into Halloween 2.
We're then left with the seemingly myriad of different Halloween timelines with the first Halloween as the only common thread.
Halloween (1978), Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween 4, Halloween 5, Halloween 6 is the first timeline.
Halloween (1978), Halloween 2 (1981), Halloween H20, Halloween: Resurrection is the second timeline.
Halloween (1978), Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends is the last timeline.
Halloween (2007), Halloween 2 (2009) is Rob Zombie's remake of their respective titles. Removes the mystery from Michael's origin and much of the supernatural nature of the original story.
Edit: Added some things I wanted to include, but forgot, and corrected some errors.
19:11 “This is the first time the Dr. is even smiling in this whole movie” I’ve never thought of it this way but it’s interesting to note that..
We’re so caught up in the fact that Michael IS back that we don’t even consider for a moment how this affects Loomis. Perhaps he never smiles as he himself is a reflection of what was before him the last 15 years-an emotionless void that’s lost all humanity.. or perhaps he himself has gone mad and only finds comfort in his own trauma by the littlest of things
I don’t know, just something to think about
Watch "Black Christmas" in a couple of months. That's reeeeeally the one that started it all.
Actually, go further back to Mario Bava.
yep the best
Halloween wasn't technically tge first slasher movie but Michael Meyers *was* the first killer we'd ever seen in the 70's who wouldn't stay dead no matter what you did to him.
That car scene where Annie gets killed is why 45 years later I still check the backseat of a vehicle before I get in.
This movie also accidentally started the trope of only virgins surviving horror movies. That wasn't intended when they made it. Friday the 13th set the tropes of no sex, no drugs, no drinking and never saying "I'll be right back" if you wanted to survive a horror movie in stone.
yeah Halloween was the movie that made slashers more popular
The classic, and another example of horror that is more about building tension than relying on cheap jump scares and gore.
The movie on the TV was The Thing From Another World from 1951. John Carpenter's The Thing came out four years after Halloween.
The great Donald Pleasance is absolutely brilliant as Dr. Loomis, his signature role. His line readings, his expressions, his intensity....all perfect. Also, this was 1978. Carpenter's remake of "The Thing" was in 1982. The version of "The Thing" shown on the TV in the film is the 1951 original which is excellent in it's own right.
John Carpenter's father was a Music Professor at WKU (Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green. I live about 75 miles north.
1st town north of Bowling Green, is Smith's Grove which did have a Sanitarium there. It is there where John met a schizophrenic child that just stared at him with no emotional expression and John said it was one of the most creepy feelings he's had to this day. That is what became Michael Myers 6 years old, and i always wonder where that kid ended up in KY or elsewhere...
I love how you thought the theme song was a Christmas movie one lol. The “this is Halloween, this is Halloween” song is from Tim Burton’s the night before Christmas
They weren't watching John Carpenter's 'The Thing.' They were watching Howard Hawks' "The Thing From Another World" from 1951. John Carpenter remade it in 1982.
yup
Yesss! I grew up on all the classics 🎃 soooo good !
Now you need to watch Halloween II
GREAT video. Hallowe'en is such a fantastic film. And it was beyond awesome that Hallowe'en 2 is a direct sequel, continuing the events from October 31st into November 1st. Incredible.
The use of blue lighting in this film was great
very intelligently done
None of the sequels are as good as the original. I have a suggestion for you: The 1971 "The Andromeda Strain." Top notch!
@12:03; filmed in SoCal - look how green this "autumn" is. In other scenes, fallen leaves were shipped in to film sites for authenticity.
The song you were singing at the beginning is "this is Halloween" from "The nightmare before christmas."
Moran only played Michael during the "unmasking" scene.
Producer Debra Hill played Michael as a child - the scene where he murders his sister, Judith.
Prodution Designer Tommy Lee Wallace was Michael tearing into the closet-door slates (he had set the slats up to break apart).
Last - but not least - The Shape was played by Nick Castle, a long-time friend of Carpenter.
Castle was not physically imposing at 5'10" and 160-ish lb, but for whatever reason, as the series progressed, Michael Myers got bigger and bulkier. Go figure.
FYI: THE 1st slasher film, psycho, was inspired by an actual person. Ed Gein. He also inspired the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, & the Silence of the Lambs killer, BUFFALO BILL.
The same year Psycho came out the brilliant Peeping Tom came out from British filmmaker Michael Powell.
It was Nick Castle who played "The Shape". Tony whatshisface played Michael for the brief few seconds he was unmasked. Nick Castle is a legend for coming back decades later to be Michael for the last trilogy.
yeah Nick Castle seems to enjoy playing Michael Myers
I really hope you watch the original sequel to this, Halloween II. It wraps everything up neatly.
Then, if you like, you can do the new sequels. And then the Rob Zombie reboot. That's the one where Michael is a giant...mainly due to him being played by Tyler Mane in those films.
