Halloween (2 Disc Special Edition) [1978]

What can one say about Halloween that has not been repeated a thousand times? This 1978 classic may not have been the very first slasher stalk em', but it was not far off. What sets Halloween apart from the rest is it's relentlessness in overempowerment. Michael Myers does not stop, the music does not stop, John Carpenter the director does not stop. What other horror movie especially at the time did not care if it's serial killer turned up at the school gates in broad dayylight. Or meanced its would be victims in front of their friends before the sun had gone down? Michael doesn't care, because Michael is a psychopath who wants to get caught, that's the game. And Carpenter executes this to the maximum. I've always wondered if Carpenter really meant to make a classic or if it just happened. Of course when you look at what he went on to make, The Fog, The Thing, then one knows that Carpenter will always be a horror legend, but did he really mean to make such a masterful film at this stage in his career? I say that Halloween is the ultimate No.1. horror film of all time. Though my mind is open and if I come across a movie from any period then who knows if the movie will retain that position? However I have watched close to a thousand horror movies ranging from Universal's Frankenstein right up to what we unfortunetly have now with polished remakes and reboots. But I still haven't found a movie that can challenge Halloween's simplicity but all out tension. Halloween is just pure brillance and pure horror and if you are a horror fan and do not have this movie in your collection then you have more than a gaping hole missing. Now I want to talk about the various dvd's out there on Halloween from Anchor Bay. The first 2 disc set was released in 2001. Disc 1 features a few extras, such as a retrospective and bios, trailers. But disc 2 is a treat as it features the extra 12 mins USA TV version of the film. What's more the dvd box does not mention this extra, so it's a real surprise when you pop the dvd in your machine. Nice. Two years later Anchor Bay released the 25th anniversary. Great picture here and different extras including cast commentary and an 87 min doc on the movie, so well worth getting. However in 2006, Anchor Bay released the 'cash cow' version with just the movie, absolutely no extras, not even chapter selection. So if you are a fan of the movies it is worth getting the 2001 and 2003 versions.

I was in two minds about writing this review. There are so many people here saying "It was this that insprired Friday 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street" and therefore we assume that it must be awesome. However, John Carpenter(the director) may have got his inspiration from other movies such as "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Black Christmas." Do we therefore say, without seeing those movies, that they too were fantastic? Well, in fact yes they were but that is besides the point. I had the privilege of watching my first horror film at about seven years old and that "surprise surprise" was Halloween. The music at the beginning (a quintissential factor of all horror films) was enough to make me want to turn it off but I survived the opening credits and stuck out the movie. I was absolutely blown away and to this day wish I could have been in the cinema when the movie was brought out. To the movie and I think a rough overview will suffice as I'm sure anyone thinking of buying this will know what it is about. Jamie Lee Curtis's performance as Laurie Strode was outstanding, much better than her role in "The Fog" which although good lacked any real strength of association as the viewer was more drawn to that of Hal Holbrook's part. A girl who is typically "good" in the horror sense of the word and surrounded by sex, drink and sharp implements. So to end and I really should be fair to all you other reviewers and say that Halloween indeed was the movie that started a streak of valiant attempts in the 80's (the chessiest of all decades movies, music, hair etc..) such as "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and "Chopping Mall." It would be criminal not to mention the first sequel to "Halloween" aptly named "Halloween 2" as it kicks off at the point where Dr Loomis is firing his last shots. In this we learn more about the background of Michael and of course like in any sequel there is a higher body count. None of the others are worthwhile until you get to "Halloween H20" (don't worry you haven't missed anything just a few failed sex attempts and Michael receiving a lot of punishment.) I feel sure the new DVD is very good indeed, but I will not be purchasing it as I feel that DVD loses the gritty feel of sitting down with a tub of popcorn in a darkened room and getting the sweet BeJesus scared out of you. And remember "Everyone's entitled to one scare on Halloween...."

In an age were society has more or less become desensitised to gore or violence, it's always refreshing to watch a film like Halloween that focusses on the primary motives of a true horror; the tension, and the build-up. Not how cringing a massacre could look like. What's astonishing is that this film exceeded all expectations on a budget of just 150,000 GBP, which in todays market is astonishing, given that the latest Batman film "Dark Night" (which I don't care for, as it in no way competes with Tim Burtons comic-book directing) cost over 37 million pounds to make. Yes, you heard me correct. And does it have the same effect as Halloween?... Nah. If anything, I find it quite naff when I hear about how a new Hollywood "blockbuster" has had millions spent on it. Are the critics suggesting you have to be able to spend millions to buy a good film? The root and soul of a timeless, effective film comes from it's directing, no matter how poor/wooden the acting is. This is evident in Halloween, because contrary to what others say, I do feel Jamie Lee Curtis' role isn't as firm as the other characters. Nether the less, because of the superb directing, it's almost impossible to flaw the acting or anything about the film. The story is also solid which is something else missing these days. It's laughable to watch such films as Snakes on a Plane, where to make up an excuse for people dyeing because a snake ate their crotch, they bung up a 5 minute story at the start about some fella witnessing a dodgy deal. This then allows over an hour of belly-aching deaths that are supposed to be intense! Michael Myers, who you will see plays the role as our speechless but insane killer, is without the doubt the most interesting film character you'll see in years, if any horror/thriller film (along with Hannibal Lector, the original course...). The way his presence is captured through the camera looking through his freaky white mask, and the excellent use of breathing helps you to absorb his presence. His actions also lead to you make your mind up about his mentality. Some scenes look as though he's proud of the way he killed a victim, some not so... The reason I say in the title it's "of it's time" is because I believe, obviously, the film would have had more of an impact on you back in 1978 than 2008. This is understandable; the tension building horrors that incorporated use of violence, such as Alien which was released around the same time in the 70's, was a whole new type of filming. But now because film's are released every 5 minutes and were given endless sequels of worn our gorey films, such productions as Halloween are a rarity, and should be treasured not just for their original impact and influence on the film industry, but as a refreshing change from what we have now. This isn't the only reason I missed a star. For the product 'itself', I found the DVD quality no where near what it should for the apparent "THX Mastering". Given that their are still specs of white dots and dirt appearing on the film on some frames, it's apparent that George Lucas' men at THX have not put any effort into cleaning this up. From what I can gather on the back of the case, it merely states that mastered it on a new roll of film... What's the point in that? All in all, Halloween is a classic horror; It does without too much graphic violence and gore, and focusses on putting you on the edge of your seat. Looking at the prices from 3rd party dealers here on Amazon, this really is a must!

