Matthew Sanchelli's Movie Review of Halloween (1978)

Rating of
4/4

Halloween (1978)

When Horror was Horror
Matthew Sanchelli - wrote on 08/08/07

I may be a bit biased as being a huge horror fanatic, however I have this movie to thank for starting my love for the genre.

This movie is the horror movie of all horror movies. When horror wasn't all, as they say these days...porn and gore. Yes, sure... there was nudity in Carpenter's Halloween; however not as much as you see in the movies today (come on...it was 1978, nudity in movies was "in".)

As for blood. Very little....to pretty much not a single drop of blood was shown in the entire movie.

The scares were all suspense. The dark settings. The quiet neighborhood; that any of us could have grown up in. And here's this masked silent killer skulking around the neighborhood; killing people...unseen by others.

Some may say this movie is very slow and dull. Difficult to sit through. Where's the action. The fast pace. The gore and the sex. It's not that type of movie. How often have you been alone in your house when you heard a noise. When you walk into a room and could swear that the door, that is now open, was shut just a few minutes ago. That as you walk passed a window you think you see something, so when you go back to look again; there's nothing there. It's called imagination.

You are required to call upon your own fears, your own mind to place you in the same situation that the characters are in within the movie.

Anyone who says they love horror movies needs to see this movie. Don't compare it to anything. Don't compare it to todays standards. Watch it for what it is. Pay attention and let yourself sink into it.

Recent Comments

Josh C - wrote on 08/15/07 at 12:08 AM CT

Halloween Review comment

I think you are right with "today's standards" I am a huge horror fan myself and though the older ones can be more creepy and shocking they don't have the leap out at you factor of the new ones. Much of that just has to do with the fast paced style and soundtracks of the new films. I think Dramas hold there age better than horror, though the Exorcist is the scariest movie of all time in my opinion,

Alex - wrote on 08/08/07 at 02:21 PM CT

Halloween Review comment

Good review. Though I disagree with you on the "don't compare it to today's standards." As, I believe thats what makes a movie. Citizen Kane is a perfect example of that as well as "The Killing" by Kubrick - where you can basically watch the old movie, and you can hardly tell it was made 50-60 years ago.

But, I am sure the movie was much better back in the day. Like all horror movies I believe they are best watched a lone with the lights off.

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