October 31, 2008: Halloween
In this 1978 classic we are taken into the world of Michael Myers and introduced to one of the best independent movies ever made – John Carpenter’s Halloween.
As a young boy, Michael Myers stabbed his seventeen year old sister to death. After this event, he is locked away for years in the Smith’s Grove: Warren County Sanitarium. He is put under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis, who had worked with Michael for years, before deciding that Myers needs to be tried as an adult and locked up forever.
The night they planned to escort Myers, he manages to escape, steal a car and return home to Haddonfield, Ill., just in time for Halloween.
We are then introduced to Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, in her first role) who has plans to stay in on Halloween night and watch one of the neighbors kid. Little does she know that Michael is coming home and is planning a killing spree.
The movie becomes a cat and mouse game between Strode and Myers, which would become the staple formula for slasher movies to come.
With out giving too much away, I want to say my favorite scene in this movie involves Strode, Myers, a closet and a wire hanger. If you seen the movie you know what I’m talking about and if you haven’t seen it, you’re in for a treat.
This movie is the standard in which all modern horror films are measured. Halloween deserves all the praise it can get, it’s because of this movie we have films such as Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Without this important film, I doubt slasher movies would have ever been proven to be a successful market.
The movie has spawned sequels that never lived up to the original and also there was a remake of this film in 2007, directed by Rob Zombie.
What I will say about the remake is that I appreciate how Zombie tried something different and new with the franchise, but seeing Myers’ childhood and back-story made the character less scary for me. The less I know about a psychotic killer the better.
I can’t really recommend the remake, I will say only watch it if you have seen the original and then you can form your own opinion on it.
Halloween Bonus: James’ Tips on Surviving a Horror Movie
If a psychotic is chasing you with a chainsaw through a dark forest, find a place to hide and don’t scream. By screaming you’re giving up your position and the person chasing you is as blind in the dark as you are.
When it seems you have killed the monster or killer, you didn’t, so make sure you defend yourself when they come back for their final scare.
If you find a book on how to summon demons, don’t read it.
Please, do not solve any strange puzzles.
If you’re a male and find yourself trapped in a horror movie situation, find the quickest way out, because only the females survive.
Never go camping at a place that has been dubbed “Camp Blood”.
If a huge home is being sold for cheap, please ask the realtor why before you commit to anything.
Never be arrogant, because they are usually picked off first.
Kids, do not let your parents send you to summer camp.
I suggest not to stay at any unchain motels or hotels stick with the franchises.
Angry mothers are more dangerous than I psycho with a chainsaw.
If your friend has a pale face and they’re moaning, they’re not sick they’re a zombie – get away from them.
If you start to hear the Halloween theme, don’t try to find the source, just run.
Do not go down dirt roads.
If you are in a horror situation and you need to split up, I recommend the buddy system. Just make sure your buddy doesn’t leave you to save him or herself instead.
If a killer is chasing you, do not run deeper into the woods. Please … for the sake of survival go somewhere where there is people.
If you your being chased, don’t constantly look back at the killer. I mean he’s not changing positions; he’s always going to be behind you.
Don’t investigate strange noises. If the strange noise comes from upstairs and you are alone, please leave the house.
If your power goes out and you see your neighbor still has power, do not try to fix the fuses. Again, please just leave the house.
Always keep your clothes on.
Do not go skinny-dipping.
Do not drink.
If you are able to get into a house and lock the door, don’t stand by the door and just wait for the killer to start banging on it. Use that time to increase your distances between him and you.
Never say, “Oh … It’s finally over,” because it’s not!
It’s Friday the 13th; do you know what I’m doing? Well, I can tell you that I’m not camping.
Hiding under the covers will not make the killer vanish.
If you are n the woods and you have to relief yourself, don’t wander miles away, because the killer is out there.
If girls are jump roping outside your house, singing about a guy named Freddy, please just move.
If you live on an Elm Street, relocate as fast as you can.
If you were suppose to meet someone at night in the woods and they haven’t shown and you hear someone approaching you. Do not say, “Is that you?” because its not, it’s the freaking killer.
If someone tells you a story about a boy who drowned in a lake and still roams the woods surrounding you, jump in the car and leave.
Don’t rent cabins in the woods for a weekend of partying.
Don’t rob the dead, because that only makes them mad.
Make sure you always have a full tank of gas.
If you do run out of gas, don’t go to the house that’s in the middle of nowhere to use the phone. Keep walking until you reach a neighborhood.
Never take a short cut the locals tell you about. Please always stick to your MapQuest directions.
If you come across a deserted town, don’t explore it; it’s that way for a reason.
Never visit the backwoods of the United States.
If you meet someone named Pumpkinhead, just run.
Avoid Sleepy Hollow and the Western Woods that surround the town.
If locals tell you a story about a legendary ghost, killer or monster – don’t say, “That’s impossible,” because it’s not and most likely you will run into them for just saying that.
Do not say the name Beetlejuice three times.
If you have a pet named gizmo, don’t feed him after midnight, don’t get him wet and please keep him out of the sunlight.
If you’re just a supporting character, there is a good chance you’re not going to survive, no there’s a great chance.
If a mysterious fog blankets your town, you’re pretty much in deep trouble.
If Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis are haunting your house, it’s not really a bad thing, it could be worse.
Don’t expect to be entertained by clowns who just arrived from outer space. In fact if you find yourself in this situation, just leave town.
If Freddy Krueger starts haunting your dreams, remember it’s just a dream and it’s your dream. So, when it’s your dream you can fight back and make out with any outcome you please.
If you’re traveling down a rural road and see a shady character dumping buddies down a pipe, just keep driving. And please don’t go back to investigate the pipe.