There's nothing I can add about the quality of "Halloween"; it's a classic horror film and deservedly so. Most viewers, like me, know the film frame for frame so the fright factor has faded but it's so athmospheric in it's buildup and it simply transports you to a state of mind few horror films manage to do. That's at least why I can watch it endlessly, it seems. This Blu-ray is great I thought. I already had the 2001 DVD release (with a big THX advert on it) and I remember that edition blew me away back then. It was a huge leap compared to the VHS I had just about worn out. This Blu-ray image is superb and is easily an improvement over any DVD edition; but I didn't purchase the initial Blu-ray release a few years back so I can't comment on that. I have done a bit of research at Blu-ray review sites and, incredibly enough, a few of them have had negative comments concerning the visual image. I can't see anything wrong with it; simply beautiful to look at. Audio wise I thought the mono track sounded a bit off. Extras are fine but a little underwhelming. The new commentary is a fun listen and Jamie Lee Curtis's feature; "The Night She Came Home" is better than I thought. The Television scenes are wisely presented as a bonus feature rather then inserted into the film but they're fun to go through. Potential buyers should know that the film has English subtitles but there's no mention of it anywhere. Also, there's no second disc as is listed on the site. Great film and a great edition; and the Steelbook is nice.

I have been a fan of the Halloween film franchise since I was a teenager. I originally had a copy of this film on vhs, so it's nice to finally be able to buy it on dvd. There are 2 discs and a lenticular cover with is impressive to look at. Apparently there is an extended tv version of the film that is a bit longer than the actual film. It was cut for advertisements on tv. I look forward to watching this film again, it's been a long time since I have seen it, but I always watch it on Halloween. John Carpenter, didn't have a big budget while this film was being made, so that's why it is of low quality and there is a lack of blood. However I think this film is effective in a psychological way, it's disturbing. I have seen this film at least 20 times and i'm still not tired of it :) This is a must have for and slasher horror fan. If you love horror films then either watch or buy this film right now!

Halloween,the night he came home! I really have to say only positive things about this movie.Its a classic and I saw it for the very first time only two weeks ago.I sure was really hooked by this movie and its story.I love horror but not every horror movie from the early 70s is Always so creepy and full of tension(I rule out Texas chainsaw massacre) cause that movie was really awesome.But certain horror movies are really not good and poorly done but this changed the all thing.I was seeing people posting pictures of this movie and everybody said that it was awesome and so I had to buy it and see it and I think I will see it other many times!.Michael Myers is so creepy,only seeing the shadow of that man in the movie can creepy you out,with that knife ready to kill people.This movie is a mix of emotions ,its creepy,fascinating.only one thing I was dissapointed about,there was no special feature and no subtitles and also you couldn't even skip on a scene without put the movie in fast forward but the movie itself is Amazing.

Satisfied with.y dvd

Sensational film. The best horror film every made in my opinion. Everyone needs this in their collection. Almost spooky season as well.

Ho acquistato la versione uk in blu ray 35th anniversary e devo dire che la qualita' audio/video e' ottima. Un capolavoro del genere merita il giusto trattamento. Speriamo in un cofanetto con tutta la serie. Magari come quella anchor bay (perfetta) da 15 blu ray e packaging spettacolare. Magari!!!

