THE BEST HORROR FILM EVER MADE: The Case For John Carpenter's Halloween

It's an ongoing debate in the horror and cinematic community, and will never really be answered: what is the best horror film ever made? I have five in mind that I feel vie almost equally for the title, and here is one of them. Making the case for John Carpenter's 1978 classic...Halloween.

Sheriff Brackett: Every kid in Haddonfield thinks this place is haunted.
Dr. Loomis: They may be right.

 
Someone once said that opinions are like belly buttons: everyone has one (well, except for Kyle XY, but that's a completely different story). Fans of horror cinema are no exception, and in many cases are actually extremely passionate about their fright flicks, often to the point of believing that their personal favorite is THE one...the best...the greatest horror film ever made.

To this notion, here is the argument for John Carpenter's seminal 1978 indie slasher Halloween.

The Source of Halloween

The onus for what eventually became John Carpenter's first masterwork began in the mind of film producer Irwin Yablans, who sought to make a movie that might have an Exorcist type impact on the film-going community. His basic idea was for a deranged psycho to stalk babysitters on Halloween night. Carpenter and Debra Hill wrote a screenplay based around the simple idea, Carpenter was given a $320,000 budget, and a new horror legend, Michael Myers, was born.

What would separate this character and this film from the other offerings of previous decades? For one, the sheer brilliance of Carpenter as a filmmaker, despite his lack of experience and with a budget that allowed little to no funds for such basic necessities as wardrobe. Carpenter made exceptional use of the first person camera, placing the audience in the role of the mad man and forcing those watching to do so from Myers' point of view.

The Crux of Halloween

At the base of this extraordinary film is the performance of young Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Janet Leigh (Psycho) and legendary actor Tony Curtis. Curtis portrays Laurie Strode as a believable character, and is unique in the annals of horror history in that she is actually likable and is an easy protagonist to root for. This shouldn't be underestimated in the underlying success of the film, because when you care about what happens to a character, it's much easier to build the tension.

Also notable is the great Donald Pleasence as the strange and often unhinged Dr. Loomis. He somehow manages to simultaneously add both weight and brief levity to the film, delivering wonderful lines with great passion. He seems to be enjoying himself in the part, and it's infectious.

In fact, one of the most successful scenes in the movie was dictated by Pleasence, according to Carpenter. With Carpenter's blessing, Pleasence made the decision to play the climactic scenario of Myers apparently absorbing bullets, falling out a window and disappearing into the night as ultimately unsurprising to Loomis. It's subtle but chilling...Was that the Bogeyman? As a matter of fact...it was.

Of course, Myers himself is also a huge reason for the film's success. He seems to be omnipresent, appearing in the shadows; standing outside Laurie's room; looking out the window of the old Myers residence. It's a cold take on evil itself, illustrated in the words of Doc Loomis: The blackest eyes...the devil's eyes.

Carpenter and cinematographer Dean Cundey's use of camera and lighting keep things on the creepy side throughout. A particularly inspired (and oft-copied) scene is one where Michael appears from the darkness of a doorway behind a frightened Laurie. It's sheer blackness, and the bluish-white mask subtly comes into view via the simple effect of a room dimmer. It's an extraordinary shot, and just one of many inspired moments in this excellent horror opus.

Also worth noting is Carpenter's spooky and memorable soundtrack. So integral to the success of the film, in fact, that early screenings of the film without the soundtrack were deemed not scary at all. The main theme is exceptionally unusual, with its driving, 5/4 time pulse, echoing The Exorcist's "Tubular Bells." To this day, all around the world, that theme music is identified with the very holiday of Halloween.

The Influence of Halloween 

The film as an influential work is undeniably strong, which is another requirement of any film vying for the title of the very best. Decades later, lesser films copy the main structures, characters and events of the film. The most successful of those types of movies is probably Friday the 13th, a series of films based around the Myers-esque Jason Voorhees, another silent stalker.

Notable are Rob Zombie's "re-imaginings" of the Halloween series with his films Halloween and the much more vilified sequel, Halloween II.

Still, the success of those remakes and the public's interest in the Myers character more than thirty years after John Carpenter's masterpiece was released is yet another reason to give a closer look to the original film as one of, if not THE, greatest horror film of all time.

What do YOU think?