John Carpenter's Halloween is a classic film. Oftentimes dubbed as one of the innovators and founders of the Slasher genre, Halloween is the debut of the iconic Michael Myers. As a film, Halloween exceeds on a lot of levels. The acting, which introduced Jamie Lee Curtis, was well-executed and delivered on most accounts, with development of each character making them seem established. A lot of the standard horror tropes debut here as well, and for that reason, familiarity works to the film's detriment when it comes to still holding up today.
I'll admit that I believe the film is lacking in some departments. The fact that it is a classic that ushered in so much from the genre helps make it impervious from criticism, but I still found a lack of creative scares and presence. Just because something is among the first, doesn't mean that it is the most inspired, for a lot of scenes, having Michael Myers pop up and stand, aimless, for several seconds, might help advance the narrative, but it is a trope that was classic even before the film came out. The cinematic score is one of the most memorable and distinctive in history, but, in some instances, I can't help thinking it feels tacked on last minute and unneeded in some scenes.
While I don't believe Halloween holds up on all accounts today, that should only be taken as a minor criticism. The characters are memorable, and the sheer mystery of his character is one of the character's best attributes. Halloween is a good film, and while I don't think it reaches the levels of greatness that its legacy might have you believe, I do think highly of it for paving the way for what has become one of my favorite genres.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
I'll admit that I believe the film is lacking in some departments. The fact that it is a classic that ushered in so much from the genre helps make it impervious from criticism, but I still found a lack of creative scares and presence. Just because something is among the first, doesn't mean that it is the most inspired, for a lot of scenes, having Michael Myers pop up and stand, aimless, for several seconds, might help advance the narrative, but it is a trope that was classic even before the film came out. The cinematic score is one of the most memorable and distinctive in history, but, in some instances, I can't help thinking it feels tacked on last minute and unneeded in some scenes.
While I don't believe Halloween holds up on all accounts today, that should only be taken as a minor criticism. The characters are memorable, and the sheer mystery of his character is one of the character's best attributes. Halloween is a good film, and while I don't think it reaches the levels of greatness that its legacy might have you believe, I do think highly of it for paving the way for what has become one of my favorite genres.
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0