Great quality great movie

During the fall of 1978, the devil came home - to Haddonfield, Illinois. Upon its initial release, Halloween had difficulty finding its traction with moviegoers, but after a few positive reviews, John Carpenter's horror flick was off and running. Even more spectacular is that fact that the film was produced on a ridiculously tiny budget of $325,000, eventually cashing in big with an impressive $70 million. By now, most everyone is probably at least vaguely familiar with the concept of the boogeyman and quite possibly even well-acquainted with the boogeyman himself - the man in the white mask that walked around stalking babysitters, Michael Myers. This cold-hearted killer has engrained himself in pop culture, creating legions of fans, endless merchandise, and several sequels featuring the character, including two reboot films. Myers is the villain everyone loves to hate, having been forged into the spitting image of evil - unrelenting in his mission to stalk and eventually eliminate his prey. The creation of the Michael Myers, one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in the horror genre, leaves little doubt that Halloween is the greatest horror film ever created. Directed by John Carpenter (Assault on Precinct 13, The Fog) and co-written with Debra Hill, Halloween stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, who along with her high school friends, Anne (Nancy Kyes), and Lynda (P.J. Soles), is stalked by an escaped murderous mental patient, named Michael Myers (portrayed by five different actors, including Nick Castle & Tony Moran). Desperate to find him before he kills innocent people in the small town of Haddonfiled, Illinois, Myers' doctor, Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence), sets out to stop him. However, Myers' whereabouts is unknown to everyone, except for two young children, Tommy Doyle (Brian Andrews) and Lindsey Wallace (Kyle Richards). Charles Cyphers also stars in a supporting role as Sheriff Leigh Brackett. Halloween is not only the best horror film ever created, but it's also the most important horror film ever created - okay, maybe it's the second most important film, slightly behind Psycho. Following in the footsteps of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Halloween continues the trend of a modern day killer unleashing his fury on the innocent women of suburbia. Both of these films took the simple premise of a mysterious killer shadowing beautiful women - just before mutilating them, and made it, well - hip and frighteningly entertaining. There's just something so nail-biting and downright creepy about a man lurking in the shadows waiting to strike a moment's notice. While Halloween is responsible for elevating the career of director John Carpenter, it's also responsible for introducing Jamie Lee Curtis - the (at the time) unknown daughter of "scream queen" and Psycho star, Janet Leigh. The amount of screen time devoted to her character was quite sizable, regardless of the fact she'd never acted in a feature role. Regardless, Curtis demonstrated the scared, vulnerable qualities required to be the leading lady in this unnerving, often unpredictable slasher flick. She's innocent, likeable, and had the make-up of a future Hollywood star - even though it's safe to say no one could have predicted the future roles she'd amass. She would go on to star in several popular films, including True Lies, Trading Places, and three Halloween sequels (Halloween 2, Halloween H2O, and Halloween: Resurrection). Today, John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis are the top names that casual movie lovers typically associate with Halloween, but let's not forget that back in 1978, there was only one star of Halloween (pre-release): Donald Pleasence. As the hard-nosed Dr. Sam Loomis, Pleasence has the film's most memorable lines, including the famous "...the devil's eyes" line. He took on a role that he was incredibly uncertain of at the time - and wasn't even the first choice for the character. As such a low-budget production, Halloween was unable to gain the interest of original sought-after, popular actors Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Still, Pleasence turned out to be the right man for the role of Dr. Loomis - which quickly became the role that would define the rest of her career. His professionalism illuminates this role as the overly concerned doctor, and he obviously become a fan favorite - which is never more evident in the way he returned to the role for four sequels (five Halloween films in total). The success and legacy of Halloween led to the creation of several similar, yet moderately unique horror films, including Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. Regardless of the success of those individual franchises, Halloween still stands out as the one film that jump-started the slasher craze of the 1980s and beyond. Without Halloween, there's little doubt that the more recent horror franchises, like Scream, Saw, and a slew of easily forgettable knockoffs, would have enjoyed the same