Halloween

Review by Peter

Production Year: 1978
DVD Release Date: August 14, 2007
Studio: Anchor Bay/Starz
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R

In 1978 John Carpenter's small independent film, simply called Halloween, was released. Almost 30 years later it is being hailed as one of, if not the, greatest independent films of all-time and also one of the greatest horror films of all-time. It would catapult co-writer/director Carpenter into a horror film icon, and his character of Michael Myers into a horror icon. After 30 years, the Halloween franchise has produced seven sequels and a remake. But before all this here was the original.

The concept for the franchise was much different than it eventually became. The original concept was for each film to be based upon different stories. But with the popularity of the original and the fan following the series garnered, Michael Myers would eventually become the focal point of all the Halloween movies. The character of Michael Myers is the supposed embodiment of evil, and donning a slightly altered William Shatner "Captain Kirk" mask, he’s able to strike fear into the heart of anyone he encounters. Ordinary suburban teens like Laurie Strode, are forced to believe in boogeymen.

On Halloween night, a young Michael Myers murders his sister in the middle of a nondescript suburban setting. For the next 15 years he is locked away in Smith's Groove Sanitarium, where he is treated by the psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis. Loomis knows the true nature of Michael’s pure evil, and tries everything possible to keep him locked up. Almost 15 years after the original murder on Halloween eve, Michael escapes from Smith's Groove and returns home where he is determined to kill his only remaining family member, his sister Laurie Strode.

John Carpenter's film is proof that a large budget isn’t always necessary to produce a great movie. With an estimated budget of approximately $300,000, Carpenter was able to film a horror masterpiece, capturing the look of autumn perfectly, even though it was filmed in the Spring, and create the illusion that it was actually Halloween. The script was equally great, driven mainly by storyline and suspense, and aided by Carpenter’s superb soundtrack, which kept viewers on the edge of their seats. Halloween should forever be considered not just a great independent film or horror film but a masterpiece of the genre. One that was helped by the superb acting of Donald Pleasance as Dr. Loomis, a role that he has come to embody. And of course the film that launched the career of Jamie Lee Curtis, who was able to move from “scream queen” to seasoned actress.

Video Quality

Available in both anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and full-frame on the disc, the picture boasts a decent video transfer. Color and skin tones are accurately rendered, though the disc is not free from problems. The most obvious flaws are some grain in a few scenes, and print artifacts. For most viewers these flaws will go unnoticed but to the trained eye they are hard to miss.

Audio Quality

Featuring three audio tracks, Dolby Surround 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, and the Original Mono Soundtrack, each provides a unique listening experience. Tops is the Dolby Surround 5.1, with good separation and use of the surround sound atmosphere. John Carpenter’s moody score has never sound so good. The Dolby Digital 2.0 track is also quite good, with adequate separation effects and voice levels. The mono soundtrack offers a decent audio experience but is really intended to satisfy purists who would like to hear the film as it was originally produced.

Special Features

The most significant special feature is the “Halloween Unmasked” 2000 featurette that provides a look at Halloween through the creators of the film. Included are interviews with co-writer/director Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill. Almost everything about Halloween is discussed, from the initial budget to the film’s production and eventual release. It provides a nicely abbreviated overview of this horror classic.

Also included are two trailers, three TV spots and three radio spots, which tend to be very repetitive, along with talent bios and trivia.

Summary

Halloween is considered by many to be a horror classic. This DVD release, while not the best available, does offer a good representation of the film on disc. For true horror fans the Anchor Bay Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition release of Halloween is probably the way to go, but for the casual fans who are only interested in the movie, this DVD is definitely worth the price.