Halloween

Lock your doors. Lock your windows

In 1978, Jamie Lee Curtis was largely unknown to the movie-going public. The daughter of Tony Curtis (star of 1968's The Boston Strangler) and Janet Leigh (who says she's never been comfortable in a shower since being Norman's victim in Hitchcock's movie, Psycho), Jamie Lee Curtis became an overnight star, the "scream queen," with Halloween. Director John Carpenter even cast mother and daughter together the following year in his thriller, The Fog.
The year after that, Jamie Lee Curtis starred in Terror Train (1980), in which a killer on a chartered trip begins killing costumed college frat members on a Halloween or Graduation night train ride, and putting on each victim's costume to go after the next one. Filmed by John Alcott (A Clockwork Orange) in Canada.

Halloween (1978)

Fifteen years ago tonight, they say a local boy almost wiped out his family. And tonight, they say he'll be back. Meanwhile, a baby sitter (Curtis) prepares to put her two young charges to bed. Locked away for years in a mental hospital, the killer escapes and returns to his home to continue his killing spree. When the killing starts, she sends the kids to safety next door video clip, then hides in a closet with slats so she can see him coming into the room. Which he does.

Produced for very little money and a tight shooting schedule, HALLOWEEN was a stunning success when it was released. Cowritten by John Carpenter and his longtime producer Debra Hill, the film set both their careers on fire, working together many times over the next 25 years. The film also turned the slasher movie into a viable, successful genre. HALLOWEEN has been copied, parodied and turned into a franchise of its own, but the original is still considered the best of the bunch. HALLOWEEN was John Carpenter's first foray into horror, and remains the standard to which all other modern horror films are measured.
The film which ushered in the modern age of horror stands well above its many sequels and clones because John Carpenter's taut direction makes it truly scary. Unlike most slasher movies that followed, the body count is fairly low in this one.

Curtis finally turns on her attacker, with help from Michael's psychiatrist (Donald Pleasence). Stabbed and shot, he's finally killed and knocked out of a second-story window by the gunshots (see quotes section below). But when they look out, no one's on the ground . . .

In addition to the movie, Carpenter also wrote the Halloween themesong and background music. Blue Oyster Cult wrote The Reaper themesong for the first movie.
A Reviewer said: "...Rarely have the remoter corners of the Panavision frame been used to such good effect, as shifting volumes of darkness and light reveal the ineluctable presence of a sinister something..."

Halloween II (1981)

Set later the same night (picking up right where the last film ended), this sequel begins as Dr. Loomis pumps evil Mike Myers full of lead, then watches helplessly as the maniac killer stands up again and runs away. Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), the teenager last terrorized by Myers, is taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance to recover from her traumatic ordeal. Fortunately, her wounds from the earlier movie aren't that bad, because the killer (eventually revealed to be her brother Michael Myers, she was the sole survivor 15 years ago) has followed her to the hospital, where he proceeds to kill off staff members. Psychiatrist Donald Pleasence eventually shows up and shoots him some more, but is he really dead this time? (click twice to play)

Joe Bob loved the "Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream" song in the final segment.Movie script co-written by Carpenter.
MonsterVision review & host segments for Halloween 2

Halloween III, Season of the Witch (1983)

No relation to the first two, with a different story, cast and director. Co-producer John Carpenter's Season of the Witch was intended as a separate, stand-alone movie, but the studio decided it would sell better with Halloween 3 preceeding the title. Dan O'Herlihy of the RoboCop movies plays a Satanist who plans to use television to murder millions of children with a Halloween broadcast containing subliminal messages. The critics were not kind to this movie. Carpenter did not direct, or write the story or script, just the new music, including the hilarious tv commercial jingle parody "Silver Shamrock." Click here for thoughts about Halloween 3 and 4 by the artist formerly known as the host of Monstervision, and of course his Drive-In Totals