successes that they achieved. And, while the slasher "craze" is currently non-existent (at least for the moment) from overuse and a lack of progressive originality, there's little chance Michael Myers won't rise from the ashes again one day to stalk babysitters (or his female relatives if you liked the direction of the sequels). Overall and on its own, the original Halloween is the best and most important horror film ever conceived or created. Even today, the story is as solid as ever, but the acting, camera shots (in which we see through the killer's eyes), and imagination also have withstood the test of time. Sure, the film owes some of its success to Psycho, but the character of Michael Myers/The Shape/The Boogeyman has taken on a life all its own - which eclipses the wildest dreams of his creators. The fan base of Halloween is strong, despite that fact that the original conception might not be as scary to this generation as it was the previous generations. Although the inclusion of several sequels to the franchise certainly diluted the original storyline, Halloween will forever and always be one of the greatest films (and not just of the horror genre) to ever grace the big screen. GRADE: A FNDNreview.com

Haddonfield, Illinois. 31. Oktober 1978. Laurie, Annie und Lynda wollen den Halloween-Abend gemeinsam verbringen. Laurie muss bei Tommy Doyle babysitten, Annie nebenan bei der kleinen Lindsey (eigentlich würde sich Annie viel lieber mit Paul treffen, doch der hat Hausarrest) und Lynda sucht immer noch nach einem Plätzchen, wo sie mit ihrem Freund Bob rummachen kann. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt ahnen die drei Mädchen noch nicht, dass Michael Myers, der als Sechsjähriger seine Schwester Judith an Halloween mit dem Küchenmesser tranchierte, nach fünfzehn Jahren aus dem Smith's Grove Sanatorium (in das man ihn für immer wegsperren wollte) entkommen und ihnen bereits auf den Fersen ist... "Er holt dich heut!" - "Der schwarze Mann kommt!" - "Wer hat Angst vorm schwarzen Mann?" "Laurie, der schwarze Mann ist da draußen, sieh nur!" Mit der 19-jährigen Jamie Lee Curtis (Prom Night: Die Nacht des Schlächters, Die Glücksritter, Ein Fisch namens Wanda, True Lies; Tochter von Tony Curtis (Manche mögen's heiß, Die 2, Flucht in Ketten) und Janet Leigh (Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho), mit ihrer Mutter in John Carpenters The Fog: Nebel des Grauens) als Laurie Strode "Du liebes bisschen, du brauchst ja 'nen Möbelwagen für deine Schulbücher!" ("Es ist echt tragisch, dass du niemals ausgehst!" - "Die Jungs glauben, ich bin zu intelligent!") "Ruhig bleiben, Laurie. Es ist doch nichts!" - "Jetzt glaubst du schon, Männer hinter Hecken zu sehen!" Nancy Loomis (Carpenters Assault: Anschlag bei Nacht '76, The Fog: Nebel des Grauens, Linda Challis in Halloween 3; war mit Halloween 3-Regisseur Tommy Lee Wallace verheiratet, die beiden haben 2 Kinder) als Tochter vom Sheriff Annie Brackett "Oh Paul, ich find dich so toll!" - "Ich denke, Paul hat Hausarrest?" ("Heute Abend ist so ziemlich alles schiefgegangen. Erst hab ich meine Sachen mit Butter bekleckert und dann bin ich auch noch im Waschküchenfenster steckengeblieben!") P.J. Soles (Carrie: Des Satans jüngste Tochter, Stimme der Lehrerin von Lauries Enkelin Allyson in Halloween '18; von 1978 bis 1983 mit Dennis Quaid verheiratet) als Lynda "Mist, ich hab mein Chemie-Buch vergessen!" - "Na wenn schon, ich vergesse immer mein Chemie-Buch! Und mein Mathe-Buch und mein Französisch-Buch und mein Physik-Buch! Wer braucht heutzutage noch Bücher?" ("Es ist total irre, sag ich dir. Morgen früh probieren wir noch die neuen Anfeuerungsrufe und nachmittags ist dann das Spiel. Um fünf Uhr muss ich zum Friseur und um acht beginnt der Tanz. Ich hab das Gefühl, ich flipp noch aus!" - "Ich hab morgen wieder mal gar nichts vor." - "Deine eigene Schuld und du tust mir überhaupt nicht leid!") "Also was ist, treffen wir uns heute Abend?" - "Ich mach Babysitter bei den Doyles, nur drei Häuser weiter. Wir könnten uns Gesellschaft leisten." - "Na, das wär die Sache, da hätte ich drei Möglichkeiten: Schlafende Kinder hüten, von Lynda was in Sachen Liebe lernen oder mit dir hochgeistige Gespräche führen..." Die beiden Kinder – "Heute Abend werde ich dir Konkurrenz machen, Laurie. Sechs Stunden Horrorfilm! Die kleine Lindsey Wallace wird gar nicht wissen, was los ist!" ("Laurie, gibt's den schwarzen Mann?") Brian Andrews (11) als Tommy Doyle "Wo will denn der große Kürbis mit dem kleinen Stöpsel hin?" ("Kommst du heut Abend rüber zu uns?" - "Aber natürlich, wie abgesprochen." - "Machen wir 'ne Laterne?" - "Sicher." - "Sehen wir uns 'nen Horrorfilm an?") die 9-jährige Kyle Richards (18 Folgen Unsere kleine Farm '75-82, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends; Tante von Paris Hilton!) als Lindsey "Sei schön artig!" - "Bin ich doch immer!" ("Wie wär's denn, wenn du zusammen mit Tommy Doyle fernsiehst, das wär doch klasse, nicht?" - "Au ja!") "Ich hab den schwarzen Mann gesehen! Er ist da draußen!" - "Es gibt keinen schwarzen Mann!" - "Ist wieder mal