Decades after its release, the 1978 film, “Halloween” remains the scariest slasher ever made, with only a few contenders making a run for the title.
Thousands of viewers witnessed a revolution in October 1978, when John Carpenter first introduced the slasher film, “Halloween” to the world.
With its unique plot, suspense-filled themes, and mystery surrounding The Shape, the low-budget film quickly won over millions within three weeks, becoming a box-office hit.
Carpenter’s stroke of genius went on to inspire at least eleven sequels over the years, each one raising more questions about the mystery man behind the mask, Michael Meyers.
Yet, none matches the thrill of the original, nor has other blood-curdling thrillers, that hit the box office since the 1978 “Halloween” set the stage for a new generation of slasher films.
The 1978 movie centered around a masked psycho killer, Michael Meyers, who was confined to a sanitarium fifteen years ago for killing his babysitting teenage sister on Halloween night when he was six.
After escaping from the sanitarium, he returned to his hometown and set out on a killing rampage, marking a babysitting teenager, Laurie Strode, and her friends. So what makes Carpenter’s original unique in all dimensions and sets it apart from its contenders?
1. A Stroke Of Mystery
Nothing makes a potential thriller like the element of mystery, and the original “Halloween” introduced viewers to that and more.
From Michael Meyer’s identity and the expressionless white mask concealing his face to the undisclosed reason behind his killing rampage, everything about the homicidal boogeyman remains a mystery.
Hence, one could hardly predict how he chooses his victims, of course, except for Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), who we discover later to be his little sister. And for all we know, he could be anyone in the crowd.
That absence of pattern in itself makes the movie frightening for people of every age, even without the adrenaline rush, which is an effect only a few movies from the horror genre have managed to achieve to date.
2. The Suspense
While most slashers today depend mostly on bloodshed or soulless torture sessions to achieve the heart-thumping effect, John carpenter’s “Halloween” achieved the same through heightened suspense-filled moments that blended naturally into the plot.
For most of the film and its sequels, Laurie Strode remained “the girl who got away.” Yet, every encounter she had with The shape left viewers in stitches despite how predictable it was that the protagonist would probably get away alive. Again.
But between the attack and the final narrow escape, viewers experience several gasp-worthy moments and close calls, which is the height of any thriller.
3. The Right Theme Song
For someone who proved writing and filmmaking to be his field of expertise, John Carpenter certainly did a good job with the music. More so, with an overall film budget of $300,000. Quite impressive.
Rumor has it that the legendary filmmaker composed the theme songs for the 1978 slasher, using the music knowledge passed down by his dad, who was a music teacher.
To date, his rhythm played on a set of bongos remains one of the most famous horror scores of all time. The recurring beats had a way of heightening the suspense in the most primal way.
It’s almost like messing with one’s head and pulling them into the scary scene until they experience every heartbeat and raspy breathing. Now that’s something you don’t get over in a lifetime!
4. Just As The Name Implies
Coming up with a spooky story and naming it after a spooky holiday is the greatest genius idea in movie history.
By doing so, the producers not only ensured it always pops up at every search of Halloween movies across generations, but they also set the stage for including a scary cinematic experience to the Halloween night schedule. Guess what always ends up topping the most-viewed list?
Little wonder several sequels have emerged through the years, ensuring the original never gets swept under the carpets by modern-day horror genres with more advanced technologies. Not like it could though as the original John Carpenter film now stands unrivaled.
5. Made With Minimal Effort
A budget of $300,000, a Captain Kirk mask picked up from a random store for less than $2, self-composed music, and a make-shift town of Haddonfield was all it took to bring the father of all slasher movies to life.
Other contenders, including its numerous sequels, have tried to come close to outdoing the 1978 movie. However, they end up portraying over-amplified, graphic-spiked motion pictures that reek of “trying too hard.” Sometimes, a few dollar bills are all it takes to create a legend!
6. The Laurie Strode-Effect
Just like the psychopathic killer Michael Meyers, Laurie Strode remained a constant fixture in the film, depicting just how much the mystery boogeyman should have aged. Yet, as the movie’s hero, she doesn’t take the spotlight from the antagonist.
Instead, she stood out like any neighborhood teenager being terrorized by a murderous villain but decide against the odds to escape with her life.
Matching up to Meyers every time and barely escaping death had nothing to do with her physical attribute or a mystery puzzle. Instead, we see her fight her way through at every turn, like the fierce survivor she was.
Her very relatable character sends out the message that evil was lurking around, and any one of us could fall victim at any time irrespective of one’s way of life.
The message has been well-received through the years: Everyone is a potential Laurie Strode.
Having gifted the world with one of the greatest slasher hits of all time, one can’t help but look forward to more of John Carpenter’s movies. Yet, his touch seems to be missing from the sequels, which seem to downplay the original by a margin.
The legend’s absence from these subsequent productions and his progressing age, leaves fans with the lingering question: Is John Carpenter retired?