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Sequel to Halloween 2 - While being moved from a maximum security prison for the criminally insane, Michael regains consciousness and escapes. The trail of carnage leads Dr. Loomis, the psychiatrist all too familiar with Michael's case, to a small town that was the scene of Michael's crimes in the past. Here, we meet Michael's niece (Danielle Harris), who Michael also wants to kill, starting a new trilogy without Jamie Lee Curtis as the subject of Michael's homicidal attention. John Carpenter had no involvement in these three, instead making "They Live" (1988). Note: the next movie description gives away what happens to Myers at the end of this one. Click here for thoughts about Halloween 3 and 4 by the artist formerly known as the host of Monstervision, and of course his Drive-In Totals

Halloween 5 (1989)

When the town police ignore his warnings that the madman Michael Myers has escaped his mineshaft tomb, Dr. Loomis tries to persuade Myers' niece to help him trap the evil killer who has embarked on a bloody rampage through the town.
Halloween 5 review by Joe Bob Briggs

Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Six years after being presumed dead in a fire, and just as the town prepares to finally celebrate Halloween again, Michael Myers returns to Haddonfield to continue his reign of terror, pursued as ever by obsessed psychiatrist Dr. Loomis (Pleasance). Meanwhile, a new family has moved into the old home of serial killer Michael Myers (didn't they wonder why it was so cheap?) and the blood-letting resumes. Psychiatrist Dr. Loomis, who knows Michael better than anyone, is once again called upon to investigate the killings. By now, niece Harris has a baby of her own. Michael is now in league with the Druids (perhaps the studio wanted a link to Halloween 3), but she and baby escape the catacombs, so Michael turns his blind rage on the new family that has moved into his old house. Final Halloween movie with Donald Pleasance. Carpenter had no involvement with this one either, making instead "Village of the Damned" (1995)

Halloween H2O (1998)

Now the headmistress of a Northern California private school, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is still struggling with the horrifying, 20-year-old memories of the maniacal killer Michael Myers. That horror becomes a reality when he suddenly reappears with a vengeance (after a relentless day-and-a-half cross country trek from Illinois, where he killed three more people and stole a victim's car), threatening the lives of Laurie's rebellious son, his girlfriend, and the school security guard. It's up to Laurie to conquer her internal demons and put evil in its place once and for all. A conveniently placed ax helps.

Halloween Resurrection (Halloween 8)

This summer, evil comes home: news about Halloween 8 (archived in 2002), the long-delayed sequel. Jamie Lee Curtis will have at least a cameo and is said to be considering a larger role (see her in the trailer clip below). She told Access Hollywood that her entire career traces back to the Halloween movies. The shadowy Michael Myers is now refered to as "the shape." Due for release July, 2002. Rumor has it that Halloween 9 will have Myers going after Jason of the "Friday the 13th" movies, but who believes rumors? By the way, Halloween 8 will be up against the 3rd "Austin Powers" movie in July 2002, starring comic/actor Michael Myers.
On 12-10-02, it was also released on DVD:
"Michael Myers once again comes home in Halloween Resurrection, featuring Busta Rhymes kicking some serious Myers ass. This special edition includes a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks, audio commentary and deleted scenes, never-before-seen "Dangertainment" video-cam footage shot by the actors, and the trailer. (While early reports indicated that the "Dangertainment" footage would be accessible during the film via the multi-angle function, no details have yet been released, but stay tuned). Director Rick Rosenthal has already clued us in that several cut scenes will most likely be included. Rosenthal also says that they're working to bring a multiple angle format to the disc to allow you to view the entire film directly through the cast's cameras. In other words, you'll be able to experience Dangertainment first hand, much like the character of Myles did in the movie, choosing whichever point-of-view you wish."

