The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it'll be too late for many people.

Halloween is one of those iconic films that I feel everyone needs to see at least once in their life. But I will put that to the side for the time being, and get right down to talking about the story itself.

The concept of a crazed killer escaping from an insane asylum is an idea that will be scary to most people. Even more so in the 80's when they were being released from prisons do to budget cuts, but even in the late 70's it made be pretty on edge. Nowadays, the concept might seem a little far fetched to some, but I think it still holds up for the most part.

This starts off as you textbook slasher film, aside from the fact the in the first hour of the film, there are only two people murdered, one of which you never even see happen...and barely see the aftermath of. This falls back into the psyche of Hitchcock, where what you don't see is more terrifying than anything you do see. And thats why the killer, Michael Myers, is referred to as “The Shape” in the script, and credits. He stalks Laurie, and his other helpless victims, not making himself known. It's not like some films where they immediately know something isn't right. They think it's their minds playing tricks on them...or something along those lines at least.

The characters are very likable, for the most part...but even with that, as an audience member, you still want to see them get pegged off one at a time. And the fact that none of these teenagers are actually teenagers (Jamie Lee Curtis being the closest to actual age cast), you feel like these three main girls could've actually been high school BFFs.

And what would any psycho killer be without his protagonist...in this case that falls to Dr. Samuel Loomis. He is the doctor who has been treating Michael for the past 15 years, and has come to realize what he truly is...pure evil personified. And he has the task of conveying information to characters that we will never see...and that is the hardest part for films like these. To give the audience the information it needs, without laying it our on a table openly for them.

The acting in this movie is amazing...in my opinion. I know what you are thinking...how can I say the acting in a film such as this be amazing? Well, it is, and it isn't. That's a tough line to toe...so when the characters feel “real” to me, and feel like they are actual friends, or that they are actually terrified for whatever reason...that constitutes “amazing” to me. At least for this genre.

Jamie Lee Curtis gets her feature debut with this film, and continued to do horror movies for the next five years or so, until her career took off, and you all know the rest. But you should always remember this. If it wasn't for this movie...you may never know who Jamie Lee Curtis is...I don't give a fuck who her parents were.

Nancy Loomis and PJ Soles are the other two friends, and they both too went on with their careers, primarily in the horror genre. And they love the fact that were, and could've been apart of such an iconic film such as this. Their performances aren't the greatest...but they really do work. Especially in the case of Nancy Loomis, who when they filmed this, was pushing 30 trying to pull of 18. That is something that wouldn't not be done today...but it is a staple that held the horror genre together for so many years. And as for PJ Soles, viewers, at the time, will most likely notice her from Carrie and Rock-n-Roll High School. Genre actors, for genre films...that's all I'm sayin' folks.

John Carpenter has made one of the most iconic, and amazing horror films to ever hit the screens. And if you don't believe that, look at the facts. Psycho was a big hit in the slasher genre, and so was Black Christmas...but how many years were between all of those films? Exactly...one Halloween came out, it was followed by a whole mess of knock-offs. And if it wasn't for this film, we wouldn't have any of the other iconic films that we all grew up loving. Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street...none of them. Like it or not, Halloween was the pioneer film for the slasher genre, and remains a favorite to the most loyal of horror fans.

I highly recommend checking out this film. If you are looking for a cookie cutter, gore filled movie...this isn't the horror film for you. But if you are one who likes to take a look at where things started, this is a film you NEED to watch ASAP. I'm hard pressed to find another film that I have watched as many times as this one.

Till Next Time Kiddies...

-RJ