I just realized something new many years after seeing this movie many times. That ticking percussion in the soundtrack you hear is actually the signal alarm for a train crossing. There's this whole symbolism between "fate" as discussed in the movie, Michael Myers as a relentless killing machine, and a freight train barreling towards a helpless person. Also, John Carpenter said in an interview I think I read somewhere that all of his movies were actually Westerns in disguise, and trains feature heavily in old westerns. Plus, there is a literal train when Michael kills the guy for his overalls and leaves his body in the weeds.
25:39 This is one of those moments ingrained in my mind in terms of horror films.
I know Halloween has past BUT you could watch the 2nd film too. It takes place on the same night as the first.
I think it deflates 1. The ending of this film was never surpassed, never scared me or most of the audience.
yep it's just as good
They started selling lucky strike filters again. They sell them all over Washington too!
Halloween 2 picks up where this ended 😊
Special props to actor/stuntman Nick Castle who played adult Michael Meyers throughout, except for the few face reveal moments. It was uncommon in 1978 for anyone to achieve such a scene stealing, monumental screen presence without showing their face or speaking a single word of dialog. Many silent villains populated the slasher wave to follow but none imo did so in such a compelling and original way.
If you view the movie in isolation, and ignore the sequels, I think Michael was just curious at first. I do think he came to Haddonfield to try and recreate his first kill, but I don't think he necessarily intended to harm Laurie or Tommy. The first overtly aggressive action he takes is when Annie shouts at him "speed kills" and he breakchecks. That seems to be what triggers him. Although he does follow Laurie to her house, on Halloween night itself he shows no interest in Laurie at all. It's all Annie, because she's the one that reminds him the most of his sister.
Annie is the one he constructs a shrine for with his sister's gravestone. And after he kills her, he makes no attempt to go after Laurie. Everyone else he kills and/or chases are people who came to the house where he was chilling with his creepy sister shrine. And even when he goes after Laurie, he's all business. He springs his ambush and, when it fails, he chases her. He doesn't stalk her all night the way he did Annie. To him, Laurie was no more significant than Bob or Lynda.
Of course, the sequels introduce some more context which kind of mess all that up. And even kind of create a continuity flaw in the fact he uses Annie to create his sister-shrine, but eh.
I’ve never heard that perspective before. I guess I’m in the camp that he definitely intended to harm her since he began stalking her as soon as he laid eyes on her. But it’s really interesting to see different perspectives.👍🙂
FYI: THE 1st slasher movie was the Alfred Hitchcock film, PSYCHO; 1960.
Peeping Tom, 1960.
As someone else said, Peeping Tom fits the bill more. In "Psycho", people keep coming to the hotel and triggering Norman. In "Peeping Tom", this guy is a killer through and through. He even had a gimmick, using a tripod camera to both film his victims and do the killing.
You’ve watched the classic ones now. Which one is your favorite so far? The scariest?
Thanks, Grizz! 🎃 There are a zillion ways to proceed. If you want to stick with vintage-flair you can watch HALLOWEEN II (1981) and end with HALLOWEEN H20: 20 YEARS LATER (1998). If you want to see the recent trilogy, which I think is pretty good, then directly watch HALLOWEEN (2018), HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021) and HALLOWEEN ENDS (2022). And if you ever want to add a death metal flavor, you'll want to compare to Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN (2007) and HALLOWEEN II (2009). But whatever you do is fine, I just want you to enjoy yourself... and I hope to witness it all. #GrizzledWizard #John Carpenter #Halloween #Halloween1978
Straight up masterpiece and top 5 films of all time for me, in any genre. The only thing that bothers me a little is that she's seen this dude all day. Maybe it's the '70's but I would've been "Wtf is going on here?" hours before. 😂
Tommy was watching the thing , the original film, Carpenter's remake was a little years after
I think John Carpenters version was dope
This film + 3 incidents in my life, and other films, you do not catch me outside of my home without a micro 9mm or a snubnose revolver. Never. Only a couple times has it truly served valid, but thats the point never know when you may need it.
I truly recommend leaving this series alone. It never gets ⅛ as good as John Carpenter's Halloween from 1978, that ending is never remotely matched let alone surpassed.
the sequels are good IMO
@Kenny-ep2nf you are free to think that, I don't agree. I don't think any of them came close to JC's Halloween. They never scared me, they never put me on the edge of my seat as JC's Halloween did like in the last act, last ½hour. The chase across the street is so simple yet it's one of the most intense scenes ever made putting you on edge of seat. The other factor is Michael's deep bellowing breathing, it's kind of in Halloween², but generally speaking it's not as effective. NONE of the sequels used that sound effect, the breathing was never right and I see that breathing similar to the Jaws fin, you know he's here when you hear that bellow breathing. I'll also add the lighting in JC's Halloween was unique to the series, it's a very dark movie. I also prefer the idea that he followed Laurie for no other reason beyond she walked up on his porch to drop a key and nothing else, he is fixated on her. Her friends he slays, are all in service for his Halloween elaborate trick to play on Laurie, he very much is still a 6 year old boy. Making a real haunted house Halloween trick to toy with her before finally slaying Laurie. Little things like that make it a masterpiece and none of the sequels came close. I'll also add the ending is one of the best and why I say leave sequels alone, the ending puts you on edge giving the feeling he really is everywhere and nowhere, a force of nature like the wind here now gone now but he is watching and you can feel he is watching & hunting. The sequels imo, deflate that stinging power of the ending of 1.
