Last night, on October 25, my friend and I watched the 4K Ultra HD edition of the one and the only Halloween. I'm talking about John Carpenter's classic original. The same friend I saw the movie with way, way back in 1978. 10/25 is, by the way, the forty-first anniversary of the release of the tend-setting slasher innovator.
We saw it numerous times since then. When The Fog was released in 1980, it played a local drive-in, and Halloween was the second feature. Later on, in the midst of the slasher heyday, that same drive-in showed Halloween and Friday the 13th. We had seen them both repeatedly, but you bet we were there on Saturday night for that show.
It was a different time. Before, even, VHS was prominently affordable for average people. You had a chance to see a favorite, you damned well took it.
I believe the next time I watched Halloween was on Network television, with the added footage.
I've lost count of how many times I've seen Halloween. On videocassette over and over. DVD, of course. I still own the Extended Edition, which included the scenes used in the TV showings. I suppose I've seen it at least twenty times. Thirty is probably closer to the truth.
.
The last time I saw Halloween was the worst. It was at a revival house in 2016. In the so-called "Hip" section of town. A real arty crowd. The audience jeered, laughed, and yelled inane comments all through the running time. I was disgusted. There ought to be a special, extra hot, place in Hell for inconsiderate cretins who ruin movies and other public events for decent ticket-buyers.
Of course it's Halloween time again. Fall is finally here and I invested in the 4K HD edition of the Carpenter classic. Our plan was to watch it on Friday night, and at the time I was unaware that the date was the anniversary of Halloween's original release.
When Halloween came out, it won over just about everyone. Horror fans, the general public, and critics had to admit it was something very special. Even slasher-hating Siskel and Eggbert sang its praises.
What, exactly, makes Halloween so important to fans? I think a lot of it is how Carpenter depicted small town 1970's America. An idyllic time for many of us, myself included. I saw the movie at the perfect time. I was eighteen. The same age as the young characters of the story.
It's irresistible. The blowsy Autumn weather, teens in that awkward age between youth and adulthood. A clandestine shared joint and the terror of being caught, going out drinking with a buddy, a black and white shocker on the tube, and it's the best night of the year.
But something terrible has descended upon Haddonfield. Death Personified is preying upon the citizens. Especially young people.
We all know about Death from an early age, but as we come of age it becomes more real. Some unfortunates come face-to-face with it earlier, but many humans start to see it firsthand in late youth. It's a sobering element of coming of age.
John Carpenter has stated that he intended for Halloween to stand alone, and no sequel was intended. Who could have predicted what a success the movie would be? The end signified to me that while we may escape Death this time around, it was still afoot, and eventually would catch us all.
Of course there were sequels. I really like Halloween 2, even while I don't think it was necessary. I loved what they did with 3, but at the time fans were incensed. I don't especially like any of the later sequels. I do hold a certain fondness for them all (with the exception of the execrable Halloween: Resurrection), but none of them really work for me.
As for the Rob Zombie remake and its sequel, well, I am glad a lot of people like them, but I found them both to be unwatchable.
Last year's remake or reboot, or whatever it you call it was reasonably entertaining, but not particularly memorable.
Of course the 4K edition we watched was magnificent. Slickness takes away the effectiveness of a lot of classic horror, but Halloween was always a polished movie. It never looked better.
Still, despite the crystal picture and spectacular sound of the 4K disc, I'd trade it in a bloodsoaked minute for a beat-up hundred-foot wide screen, scratchy sound from a crappy speaker, outside in the open night air. Nothing will ever top that.
Written by Mark Sieber
We saw it numerous times since then. When The Fog was released in 1980, it played a local drive-in, and Halloween was the second feature. Later on, in the midst of the slasher heyday, that same drive-in showed Halloween and Friday the 13th. We had seen them both repeatedly, but you bet we were there on Saturday night for that show.
It was a different time. Before, even, VHS was prominently affordable for average people. You had a chance to see a favorite, you damned well took it.
I believe the next time I watched Halloween was on Network television, with the added footage.
I've lost count of how many times I've seen Halloween. On videocassette over and over. DVD, of course. I still own the Extended Edition, which included the scenes used in the TV showings. I suppose I've seen it at least twenty times. Thirty is probably closer to the truth.
.
The last time I saw Halloween was the worst. It was at a revival house in 2016. In the so-called "Hip" section of town. A real arty crowd. The audience jeered, laughed, and yelled inane comments all through the running time. I was disgusted. There ought to be a special, extra hot, place in Hell for inconsiderate cretins who ruin movies and other public events for decent ticket-buyers.
Of course it's Halloween time again. Fall is finally here and I invested in the 4K HD edition of the Carpenter classic. Our plan was to watch it on Friday night, and at the time I was unaware that the date was the anniversary of Halloween's original release.
When Halloween came out, it won over just about everyone. Horror fans, the general public, and critics had to admit it was something very special. Even slasher-hating Siskel and Eggbert sang its praises.
What, exactly, makes Halloween so important to fans? I think a lot of it is how Carpenter depicted small town 1970's America. An idyllic time for many of us, myself included. I saw the movie at the perfect time. I was eighteen. The same age as the young characters of the story.
It's irresistible. The blowsy Autumn weather, teens in that awkward age between youth and adulthood. A clandestine shared joint and the terror of being caught, going out drinking with a buddy, a black and white shocker on the tube, and it's the best night of the year.
But something terrible has descended upon Haddonfield. Death Personified is preying upon the citizens. Especially young people.
We all know about Death from an early age, but as we come of age it becomes more real. Some unfortunates come face-to-face with it earlier, but many humans start to see it firsthand in late youth. It's a sobering element of coming of age.John Carpenter has stated that he intended for Halloween to stand alone, and no sequel was intended. Who could have predicted what a success the movie would be? The end signified to me that while we may escape Death this time around, it was still afoot, and eventually would catch us all.
Of course there were sequels. I really like Halloween 2, even while I don't think it was necessary. I loved what they did with 3, but at the time fans were incensed. I don't especially like any of the later sequels. I do hold a certain fondness for them all (with the exception of the execrable Halloween: Resurrection), but none of them really work for me.
As for the Rob Zombie remake and its sequel, well, I am glad a lot of people like them, but I found them both to be unwatchable.
Last year's remake or reboot, or whatever it you call it was reasonably entertaining, but not particularly memorable.
Of course the 4K edition we watched was magnificent. Slickness takes away the effectiveness of a lot of classic horror, but Halloween was always a polished movie. It never looked better.
Still, despite the crystal picture and spectacular sound of the 4K disc, I'd trade it in a bloodsoaked minute for a beat-up hundred-foot wide screen, scratchy sound from a crappy speaker, outside in the open night air. Nothing will ever top that.
Written by Mark Sieber
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