Halloween (1978)

On Halloween night of 1963, 6-year old Michael Myers stabbed his sister to death. After sitting in a mental hospital for 15 years, Myers escapes and returns to Haddonfield to kill.

Director:

John Carpenter

Writers:

John Carpenter (screenplay), Debra Hill (screenplay)

Stars:

Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald Pleasence	...	Dr. Sam Loomis
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Laurie Strode
Nancy Kyes	...	Annie Brackett (as Nancy Loomis)
P.J. Soles	...	Lynda van der Klok
Charles Cyphers	...	Sheriff Leigh Brackett
Kyle Richards	...	Lindsey Wallace
Brian Andrews	...	Tommy Doyle
John Michael Graham	...	Bob Simms
Nancy Stephens	...	Marion Chambers
Arthur Malet	...	Graveyard Keeper
Mickey Yablans	...	Richie
Brent Le Page	...	Lonnie Elamb
Adam Hollander	...	Keith
Robert Phalen	...	Dr. Terence Wynn
Tony Moran	...	Michael Myers (age 23)

Storyline

The year is 1963, the night: Halloween. Police are called to 43 Lampkin Ln. only to discover that 15 year old Judith Myers has been stabbed to death, by her 6 year-old brother, Michael. After being institutionalized for 15 years, Myers breaks out on the night before Halloween. No one knows, nor wants to find out, what will happen on October 31st 1978 besides Myers' psychiatrist, Dr. Loomis. He knows Michael is coming back to Haddonfield, but by the time the town realizes it, it'll be too late for many people.

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Plot Keywords:

halloween | michael myers | trick or treat | slasher | masked killer | 

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Taglines:

The trick was to stay alive.

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Genres:

Horror | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

JohnCarpenter - movie site Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's Halloween

Filming Locations:

Meridian Avenue & Mission Street, South Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$300,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$47,000,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Compass International Pictures, Falcon International Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 101 min (extended)

Sound Mix:

Mono Stereo (Stereo Scream Sound)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Much credit for the concept must go to its producer Irwin Yablans, who had the concept originally for a horror film called "The Babysitter Murders". Upon further research, Yablans discovered to his surprise that no previous film had been titled "Halloween" and thought it would be a great concept to set these "babysitter murders" on the holiday. With these ideas, Yablans convinced an excited John Carpenter to write and direct a film around them.

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Goofs

(at around 43 mins) When Michael is watching Annie in the kitchen he knocks down and breaks the plant hanging in front of the door. Later when Laurie approaches the same door (at around 1h 13 mins) there is a plant hanging in front of the door.

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Quotes

Dr. Sam Loomis: [after Michael escapes from the mental institution] He's gone! He's gone from here! The evil is gone!

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Crazy Credits

The music for the film -- written and performed by John Carpenter -- is instead credited to "The Bowling Green Philharmonic Orchestra." Carpenter grew up in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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Connections

Spoofed in Curiosity Kills (2014)

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Soundtracks

Don't Fear The Reaper
Written by Donald Roeser
Performed by Blue Öyster Cult
Courtesy C.B.S. Records

User Reviews

THE perfect horror film!

Halloween is one of the best examples of independent film. It's very well made and has more psychological elements to it than you might realize at first glance. It is a simple movie told very well. The music is perfect and is one of the most haunting scores... If you haven't seen this movie yet, you must check it out. The cast is all terrific. I wish they had never made sequel after sequel. The first one was by far the best and should have ended like it did without having a sequel. It was fun to see Jamie Lee Curtis in the movie. She hasn't seemed to age (she's just as gorgeous today, without the hairdo and seventies clothes). The scenes through the mask are one of the scariest things ever!