trailer with video clips from the movie

Halloween Trivia

* HALLOWEEN includes a clip of the Howard Hawks-Christian Nyby classic, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD. Years later, director John Carpenter would remake that film as THE THING.
* Sam Loomis, the character played by Donald Pleasence, is also the name of Janet Leigh's boyfriend in PSYCHO.
* The film was shot in spring, when the leaves were not in color, so fake leaves were used and, to accommodate the meager budget, reused.
* The mask that Michael Myers wears is a William Shatner mask, only sprayed white to make it look more creepy.
* The film's score is credited to "The Bowling Green Philharmonic," which was actually John Carpenter and a group of musician friends. Carpenter would go on to compose the music, usually keyboard-based, for most of his other films.
* After casting all the other roles with unknown actors, only $20,000 was left in the budget for "Halloween" and the producer wanted a name actor to play Dr. Loomis. The role was offered to Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, but both turned it down. The daughter of Donald Pleasance loved Carpenter's second film (about a remote police station under seige) and begged him to accept the role.
Since the $20,000 was for just one week's work, all of the scenes with Pleasance in them were shot back-to-back in one week.
* Actor Donald Pleasance died after the Halloween 6 was completed, the film is dedicated to him.
* Horror fans: watch for the car that Curtis' real life mom, Janet Leigh, drives in Halloween H20 -- does it look familiar?
* Anne Lockhart, who later played the good witch who helps young Harry Potter in "Troll" (1986), was offered the role of Laurie, but was unavailable. MonsterVision host segments for Troll
* Mike Myers was a completely fictional name in the first Halloween movie. Since then, a comic/actor named Mike Myers "graduated" from Saturday Night Live to do movies including the horror spoof So I Married An Ax Murderer (1993) which shows up occasionally on Comedy Central channel

Halloween Quotes

Was that the bogeyman?--Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), after Michael is shot off a balcony
As a matter of fact...it was.--Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence)
Dr. Loomis audio clips (fan remix)
(send in your favorite quotes)

Adrienne Barbeau

is currently appearing in the HBO tv-series "Carnivale" as the carny's snake dancer, and loves it. "I found a woman near here who actually teaches snake dancing in her home. She has appeared in "The Fog", "Swamp Thing", and co-starred with Bill Maher as an Amazon in "Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death." Of the latter she says, "Actually, I thought that movie was hilarious, but sometimes you take jobs because your basement is flooded." She currently has twin sons with husband Billy Van Zandt, and an older son with ex-husband John Carpenter. She was born 6-11-45 and gave birth to the twins at age 51 according to Zap2it.com

The Halloween movies are available on video and DVD

John Carpenter and Debra Hill continued their partnership through Halloween 9 (2005), when she died of cancer

Visit Boris Karloff, he's lonely

Or Kolchak, the Night Stalker

Return to Monstervision
Or www.Sci-fans.com

More links to follow: Universal Horror (the studio), Donald Pleasance bio

More Halloween movies including clips of the very first one, and The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Jamie Lee Curtis movies

Lock your doors & windows

Click here to hear the Halloween-Mix Midi again

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Host segments now available for the Monstervision marathon of
Friday the 13th, Parts 1,2,3,5 & 6
Not to be confused with the Friday the 13th tv-series

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    Jamie Lee Curtis movies showing in 2007:
Backstory: Halloween (2002, 60 min)
A look at the making of Halloween (1978) inc. film clips and interviews
Wed  May 30  05:00A on American Movie Classics

Act of Violence (1948, Janet Leigh, a businessman is menaced by a someone with a grudge)
Mon  May 14  6:30/9:30pm EST on Turner Classic Movies

Blue Steel (Curtis as cop, trailing the 44 Magnum Killer)
Sun  Jul 22  06:15P on Mystery
Thu  Jul 26  04:00A on Mystery
Tue  Jul 31  06:15P on Mystery
Fri  Aug 10  05:05P & 1:00A on Action