typisch, keiner glaubt mir!" - "Ich glaube dir, Tommy!" (Lindsey) John Michael Graham als Lyndas Freund Bob "Amüsiert euch gut!" - "Worauf du dich verlassen kannst!" ("Okay, hör zu: Wir gehen also rein und quatschen erst ein bisschen. Annie wird versuchen, Lindsey abzulenken, und wir verschwinden nach oben, gleich links ins erste Schlafzimmer, gut, nicht?" - "Ja, wo ich dir dann sofort die Sachen runterreiße!" - "Halt! Mach mir nicht die Bluse kaputt, die war teuer!") "Möchtest du ein Bier?" - "Ja." - "Ist das alles, was du zu sagen hast?" - "Ja." "Ich bin gleich wieder da. Zieh dich bloß nicht an!" Donald Pleasence (1919-1995, Ernst Stavro Blofeld in James Bond: Man lebt nur zweimal, Gesprengte Ketten, Die phantastische Reise, George Lucas THX 1138, Carpenters Die Fürsten der Dunkelheit, als Danglars mit Jamie Lees Vater Tony Curtis (Mondego) in Der Graf von Monte Christo '75) als Michaels Arzt Dr. Sam Loomis "Dieser Teufel ist entkommen!" - "Es war Ihr Patient, Doktor. Auf seine Unberechenbarkeit hätten Sie hinweisen müssen!" - "Ich HABE darauf hingewiesen! Aber keiner hat zugehört!" ("Er ist auf dem Weg hierher! Sie müssen mir glauben, Sheriff, er kommt bestimmt nach Haddonfield!") "Ich hab ihn vor 15 Jahren kennengelernt. Man sagte mir, es sei ein hoffnungsloser Fall. Kein Verstand, kein Gewissen und auch nicht das elementarste Differenzierungsvermögen zwischen Leben und Tod, zwischen Gut und Böse, Recht oder Unrecht. Ich traf auf ein 6-jähriges Kind mit einem blassen, farblosen, emotionslosen Blick und den schwärzesten Augen, teuflischen Augen! Ich habe acht Jahre lang versucht, mit ihm Kontakt zu bekommen, dann nochmal sieben Jahre, um zu verhindern, dass er jemals wieder auf freien Fuß gesetzt wird! Ich wusste zu gut, was sich hinter diesen Augen verbirgt: Das absolut BÖSE!" Nancy Stephens (mit Pleasence in Carpenters Die Klapperschlange; seit 1981 mit Regisseur Rick Rosenthal (Halloween 2, Halloween: Resurrection) verheiratet, die beiden haben 3 Kinder) als Krankenschwester Marion Chambers "Haben Sie besondere Anweisungen für mich?" - "Seien Sie sich nur im Klaren darüber, dass es vielleicht nicht ganz einfach sein wird. Unterschätzen Sie es bloß nicht!" - "Sollten wir statt von 'es' nicht lieber von 'ihm' sprechen?" ("Sie wollen also nicht, dass er jemals wieder rauskommt?" - "Stimmt. Niemals!") Robert Phalen (1937-1995, Carpenters Starman, Die drei Tage des Condor) als Dr. Wynn "Ich kann nichts weiter tun." - "Doch, Sie können ans Telefon gehen und ihnen sagen, wer hier gestern Abend geflohen ist, und ihnen auch ganz präzis sagen, wo er hinwill!" - "Wo er wahrscheinlich hinwill." - "Ich vertrödle hier nur meine Zeit!" - "Sam, Haddonfield ist über 150 Meilen von hier entfernt! Und er kann überhaupt nicht Auto fahren!" - "Gestern Abend hat er's aber sehr gut gekonnt! Vielleicht hat es ihm hier jemand beigebracht!" Charles Cyphers (mit Phalen in Carpenters Das unsichtbare Auge, mit Pleasence & Stephens in Die Klapperschlange, mit seiner Filmtochter Annie in Assault: Anschlag bei Nacht & The Fog) als Sheriff Leigh Brackett "Was ist denn passiert?" - "Ach, ein Einbruch in die Eisenwarenhandlung. Wahrscheinlich Jugendliche. Sie haben ein paar Masken entwendet, ein Seil und ein paar Messer!" ("Ist das Haus bewohnt?" - "Nein. Seit 1963, als das damals hier passierte, steht es leer. Die Kinder von Haddonfield glauben, dass es da drin spukt!" - "Vielleicht haben sie recht!") "Er wartete jahrelang, auf diese Nacht! Der leibhaftige Tod ist in Ihre kleine Stadt gekommen, Sheriff!" Peter Griffith (1933-2001, von 1952 bis 1961 mit Alfred Hitchcocks "Lieblingsblondine" Tipi Hedren (Die Vögel, Marnie) verheiratet: Vater von "Working Girl" Melanie Griffith, Opa von "Ana Steele" Dakota Johnson) als Lauries Vater "Vergiss nicht die Schlüssel zum Myers-Haus zu bringen." - "Nein, bestimmt nicht!" - "Die wollen sich gegen halb elf das Haus ansehen. Leg den Schlüssel unter die Matte!" Sandy Johnson (American Teens) als Michael Schwester Judith "Dann sind wir also ganz allein?" - "Michael treibt sich hier irgendwo rum..." David Kyle als Judiths Freund "Gehen wir nach oben?" - "Okay." und Nick Castle (Studienkumpel von Carpenter, schrieb mit ihm zusammen Die Klapperschlange) als Michael Myers "The Shape" ("Er hat seit 15 Jahren kein einziges Wort gesagt!") "Sein Schicksal war ihm vorausbestimmt! Und am Tage der Abrechnung, da hatte es ihn dann eingeholt." Regie führte im Jahr 1978 (Originaltitel: Halloween) mit einem Budget von 325.000 $ der 30-jährige US-Amerikaner John Carpenter (The Fog: Nebel des Grauens, Die Klapperschlange, Das Ding aus einer anderen Welt, Stephen Kings Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, Die Fürsten der Dunkelheit, Sie leben), der auch die Musik komponierte und gemeinsam mit Produzentin Debra Hill (1950-2005) das Drehbuch schrieb. HALLOWEEN ist eine der kommerziell erfolgreichsten Horrorfilm-Reihen. Bis 2022 folgten zwölf weitere Teile. Halloween Ends (2022) starte am 13. Oktober in den deutschen Kinos, die Blu-ray (FSK18) erscheint am 29. Dezember. 