Your horror movie reactions are the best, really fun❤
Michael Myers isn't really that big. He's more slender and feline. It's hard to slip in and out of the shadows and hide behind bushes if you're a huge guy. Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th movies is usually shown as being a hulk, and some of the subsequent Halloween movies feature a jacked Michael Myers. But in this first one, less is more, which can be said for a lot of the film.
oneironaut: In Halloween I and II, both Castle and Warlock are very average people in terms of height and weight. For me, this cements the idea of The Ordinary that's established in the setting of the movie.
Haddonfield is an ordinary small suburban town in ordinary Middle America with ordinary people in it with no reason to think they're in danger at any time.
Myers being of average build is how he fools everyone... Except Loomis. He has everyone fooled with his nonthreatening appearance that hides extraordinary intelligence, strength, and abilities all centered around his Evil.
That's what's scary about the movie and great about Myers. It seems like he was only made bigger to compete with Jason. But, in the novelizations, his father and grandfather were described as big men, so it's possible he was a late bloomer. haha
@@LA_HA Yeah, I like slinky Michael. His dad didn't look so big at the beginning of the first film though!
@@oneironaut420 That was something that was talked about in the novelization. There were basic descriptions of him, but also, Myers had a few thoughts about it... If I recall correctly.
Let me know if you're interested in listening to the audio drama version of the novel here on RUclips
Thanks for reacting to this masterpiece, it's the one of my favorite movies.
He stalks her and tommy because they were the first people he encountered when they dropped the keys at his home
yup
You got the theme tune to Nightmare Before Christmas
I think I may of been about seven or eight, when I first watched this. Looking back, it may not have been the best idea.
What's ridiculous is him driving so well. He got locked up at 6 years old and he could pull that off
Somebody taught him
Nightmare Before Christmas...oh boy.
Part 4 is my personal favourite
It certainly is Michael at his strongest. The way he kills some people by crushing them with his bare hands... The mask was too clean though...and they got the clown mask wrong for Jamie's costume.
You were possibly thinking of the jingle from the silver shamrock novelties company in Halloween 3. The only entry in the series that doesn't feature Micheal Myers. The jingle plays repeatedly throughout the film as an advert that counts down to Halloween and I think it's pretty well known despite the mixed reception to the film itself.
Technically, Michael does appear. A trailer for the original Halloween is on TV.
Also, Michael Myers dons a William Shatner as Captain Kirk mask from the era.
indeed
Nice!
Pls don't wait long to react to Halloween II (1981)!
Agreed
You can't kill the Boogyman.
John Wick: I can try.....
It's amazing to think that Jamie Lee Curtis only got $8,000. ($24,000. adjusted for inflation), Donald Pleasence only got $20,000. ($60,000. AFI), and Michael only got $25. a day ($75. a day AFI). 🤔 I guess there were actors who cared more art then. 🤠
There are so many movies in this franchise that it can get rather confusing. This may help: ruclips.net/video/Tpc7eYkVmXk/видео.html Admittedly, the video's out of date because it was made before the most recent movie trilogy, but it still illustrates the point. XD Possible spoilers, but I'll still leave it here.
Halloween 2.😏
Dr. Sam Loomis, who at one time was Jamie Lee's mom's boyfriend...or something.
wow
Grizzled Wizard as 4 how Michael The Boogeyman/The Shape Myers inexplicably pops up plus disappears/vanishes he was originally designed/made 2 be an almost Supernatural Force (Superhuman Physique (Durability as well as Arm Strength of unknown degree/limit) who's Supernaturally Edged: Self Healing Factor 4 every kill he commits & seemingly some kind/some sort of/some form of Teleportation) a virtually indestructible/unkillable/unstoppable evil force of nature that's loose though he may appear/look/seem human 2 ya except he's not entirely human otherwise he would've died as well as stayed dead from every physical deadly thing that's been done 2 him such getting hit in the face/head by a big/huge handheld rock or a bag/sack full of bricks!
I think it was more to do with Laurie and Tommy coming up to his house.
Excelente video 😃
@6:16; ...is he a realtor? If only cars could talk.
Would not the fact that an individual up for parole or review requiring over-drugging for docility during the hearing, negate the hearing to begin with?
🔥🔥🔥
This was FUN!😃 After you watch Halloween II (1981) please look up the music video Careless Sister by The Merkins here on RUclips. It’s BRILLIANTLY done!😃
is it a movie?
@@Kenny-ep2nf It’s a music video made specifically for Halloween. It includes lots of footage from Halloween and then there’s footage from something else but I don’t want to give that away because it’s REALLY well known.😄 They did a brilliant job with the lyrics.
It’s a popular video. I just checked and it’s up to 4.1 million views.
Como
Watch more Halloween movies
he should aye