Written by Sarah Ralph, Image courtesy of Compass International Pictures
Picture this, you’re sitting outside in the dark on a cold and spooky October night. You’re all alone, bundled up at an outdoor theater. It’s the night before Halloween and you listen closely to the sounds of overwhelming laughter while watching Micheal Myers massacre half naked babysitters. At least this was my experience at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival “Countdown to Halloween” showing none other than the 1978 original classic, “Halloween” directed by John Carpenter.
While “Halloween” is notorious for being one of the scariest, most iconic slasher films in the 70s, it hasn’t aged well since its premier 43 years ago. Although “Halloween” set up the horror genre’s most recognizable tropes such as the “final girl” or “the killer never dies,” these tropes have been relentlessly exhausted since the films premiere in 1978. The film industry has dug its own grave making slasher films groan worthy and predictable, recycling “Halloween’s” successful formula over and over again. Carpenter couldn’t have possibly fathomed his impact on the film industry with such an extremely low budget production. Nor could he have predicted the even more terrifying generation of desensitized teens that find cross eyed strangulation and creepy stalking absolutely hilarious instead of spine chilling.
This isn’t to say that “Halloween” is a bad film. In fact, it’s considered the number one horror film in cinematic history. “Halloween” may seem campy now, but it set the standard for modern day horror films. It was a box office hit in the 70s and is the reason why there’s thousands of reboots still being made to this day, 40 years later.
One story device that I applaud the film for is constantly giving a first person-perspective into the killer’s eyes. It quite literally puts the audience under the mask and staring out through the murderers eyes. Carpenter allows the audience to watch the main cast much like Myers ominously does. The camera is often shot on a steady cam to truly capture the feeling of first-person perspective and stalking your prey before you inevitably pounce. This story telling device is truly phenomenal and creative because it increases the audiences’ anxiety for the characters they see before them.
However, the laughter from the audience or the perceived campiness doesn’t make this film any less enjoyable in modern day. It’s just enjoyable in a completely different way. Even though I wasn’t spooked by the very predictable jump scares, I had so much fun laughing with fellow audience members. When Myers resurrected from his death bed for the millionth time. Or when the baby sitters found every possible way to strip off their clothes for a sexy and promiscuous shot. Serial killers are no laughing matter, but I haven’t laughed that hard during a film in a long time. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. Halloween is a time for dressing up and being silly with friends and family.