Jason Voorhees is NOT afraid of water! SO, if you run into him don’t try to use it against him.
As a young boy, Michael Myers stabbed his seventeen year old sister to death. After this event, he is locked away for years in the Smith’s Grove: Warren County Sanitarium. He is put under the care of Dr. Sam Loomis, who had worked with Michael for years, before deciding that Myers needs to be tried as an adult and locked up forever.
The night they planned to escort Myers, he manages to escape, steal a car and return home to Haddonfield, Ill., just in time for Halloween.
We are then introduced to Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, in her first role) who has plans to stay in on Halloween night and watch one of the neighbors kid. Little does she know that Michael is coming home and is planning a killing spree.
The movie becomes a cat and mouse game between Strode and Myers, which would become the staple formula for slasher movies to come.
With out giving too much away, I want to say my favorite scene in this movie involves Strode, Myers, a closet and a wire hanger. If you seen the movie you know what I’m talking about and if you haven’t seen it, you’re in for a treat.
This movie is the standard in which all modern horror films are measured. Halloween deserves all the praise it can get, it’s because of this movie we have films such as Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Without this important film, I doubt slasher movies would have ever been proven to be a successful market.
The movie has spawned sequels that never lived up to the original and also there was a remake of this film in 2007, directed by Rob Zombie.
What I will say about the remake is that I appreciate how Zombie tried something different and new with the franchise, but seeing Myers’ childhood and back-story made the character less scary for me. The less I know about a psychotic killer the better.
I can’t really recommend the remake, I will say only watch it if you have seen the original and then you can form your own opinion on it.
Halloween Bonus: James’ Tips on Surviving a Horror Movie
If a psychotic is chasing you with a chainsaw through a dark forest, find a place to hide and don’t scream. By screaming you’re giving up your position and the person chasing you is as blind in the dark as you are.
When it seems you have killed the monster or killer, you didn’t, so make sure you defend yourself when they come back for their final scare.
If you find a book on how to summon demons, don’t read it.
Please, do not solve any strange puzzles.
If you’re a male and find yourself trapped in a horror movie situation, find the quickest way out, because only the females survive.
Never go camping at a place that has been dubbed “Camp Blood”.
If a huge home is being sold for cheap, please ask the realtor why before you commit to anything.
Never be arrogant, because they are usually picked off first.
Kids, do not let your parents send you to summer camp.
I suggest not to stay at any unchain motels or hotels stick with the franchises.
Angry mothers are more dangerous than I psycho with a chainsaw.
If your friend has a pale face and they’re moaning, they’re not sick they’re a zombie – get away from them.
If you start to hear the Halloween theme, don’t try to find the source, just run.
Do not go down dirt roads.
If you are in a horror situation and you need to split up, I recommend the buddy system. Just make sure your buddy doesn’t leave you to save him or herself instead.
If a killer is chasing you, do not run deeper into the woods. Please … for the sake of survival go somewhere where there is people.
If you your being chased, don’t constantly look back at the killer. I mean he’s not changing positions; he’s always going to be behind you.
Don’t investigate strange noises. If the strange noise comes from upstairs and you are alone, please leave the house.
If your power goes out and you see your neighbor still has power, do not try to fix the fuses. Again, please just leave the house.
Always keep your clothes on.
Do not go skinny-dipping.
Do not drink.
If you are able to get into a house and lock the door, don’t stand by the door and just wait for the killer to start banging on it. Use that time to increase your distances between him and you.
Never say, “Oh … It’s finally over,” because it’s not!
It’s Friday the 13th; do you know what I’m doing? Well, I can tell you that I’m not camping.
Hiding under the covers will not make the killer vanish.
If you are n the woods and you have to relief yourself, don’t wander miles away, because the killer is out there.
If girls are jump roping outside your house, singing about a guy named Freddy, please just move.
If you live on an Elm Street, relocate as fast as you can.
If you were suppose to meet someone at night in the woods and they haven’t shown and you hear someone approaching you. Do not say, “Is that you?” because its not, it’s the freaking killer.
If someone tells you a story about a boy who drowned in a lake and still roams the woods surrounding you, jump in the car and leave.
Don’t rent cabins in the woods for a weekend of partying.
Don’t rob the dead, because that only makes them mad.
Make sure you always have a full tank of gas.
If you do run out of gas, don’t go to the house that’s in the middle of nowhere to use the phone. Keep walking until you reach a neighborhood.
Never take a short cut the locals tell you about. Please always stick to your MapQuest directions.
If you come across a deserted town, don’t explore it; it’s that way for a reason.
Never visit the backwoods of the United States.
If you meet someone named Pumpkinhead, just run.
Avoid Sleepy Hollow and the Western Woods that surround the town.
If locals tell you a story about a legendary ghost, killer or monster – don’t say, “That’s impossible,” because it’s not and most likely you will run into them for just saying that.
Do not say the name Beetlejuice three times.
If you have a pet named gizmo, don’t feed him after midnight, don’t get him wet and please keep him out of the sunlight.
If you’re just a supporting character, there is a good chance you’re not going to survive, no there’s a great chance.
If a mysterious fog blankets your town, you’re pretty much in deep trouble.
If Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis are haunting your house, it’s not really a bad thing, it could be worse.
Don’t expect to be entertained by clowns who just arrived from outer space. In fact if you find yourself in this situation, just leave town.
If Freddy Krueger starts haunting your dreams, remember it’s just a dream and it’s your dream. So, when it’s your dream you can fight back and make out with any outcome you please.
If you’re traveling down a rural road and see a shady character dumping buddies down a pipe, just keep driving. And please don’t go back to investigate the pipe.
Jason Voorhees is NOT afraid of water! SO, if you run into him don’t try to use it against him.
No comments:
Post a Comment