Halloween
1978
****
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes, P. J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards, Brian Andrews, John Michael Graham, Nancy Stephens, Arthur Malet, Tony Moran, Will Sandin
15 years after murdering his sister, Michael Myers escapes from a psychiatric hospital and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield just in time for Halloween. Dr. Loomis, who has treated him for years, is convinced that Michael is pure evil. John Carpenter shot his iconic slasher film on a shoestring budget, yet it became a massive commercial success and one of the most influential works in its genre. Carpenter builds suspense through atmosphere and foreboding rather than gore. The opening scene, depicting the original murder from six-year-old Michael's point of view, is deservedly famous, as is Carpenter's haunting electronic score. Jamie Lee Curtis makes her big-screen debut as a teenager babysitting on Halloween. The film was followed by Halloween 2, the first of twelve sequels or remakes released over 44 years.
