Of the many subgenres in horror cinema, one of the most popular and longest lasting is the slasher film. Essentially, a slasher film involves a single killer going after a group of people one-by-one in an isolated area. There’s been debate as to what the first true slasher film was, some pointing to Psycho and Peeping Tom. Some even argue that Italian giallos from directors Mario Bava and Dario Argento laid the foundation for the slasher genre. Of course, most agree that the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Black Christmas are two definite examples of early slashers. Granted, while these films certainly were popular, there weren’t exactly tons of slashers that followed immediately afterwards. That is until 1978, when John Carpenter introduced the world to The Shape, aka Michael Myers. Originally titled The Babysitter Murders, the film that ultimately popularized the slasher genre was Halloween.
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On Halloween night 1963, young Michael Myers stabs his older sister Judith to death for seemingly no reason. 15 years later, Michael is now interred at Smith’s Grove Sanitarium and is awaiting trial for his sister’s murder. The day before Halloween, Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) and nurse Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens) come to escort Michael. Upon arrival, they find that the patients have been let loose and Michael ends up escaping using Loomis’ car. Michael targets high schoolers Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), Annie Bracket (Nancy Kyes), and Lynda Van der Klok (PJ Soles). At the same time, Dr. Loomis teams up with Sheriff Leigh Bracket (Charles Cyphers) to track down and stop Michael. Loomis explains that Michael is not a person to be reasoned with and is the personification of pure evil. Will Dr. Loomis be able to stop Michael, and who will survive Michael’s rampage?
As I mentioned in the intro, there were plenty of slasher films that predate this one. But while movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Black Christmas came first, Halloween was the more popular film. That being said, it’s very easy to see why as, while those two are fantastic, this one is phenomenal. What makes this film work so well, amongst other things, is just how simple of a story it is. At its core, it’s about an escaped madman stalking teenage babysitters while his doctor tries to bring him down. In addition, we’re never given much of a reason why Michael is killing these girls, which makes it more terrifying. It also helps that the characters are likable, the cast is great, and the soundtrack is amazing. While many other horror films focused on cheap jump scares and thrills, this film effectively builds suspense and tension throughout.
If there are any issues with the film, it’s hard to find them and many are simply just nitpicks. For one, it’s set in Illinois, but is clearly shot in California, especially with the palm trees and license plates. Considering this was made on a budget of around $300,000, I think that can be excused as it’s very minor. Also, like many films at the time, it can be a bit slow at parts and some scenes drag slightly. And while the film certainly has blood and nudity, don’t expect the copious amounts you’d see in 80s slashers. But minor issues aside, this is still an incredible film that absolutely deserves all the acclaim it gets. Not only was it a game changer, but it also launched Jamie Lee Curtis’ and John Carpenter’s careers. With great cinematography, a great cast, and an iconic score, Halloween is essential for horror fans.