Christmas with the Kranks by John Grisham (comedy, starring Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Tim Allen)
Wed  July 4  10:00A & 7:40P on Wam!
Sun  Jul  8  11:50A & 9:00P on Starz
Mon  Jul  9  08:50A on Starz
Sat  Jul 14  04:50P & 1:15A on Starz Comedy
Mon  Jul 16  01:00A on Starz
Mon  Jul 16  08:20A & 7:15P on Starz
Wed  Jul 25  08:40A & 7:30P on Starz
Sun  Jul 29  06:15P on Starz Comedy
Mon  Jul 30  10:00A & 6:00P on Wam!
Tue  Jul 31  09:30A & 7:15P on Starz
Wed  Aug  1  07:35A, 6:15P & 3:35A on Encore
Fri  Aug  3  08:30A, 3:10P & 10:00P on Starz Kids and Family
Mon  Aug  6  09:30A on Encore
Tue  Aug  7  03:00A on Encore
Fri  Aug 10  02:45P on Encore

Dracula (1979, Frank Langella, Laurence Olivier, Donald Pleasence)
Tue  Aug  7  04:40A on Thrillermax

Drowning Mona (lawman investigates murder of a reviled woman in farcical ensemble piece)
Tue  July 3  11:00A on Encore
Thu  Jul 12  08:45A on Encore
Sat  Jul 21  01:50A on Encore
Mon  Jul 30  12:50P on Encore
Wed  Aug  8  04:50A on Starz Edge
Fri  Aug 10  11:35A, 8:00P & 2:30A on Starz Comedy

A Fish Called Wanda (John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin)
Tue  May 22  01:00P on WE

John Carpenter's The Fog (1980), see also John Carpenter page
Feb 10, 2007 on SciFi Channel

Forever Young (frozen 1930s pilot Mel Gibson wakes up in 1992, Jamie Lee Curtis)
Thu  Apr  5  10:15A on HBO
Thu  May 24  05:15P on HBO Family
Thu  Jul 12  11:45A on More Max

Freaky Friday (2003 remake, mother & daughter switch bodies)
Sat  Jul 14  08:00P on ABC

The Great Escape (1963, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn)
Fri  Jul 27  01:00A on Action
Fri  Jul 27  02:00A on Movie Plex
Thu  Aug  9  04:00A on Action
Thu  Aug  9  05:00A on Movie Plex

Halloween
Fri  Aug 10  9pm/12am EST on Independent Film Channel
Sat  Aug 11  12:15/3:15A EST on Independent Film Channel

Halloween 2
Sat  Dec  2   1:30A on American Movie Classics

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Wed  Apr 11  10:15P on American Movie Classics

Halloween 5
Fri  Mar 30  10:30P on American Movie Classics

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Oct 31, 2006  10:00P & 3:30A on American Movie Classics

Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later (1998, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh)
Tue  June 12  11:30P on Showtime
Sun  June 17  12:15A on Encore
Fri  June 22  09:30P & 5:10A on Starz in Black
Sat  June 23  01:20P on Starz in Black
Sat  June 23  10:00P on Showtime Beyond
Wed  June 27  11:00A & 8:00P on Starz in Black
Sun  July 1  01:00A on Showtime #2
Sun  July 1  06:05P & 2:10A on Starz Edge
Mon  July 2  08:30P on Mystery
Sat  July 7  01:10P & 12:40A on Starz Edge
Thu  Jul 12  11:45A on Starz Edge
Fri  Jul 13  12:10A on Starz Edge
Sat  Jul 14  01:30A on The Movie Channel
Sun  Jul 22  01:15P on Starz Edge
Mon  Jul 23  12:15A on Starz Edge
Wed  Jul 25  03:20P on Starz Edge
Wed  Jul 25  10:50P on Starz Edge
Fri  Jul 27  03:45A on The Movie Channel
Sun  Jul 29  02:35P on Encore Mystery
Sun  Jul 29  10:10P on Encore Mystery
Wed  Aug  1  12:30A on Encore
Wed  Aug  1  03:40P on Starz in Black
Wed  Aug  1  08:00P on Flix Movie Channel

