Customer Reviews

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition) (1978)

5 star:		(305)
4 star:		(72)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

Once Halloween was Samhain, the one night of the year when the dead returned to cause trouble for the living.

Well, Michael Myers wasn't dead, but on "Halloween" he returned to cause trouble for the people of his hometown, with all its dark houses and teenage victims. And John Carpenter's masterpiece lives up to its reputation: creepy, eerie, harrowing, and full of solid acting from Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis.

On Halloween, 1963, young Michael Myers lurked outside the house while his sister had sex with her boyfriend. After he left, Michael put on a mask, picked up a knife, and stabbed his sister to death.

Fifteen years later, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is about to take Myers to a legal hearing, when Myers (Nick Castle) breaks open the psych hospital and escapes in Loomis' car. On Halloween, teenage Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) notices a silent, masked figure popping up and disappearing near her school, house, and neighborhood.

Despite this, she goes about her babysitting duties, even taking care of another girl's charge overnight. The only problem is, the girl is dead, and so is another pal and her boyfriend. Dr. Loomis is staking out Myers' old home, unaware that Myers is now prowling the house where Laurie is staying -- and there seems to be no way to avoid the knife-wielding "evil."

It sounds like a thousand knockoff movies made since then, but "Halloween" formed the original mold. And like any other groundbreaker, it is the most stripped-down, intense example of the genre -- little gore, little graphic violence, but the way it's handled is enough to make your hair stand on end, and make you go to bed with a gun under your pillow.

And Carpenter handles the spookiness beautifully -- initially, the story is pleasantly average -- teen gossip, small-town atmosphere, and chatter about boyfriends, dances and babysitting. It has the occasional spooky moment -- such as Myers popping out of a hedge to stare at Laurie -- but isn't really scary just yet. But as Myers starts bumping off teenagers, the plot darkens and twists.

Carpenter spins up a claustrophobic, trapped feeling, partly due to a shadowy old house full of windows and doors, any of which could be Myers' way in. You can't help but jump with every shadow. And Carpenter sprinkles the plot with unspeakably creepy moments -- Myers quietly slithering in a window above Laurie, or dressing as a ghost with only his heavy breathing to identify him.

Curtis was the original scream queen thanks to this movie, and she does an amazing job -- even when she's racing around pounding on doors and shrieking, she seems realistic. Pleasance is just as good as Loomis, who is determined and full of dread at what his patient is, but also has his moments of humour (like when he frightens some pranksters at the Myers house). And though we only see Myers' face a few times, his masked face, silent movements and heavy breathing are the stuff of nightmare.

"Halloween" was a more psychological, atmospheric kind of horror, and it did its job almost too well. The original slasher movie -- harrowing, eerie, and petrifying.

this movie is pretty scary. It's well directed and well acted. This movie is a true classic.

Being a die hard "Nightmare on Elm street" fan, I bought this set as a present for my boyfriend. I have to admit I was not disappointed and he absolutely loved it. The extras are awesome and just the box itself is worth every single penny. Collectors and Halloween fans should buy this.

great movie enjoyed it on bluray and it was delivered on time and in great condition will buy again, thanks for the purchase!!

Once Halloween was Samhain, the one night of the year when the dead returned to cause trouble for the living.

Well, Michael Myers wasn't dead, but on "Halloween" he returned to cause trouble for the people of his hometown, with all its dark houses and teenage victims. And John Carpenter's masterpiece lives up to its reputation: creepy, eerie, harrowing, and full of solid acting from Donald Pleasance and Jamie Lee Curtis.

On Halloween, 1963, young Michael Myers lurked outside the house while his sister had sex with her boyfriend. After he left, Michael put on a mask, picked up a knife, and stabbed his sister to death.

Fifteen years later, Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is about to take Myers to a legal hearing, when Myers (Nick Castle) breaks open the psych hospital and escapes in Loomis' car. On Halloween, teenage Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) notices a silent, masked figure popping up and disappearing near her school, house, and neighborhood.

Despite this, she goes about her babysitting duties, even taking care of another girl's charge overnight. The only problem is, the girl is dead, and so is another pal and her boyfriend. Dr. Loomis is staking out Myers' old home, unaware that Myers is now prowling the house where Laurie is staying -- and there seems to be no way to avoid the knife-wielding "evil."

It sounds like a thousand knockoff movies made since then, but "Halloween" formed the original mold. And like any other groundbreaker, it is the most stripped-down, intense example of the genre -- little gore, little graphic violence, but the way it's handled is enough to make your hair stand on end, and make you go to bed with a gun under your pillow.