2. HALLOWEEN II – DAS GRAUEN KEHRT ZURÜCK (1981) 4/5**** unmittelbare Fortsetzung: spielt noch in derselben Nacht, hauptsächlich im Krankenhaus mit Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lance Guest, Leo Rossi, Nancy Stephens, Charles Cyphers & Dick Warlock als Michael, Regie: Rick Rosenthal (drehte auch Teil 8); seit 1983 indiziert, 1990 eingezogen und beschlagnahmt 3. HALLOWEEN III – SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982) 4/5**** OHNE Michael Myers! (nur als Cameo im Fernsehen) mit Tom Atkins als Dr. Challis, Dan O'Herlihy als Conal Cochran, Stacey Nelkin als Ellie, Nancy Loomis (Annie Brackett aus Teil 1) als Linda Challis, Regie & Drehbuch: Tommy Lee Wallace (Fright Night 2, Stephen Kings Es '90; Szenenbildner vom Original, er entwarf die Maske, als Vorlage diente ihm eine von "Capt. Kirk" William Shatner); 1987 indiziert, 2012 nach 25 Jahren vom Index gestrichen und ab 16 freigegeben 4. HALLOWEEN IV – MICHAEL MYERS KEHRT ZURÜCK (1988) 3/5*** Zehn Jahre nach Teil 1 macht Michael Jagd auf seine Nichte mit Donald Pleasence, der 11-jährigen Danielle Harris (Annie Brackett im Remake '07) als Nichte Jamie, Ellie Cornell als Jamies Stiefschwester Rachel & George P. Wilbur als Michael, Regie: Dwight H. Little (Zum Töten freigegeben); 1994 indiziert, 2013 vom Index gestrichen und ab 16 Jahren freigegeben 5. HALLOWEEN V – DIE RACHE DES MICHAEL MYERS (1989) 2/5** unmittelbare Fortsetzung von Teil 4 mit Donald Pleasence, Danielle Harris & Don Shanks (Nakoma in 36 Folgen Der Mann in den Bergen '77-78) als Michael, Regie: Dominique Othenin-Girard (Omen IV: Das Erwachen); 1992 indiziert, 2013 vom Index gestrichen und ab 16 Jahren freigegeben 6. HALLOWEEN VI – DER FLUCH DES MICHAEL MYERS (1995) 4/5**** mehr oder weniger Fortsetzung von Teil 5 (einige Jahre später, Jamie hat ein Kind) mit Donald Pleasence (verstarb während der Dreharbeiten), "Ant-Man" Paul Rudd als Tommy Doyle, Marianne Hagan als Kara Strode, Kim Darby (Mattie Ross in True Grit '69) als Debra Strode, Mitchell Ryan als Dr. Wynn (Figur aus Teil 1), J.C. Brandy als Jamie & George P. Wilbur als Michael, Regie: Joe Chappelle; seit 2007 indiziert 7. HALLOWEEN H20 – 20 Jahre später (1998) 4/5**** knüpft wieder an den zweiten Teil an und ignoriert die Vorgänger mit Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett (gab hier sein Leinwanddebüt) als Lauries Sohn John, die 17-jährige Michelle Williams (4 Oscar-Nominierungen, u.a. für My Week with Marilyn) als Molly, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe als Sarah, "Das Wunderkind Tate" Adam Hann-Byrd als Charlie, Adam Arkin (Sohn von Alan Arkin) als Schulpsychologe, LL Cool J als Wachmann Ronny, Curtis Mutter Janet Leigh als Norma (Bates?), der 17-jährige Joseph Gordon-Levitt als Jimmy, Nancy Stephens (Marion Chambers!) & Chris Durand als Michael, Regie: Steve Miner (Freitag der 13. Teile 2+3, Lake Placid, Day of the Dead); FSK16 ungekürzt 8. HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION (2002) 3/5*** Fortsetzung von Teil 7: Michael tötet in einer Reality-Show mit Bianca Kajlich, Ryan Merriman (Final Destination 3), Rapper Busta Rhymes, Supermodel Tyra Banks (Schöpferin, Produzentin & Moderatorin von America's Next Top Model), Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck in 72 Folgen Battlestar Galactica), Jamie Lee Curtis & Brad Loree als Michael, Regie: Rick Rosenthal (drehte auch Teil 2, seit 1981 mit "Marion Chambers" Nancy Stephens verheiratet); FSK18 ungekürzt 9. HALLOWEEN (2007) 3/5*** Neuverfilmung mit Scout Taylor-Compton als Laurie Strode, Malcolm McDowell (Uhrwerk Orange) als Dr. Loomis, Danielle Harris (Nichte Jamie in Teil 4+5) als Annie, Kristina Klebe (Nichte von "Winnetou" Pierre Brice) als Lynda, Skyler Gisondo (11, The Amazing Spider-Man 1+2, Nachts im Museum 3, Vacation: Wir sind die Griswolds) als Tommy Doyle, Brad Dourif (Chucky die Mörderpuppe, Grima Schlangenzunge in Der Herr der Ringe) als Sheriff Brackett, Dee Wallace-Stone (Wes Cravens The Hills have Eyes '77) als Lauries Adoptivmutter Cynthia Strode, Sheri Moon Zombie (die Frau des Regisseurs) als Michaels Mutter Deborah Myers & Taylor Mane (Wrestler Big Sky, Tag-Team-Partner von Kevin Nash) als Michael, Regie: Rob Zombie (Das Haus der 1000 Leichen); Kinofassung: FSK18 ungekürzt, Director's Cut (ca. 11 min. länger): 2008 indiziert, im Juli 2021 vom Index gestrichen 10. HALLOWEEN II (2009) 2/5** Fortsetzung der Neuverfilmung wieder mit Scout Taylor-Compton, Malcolm McDowell, Danielle Harris, Brad Dourif, Sheri Moon Zombie & Taylor Mane als Michael, Regie & Drehbuch: Rob Zombie; SPIO/JK (ca. 1 min. gekürzt): seit 2011 indiziert, ungekürzt: ungeprüft (indiziert), Kaufhausfassung (FSK18): ca. 3 min. gekürzt 11. HALLOWEEN (2018) 4/5**** Fortsetzung des Originals (40 Jahre später!), die sämtliche Geschehnisse und Verwandtschaftsenthüllungen seit Teil 1 ignoriert mit Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer (Lauries Tochter Karen), Andi Matichak (Lauries Enkelin Allyson), Dylan Arnold als Cameron Elam, Will Patton als Officer Hawkins und Nick Castle(!) & James Jude Courtney als Michael, Regie: David Gordon Green (Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends); FSK16 ungekürzt 12. HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021) 4/5**** unmittelbare Fortsetzung von Teil 11, spielt noch in derselben Nacht mit Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Anthony Michael Hall (Breakfast Club, L.I.S.A.) als Tommy Doyle, Dylan Arnold, Will Patton, Kyle Richards wieder als Lindsey, Nancy Stephens als Marion Chambers, Charles Cyphers als Leigh Brackett und Nick Castle & James Jude Courtney als Michael, Regie: David Gordon Green; FSK18 ungekürzt (Kinofassung 105 Minuten, Extended Cut 109 Minuten) Serienmörder Myers trägt (meistens) eine weiße Maske und einen dunklen Overall, spricht nicht und tötet bevorzugt mit einem langen Küchenmesser. Seine fiktive Geschichte lässt sich wie folgt rekonstruieren: Am 19. Oktober 1957 wird Michael Myers in Haddonfield, Illinois, geboren. In einer kalten Halloween-Nacht im Jahr 1963 ermordet der sechs Jahre alte Junge seine 15-jährige Schwester Judith auf brutale Weise durch mehrere Messerstiche. Daraufhin wird Michael ins Smith's Grove Sanatorium verbannt, wo er die nächsten 15 Jahre seines Lebens verbringt. Er schweigt die ganze Zeit, ist teilnahmslos und gilt als untherapierbar. Am 30. Oktober 1978 gelingt ihm die Flucht. Er kehrt in seine Heimatstadt zurück und beginnt am 31. Oktober 1978 einen mittlerweile 44 Jahre lang anhaltenden blutigen Amoklauf. "Ein Mensch würde das nicht tun." - "Er ist kein Mensch!" _Fazit: 91 Minuten Meilenstein des Horror-Kinos und Mutter alles Slasher-Filme mit Scream-Queen Jamie Lee Curtis ("Oh Gott! Helft mir bitte!!!") und dem legendären Kürbisschlitzer Michael Myers (mit seiner weißen William-Shatner-Maske). Veredelt wird der ultimative Feiertags-Schocker mit der Musik von Regisseur John Carpenter, plus dem Song aus dem Autoradio: (Don't Fear) The Reaper (1976) von Blue Oyster Cult. "Carpenters Halloween imaginierte mit bis dahin nie gesehener Effizienz und Eleganz den Einbruch des absolut Bösen in den amerikanischen Alltag. Gleichsam schrecklich und schön, konnte der Film durch seine suggestive Bildsprache, den genial-minimalistische Score und die narrative Reduktion auf das Wesentliche das Horrorgenre nicht nur neu definieren, sondern letztlich transzendieren. Zu Recht gilt er heute als eines der wichtigsten Werke des Weltkinos" (Spiegel). "Halloween war erst Carpenters dritter Film als Regisseur und doch sein einflussreichster. Die von ihm zitierten und weiter entwickelten Stilmittel sollten ein Genre fortan prägen. Mit Halloween schuf er das Slasher-Genre, das erst in den 1990er Jahren mit Wes Cravens Scream seinen ironischen Höhepunkt und das vermeintliche Ende fand. Für die Entwicklung des Genres liegt die Bedeutung von Halloween und die Figur des Micheal Myers auf der Hand: Wie Jason Voorhees (Freitag der 13.), Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) sowie Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) und Pinhead (Hellraiser) zählt auch Michael Myers zu den prototypischen Gestalten des Horrorfilms" (Filmstarts). "Für die heutige Jugend ist Halloween sicher zu ruhig und die Menschen, die hier ein blutiges Massaker erwarten, werden enttäuscht sein. Wer sich jedoch einer exzellenten Atmosphäre hingeben kann, der erlebt hier einen der besten Horrorfilme überhaupt" (Cinemaforever). "Natürlich ist Halloween in den 40 Jahren seit seinem Bestehen ziemlich in die Jahre gekommen. Anstatt in Massen die Leute abzuschlachten, versteht sich der Pionier des Slasher-Genres mehr auf das Belauern der Beute" (Film-Rezensionen). "Mag sein, dass der Film nicht viel Handlung bietet und einen langen Anlauf nimmt, ehe sich die Geschichte in dem oft kopierten Finale entlädt. Man darf nicht vergessen, wie viele Ideen, die hier neu waren, durch die zahllosen Kopien in 40 Jahren zum Klischee geworden sind" (Treffpunkt Kritik). Funfacts: Produzentin und Co-Autorin Debra Hill (Carpenters damalige Freundin) stammte aus Haddonfield, New Jersey. Laurie Strode ("Jeden Tag eine gute Tat, fabelhaft!") war der Name einer von Carpenters Ex-Freundinnen. Sam Loomis hieß der Liebhaber von Marion Crane (Curtis Mutter Janet Leigh) in Hitchcocks Psycho (1960) und Tommy Doyle war der Name des Detectives in Hitchcocks Das Fenster zum Hof (1954). Laurie und Tommy schauen sich im Fernsehen Das Ding aus einer anderen Welt (1951) an. Carpenter inszenierte 1982 eine Neuverfilmung mit "Klapperschlange" Kurt Russell in der Hauptrolle. Der andere Film, der zu sehen ist, ist Alarm im Weltall (Forbidden Planet 1956). HALLOWEEN – DIE NACHT DES GRAUENS (1978) ist seit 1998 FSK16 ungekürzt (vorher FSK18), außerdem existiert eine um ca. zehn Minuten längere TV-Fassung (insgesamt 3 Szenen mehr). "Meisterwerk, Meisterwerk, Meisterwerk! Alles an diesem Film ist ikonisch. Was simplistisch anmuten mag, speist sich in Wahrheit aus einem formvollendeten Minimalismus, der sich wie ein kalter Würgegriff um den Hals des Zuschauers legt und damals wie heute packt, bedrängt, verstört" (Moviebreak). Für mich wie immer subjektiv und reine Geschmackssache: nostalgische 5/5***** Halloween-Kürbisse | Note 1 ------------------------------ EXTRAS (der Blu-ray): Audiokommentar von Regisseur John Carpenter, Jamie Lee Curtis und Debra Hill, Interviews 12:23 (u.a. Charles Cyphers, P.J. Soles, Brian Andrews, Nancy Loomis), An den Originalschauplätzen: 25 Jahre später 10:34, Die Heiligen Stätten des Horrorgenres: Das Myers-Haus 17:45, Spots & Trailer (3 Spots 0:31, 0:32, 0:11, 2 Trailer 2:32, 2:40), außerdem gibt es ein Wendecover. Bildformat: 2.35:1 (16:9 High Definition 1080p), Sprache/Ton: Deutsch, Englisch (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, DTS 2.0), Untertitel: Deutsch "Heute ist HALLOWEEN! Da darf jeder jeden mal so richtig erschrecken!"

