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Overall Rating : 8/10
Directed By : John Carpenter
Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween 2)
Donald Pleasence (Halloween 4)
Nancy Loomis (Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) )
P.J. Soles (Carrie)
Supplied By : Anchor Bay Entertainment
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : August 8, 2007
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| PLOT Fifteen years ago, Michael Myers brutally murdered his sister. Now, after escaping from a mental hospital, he’s back to relive his grisly crime again, and again...and again. |
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| THE REVIEW With a film like HALLOWEEN, there is really no need to give a run down of the film's plot, nor is there really any reason to further review it, as everyone whom is a film fan should be already familiar with it. In conjunction with the remake's release on August 31st, Anchor Bay has chosen to re-release their restored version of the 1978 classic film with a shiny new slip cover that features glowing Jack-O-Lantern eyes and knife blade. Other than the new slip cover, the under-lying cover and disc are the exact same as the 1999 release - so if you already own this version, or any other version after it there is no reason to "double dip", but for HALLOWEEN enthusiasts and completists it's another item to add to their never-ending collections. Halloween is simple enough in plot, but highly complex on it's atmosphere and through it's haunting score helmed by it's director, cleaver camera angles, and realistic feel, it spawned a formula that would by the blue print of many slasher films to follow it(a trend that is still hot... even in the digital age). To me, a genre that HALLOWEEN would forever make a staple in cinema was arguably started by the film BLACK CHRISTMAS in 1974. BLACK CHRISTMAS introduced the "stalker formula" in which a faceless stalker preyed on unsuspecting victims in their sorority house during Christmas break. One of my reasons for liking BLACK CHRISTMAS was for the fact that the killer, for the film's entire runtime was not shown at all, victims being stalked and killed by someone or someone that was not seen by the viewer. made the film that much more effective in my opinion. But when HALLOWEEN changed it all, instead of keeping the killer behind the camera, it brought a killer out t to the forefront in the form in Michael Myers, a deranged killer whom donned a mask that was as emotionless as his brutal actions. For those who did not believe in a so-called "Boogeyman" prior to seeing the film, suddenly had a reason to believe in one. The film's killer, dubbed as "The Shape" wasn't the only thing left to be remembered by the audience, HALLOWEEN also has some of the most memorable lines in Horror history. Dr. Loomis' speech about Michael being "Pure Evil" was not only memorable, but it also aided in making Myers even more dominant than his presence already had, and all of this was made possible by a performance that cannot be matched, courtesy of late-great Actor Donald Pleasence. With everything that has already been said about HALLOWEEN, a film that over the years has gained a well-deserved cult status by it's legion of fans - i'm afraid there is not much more I, or anyone else could say...but it is a film that has stood the test of time, and is definitely still as effective as the day it first opened. |
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| GORE
METER N/A The thing about HALLOWEEN is there is absolutely no gore to be found....not even on Michael's knife. But this is another one of those films(like THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974) ), where you think you see a lot more gore than you really do, due to overall suspense...it's brilliant, |
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| MUSICAL
SCORE 8.5/10 Hands down, one of the best film scores I have ever heard, it is simple but hauntingly effective and iconic. People say this just may be the best Horror film score ever, but to tell the truth, I am a bit partial to SUSPIRIA's score. |
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| OVERALL
IMPRESSION OF THE FILM HALLOWEEN will always remain a favorite film of mine, it just has too many great and memorable things about it. When this year's remake was announced, I was a bit worried as I didn't want to see a classic tarnished and forgotten. Even after seeing the recent TV spots for the remake, I must admit I am still left a little uneasy and unimpressed with it...but I will soon see. Whatever the case, remake or no remake, fans will still have this independent jewel, and something tells me that it will forever remain popular with Horror fans everywhere This DVD will be available on August 14, 2007 Please visit the HALLOWEEN series' official site www.halloweenmovies.com |
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