House Arrest (1996 comedy)
June, 2006   07:10A on Cinemax
Fri  Jul 20  09:05A on HD Movies

My Girl (1991, Dan Aykroyd as the mortician, Jamie Lee Curtis)
Wed  Jan 31  09:00A & 8pm on Flix Movie Channel
Tue  Feb  6  07:45A & 8pm on Encore Drama Channel
Tue  Feb 27  07:20A on Showtime Women
Thu  Apr 19  08:00P on ABC's Family Channel

My Girl 2 (1993, same cast)
(not currently scheduled)

Night of the Generals (WW2 murder mystery, Donald Pleasence)
Thu  Aug  2  2:30/5:30P EST on Turner Classic Movies

Terror Train (1980)
Sat  Aug  4  5pm/8pm EST on Fox Movie Channel
Sat  Aug  4  7pm/10pm EST on Fox Movie Channel
Sat  Aug  4  9pm/12am EST on Fox Movie Channel

Trading Places (Curtis, Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy)
Sun  July 15  12:00P & 6:30P on Comedy Central

True Lies (1994, Jamie Lee Curtis as spy Schwarzenegger's wife)
Mon  June 25  4pm/7pm & 9pm/12am EST on Fox Movie Channel
Tue  July 3  4:30/7:30pm & 9pm/12am EST EST on Fox Movie Channel
Fri  Jul 27  08:00P, 10:30P & 1:00A EST on Fox Movie Channel
Sun  Aug  5  10:00P & 2:30A EST on Fox Movie Channel

Virus (1999)
May, 2006  11:50P on Mystery

You Only Live Twice (1967, Donald Pleasence as James Bond villain in hollow mountain)
Fri  Aug  3  09:00A on Spike (TNN)

Biography: Jamie Lee Curtis (60 min, inc. talk with her mother Janet Leigh)
Oct 28, 2006  10:00A on Arts & Entertainment

Biography: Janet Leigh (60 min, 2003)
Feb  6, 2006  09:00A & 3:00P on Biography Channel

On the Set: Christmas with the Kranks (2004, dir. by Chris Columbus. 20 min)
Tue  July 3  04:45A on Wam!
Mon  Jul 30  11:40A on Wam!

Intimate Portrait (2000) Jamie Lee Curtis 
Jan, 2006  on Lifetime Real Women

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Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

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By the way, just until midnight Halloween 2007!

A guest at the Bates Motel has a complaint. Do you:
A) Fix the problem
B) Ignore the complaint
C) Hack her to death with a knife
You'd be surprised how many people answer "C"
Psycho movie page

Note: the above is in javascript. If you can't see javascript get new glasses.

Moustapha Akkad and his daughter, Rima Akkad Monla, were innocent victims of terrorism in Amman, Jordan, while attending a wedding party, when three hotels were bombed in a senseless act of violence in November 2005. Trancas is absolutely devastated with our loss, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the thousands of emails and phone calls from family, friends and fans from around the world. We cannot thank you enough for your support. HalloweenMovies.com
[note: angry Jordanians in the streets are chanting "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi burn in Hell," the leader of al-Qaida in the area]

UPDATE:
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is dead!!! Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and six of his demons were killed in Iraq while hiding in a building June 8, 2006. The location was given to U.S. military by local Iraqis living in the area.

The Taliban is on the run

Note: Halloween audio clips above are from the www.halloweenmovies.com/site/sounds.htm page, March 2001 (if it's still there)
The last time I checked Halloween movies.com it was gone, replaced by this Deadpage graphic

Michael will return in a remake of Halloween on August 31, 2007
MonsterVision's Joe Bob Briggs reviews Sleepaway Camp 2 (15 dead bodies, one pathetic panty-raid)

Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas is set in Halloweentown. Halloweentown 4: Witch University came out October, 2006, with Debbie Reynolds and that guy from HBO's Deadwood. As Count Floyd would say, "Ooooooooo, that's scary!"