I will split this review into two parts - The Movie and The Blu Ray. Part One - The Movie. Not many people will argue that John Carpenter's seminal horror classic "Halloween" would not rank as one of the top suspense/horror films of all time. In fact, it may actually be the most influential horror film of all time (even surpassing Alfred Hitchcock's timeless classic "Psycho" in this regard). Like 'Psycho', 'Halloween' affected the moviegoers long after initially seeing it in the theaters. It wasn't long after that imitators such as 'Friday the 13th', 'My Bloody Valentine', 'The Funhouse', and 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (among many, many others) used the 'Halloween' formula of a psychotic killer after helpless, unsuspecting teenagers to great effect. It has been 35 years since it's initital release, and yet 'Halloween' still maintains a lofty perch on the horror landscape and is still a beloved holiday classic (despite being terribly re-made by Rob Zombie, who has no business touching a classic like this), culminating in annual holiday theater re-runs as well as finding a special place as the final film showed (on Halloween night) on AMC's yearly 13+ day 'Fear Fest' horror film marathon. It's hard to list many movies that have held their grips on the minds and hearts of moviegoers over years and decades like 'Halloween' has. The plot is so well known that I wont even attempt to go into it. I will instead describe my first encounter with this film. Originally I had seen the sequel 'Halloween II' first. So, I was already familiar with Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, but there were obviously details that were omitted from the second film because the filmmakers assumed that the viewer had already seen the original. Fast forward to Halloween night, 1992 - a saturday. After a night of trick-or-treating I retreated to my bedroom with my generous Halloween haul to enjoy some candy and some TV on my "huge" 19 inch RCA color tv (having retired my 13 in. black and white Zenith the prior year). I orignially planned a night of NES, but didn't want to have to stop every minute or so to open another piece of candy, so I tuned in WDRB-41 (the Louisville area Fox affiliate) instead, and just before 10:00 p.m. saw that 'Halloween' was due to air. I had never seen it and decided to go ahead and watch (I recorded it on VHS as well). I loved it and immediately after popped in my old VHS recording of 'Halloween II' from an old tv airing on WGN 9 and watched that all the way through, mainly so I could see how the pieces fit together. My first impressions of the original film were that I thought it was one of the coolest horror movies I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to watch it again on my recorded VHS, and did so the next morning. The viewing had such an effect on me that I remember it so vividly now, more than 20 years later. In the simplest of terms, 'Halloween' is a masterpiece of psychological horror. Carpenter drew on inspiration from not only Afred Hitchcock, but directors such as Howard Hawkes (who he pays homage to in the film with Laurie and Tommy watching Hawkes film "The Thing From Another World") and even elements from Stanley Kubrick as well. It is an amazing movie and there's no wonder why it is universally praised as being one of the top 100 films of all-time. Part Two - The Blu Ray. Although I expected the picture to be far better (after being spoiled by the amazing restoration jobs done on Spielberg films "Jaws", "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial", and "Raiders of the Lost Ark", the film does look better than it ever has, with deep blacks and rich vibrant colors (particularly in things like pumpkins and grass/trees, etc.). I did, however, expect a bit more from the Dean Cundey helmed HD transfer and was a bit disappointed, but not much. The film still looks amazing and maintains just the right level of film grain. The sound mix is great and really enhances the mood of the picture. The coolest thing about the Blu Ray release, however, is the Carpenter/Curtis commentary track which I will update this review with my thoughts on once I listen to it this weekend. I've been waiting for this for years, since listening to the Carpenter/Russell commentaries on "The Thing" and "Big Trouble in Little China". Overall, this is a great Blu Ray release of one of the greatest films of all-time.