The story tells us about an insane person (Michael Myers) who is walking around in a town and killing everyone with his butcher knife. On Halloween night in 1963, six-year-old Michael Myers (Will Sandin) murders his seventeen-year-old sister Judith (Sandy Johnson) with a large butcher knife at their home in Haddonfield, Illinois. He is then sent to Smith's Grove Warren County Sanitarium and placed under the care of child psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence). Eight years of treatment leads Loomis to believe that Michael is nothing less than pure evil. An additional seven years of trying to keep Myers locked up end with his attempted transfer to be prosecuted as an adult. As Loomis and his assistant Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens) go to Smiths Grove to take the 21-year-old Myers (Tony Moran) to court, Myers steals their car, nearly kills Marion and escapes.
The play of actors is a main shortcoming of this film. But generally this film has a great atmosphere which is achieved by smart use of creepiest music which is the major reason of Halloween success. Also, the horror effect is delivered by dark scenes and skilful and unusual camerawork. The Dean Cundey’s camera gives us opportunity to be in Myers skin and watch through his eyes, but in the same time the main character remains hidden for us. In scenes “from the side” we can not even see the Myers face – this method was used in “Blind terror” (1971) directed by Richard Flasher. Also, Carpenter developed the method which was used in “Jaws” directed by Steven Spielberg where the shark itself is shown only in the second half of the film.
The gloomy pictures were mixed with ludicrous characters of adults. For example, an easily frightened guy with beard, who is foretelling the evil which appeared in the town in a style of Jehovah’s Witness. Stupid schoolgirls are telling clichés during the film. All this makes you feel that Myers is not a serial killer, but saviour of this town.
Overall, the film is very atmospheric and masterfully made by Carpenter and all his crew.
In my opinion, this film should be watched. Also, have a look at another version – “Halloween” 2009 by Rob Zombie.
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