And Carpenter handles the spookiness beautifully -- initially, the story is pleasantly average -- teen gossip, small-town atmosphere, and chatter about boyfriends, dances and babysitting. It has the occasional spooky moment -- such as Myers popping out of a hedge to stare at Laurie -- but isn't really scary just yet. But as Myers starts bumping off teenagers, the plot darkens and twists.

Carpenter spins up a claustrophobic, trapped feeling, partly due to a shadowy old house full of windows and doors, any of which could be Myers' way in. You can't help but jump with every shadow. And Carpenter sprinkles the plot with unspeakably creepy moments -- Myers quietly slithering in a window above Laurie, or dressing as a ghost with only his heavy breathing to identify him.

Curtis was the original scream queen thanks to this movie, and she does an amazing job -- even when she's racing around pounding on doors and shrieking, she seems realistic. Pleasance is just as good as Loomis, who is determined and full of dread at what his patient is, but also has his moments of humour (like when he frightens some pranksters at the Myers house). And though we only see Myers' face a few times, his masked face, silent movements and heavy breathing are the stuff of nightmare.

"Halloween" was a more psychological, atmospheric kind of horror, and it did its job almost too well. The original slasher movie -- harrowing, eerie, and petrifying.

That's a line given to the 'virginal' Laurie Strode played by scream-queen turned legit-actress Jamie Lee Curtis in THE horror movie that started the 80s slasher-flick frenzy.

The music alone is enough to give you the creeps; and John Carpenter manages to do a lot more with a relatively low budget compared to the more big-budget stylised horror flicks that have been released ever since.

The only problem is the thin plot: There really is no reason for the killings; you don't find out why Michael Myers does the things he does until part 2; and even then: Laurie Strode is his main target -- why is he killing everyone else? And the whole sibling connection is rather confusing (was Laurie Strode born after Michael killed his first sister, or was she already born?).

Also, some geographical issues: where exactly is Michael Myers's house compared to the houses Laurie Strode and her two friends are in? Dr Loomis (Donald Pleasance) seems to be near by (he sees the children running from the house Laurie is in); the car that Michael Myers rode in to Haddonfield is parked right outside and Dr Loomis doesn't notice this?

Regardless though, a great horror film that relies more on suspense and atmosphere than gore; in fact, I think the even-less gory TV version is better.

Halloween was the very first horror movie I saw as a kid, at age 4.Ever since then, no Halloween or anytime of the year is complete for me without Dr.Loomis, Laurie Strode, Sheriff Brackett, and of course the man himself, Michael Myers. This movie epitomizes everything that Halloween is..the bogeyman laying in the dark shadow of the room , waiting for the perfect moment to strike..It's got everything..From the typical American small town, horror movies in the city just don't work..The great horror flicks of all time:Halloween, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Amityville Horror, Last House on the Left, The Town That Dreaded Sundown, and Scream, they all took place in small towns or in the middles of nowhere..
Plus Halloween films for me have always somehow managed to get the intangible down:Atmosphere.They nail the Halloween , late fall atmsophere perfectly..I loved the whole bunch of them..I'm a sucker for horror though. I also love all the Friday the 13ths, Texas Chainsaws, Screams, and Nightmares.

Halloween is definitely the film that inspired the first wave of horror movies. It clearly inspired Friday The 13th and A Nightmare On Elm Street.

When Michael Myers brutally murdered his sister Judith he was sent to a children's hospital for a life sentence. But after serving 15 years he escaped and travelled to the small town of Haddonfield where he stalks 3 young women Laurie, Annie and Lynda. It also happens to be Halloween night when he comes out of the shadows and definitely gives them a scare to remember!

Everything about Halloween is 1st class entertainment! John Carpenter doesn't rely on lots of gore to make this movie a classic. He relies on suspense which works like a charm! The music score is also terrifying and the now famous Halloween tune will haunt me forever after watching this film!

It's really fun to see a young Jamie Lee Curtis running around scared because in this day and age you don't think of her being able to play the virginal heroine! Clearly it was down to her that the stereotype was even created in the first place!!!

With excellent supportive performances from Donald Pleasence, Nancy Loomis and PJ Soles this film will always live on!

This is the best horror movie ever in my opinion because it was the first to ever really scare me.

Their are two much of these special edtion's.. -Out on
DVD.. -Their is even the talked about Television version
which I've seen on T.V. -From time two time.. -And; -Anchor
Bay home Entertainment don't know how two put a real
delux special edition of this cult classic.. -Of all time's..

I'm talking about.. -John Carpenter's.. -Halloween.. -A
freshly fast paced horror slasher that imitated; -"Friday
the 13th.. -Which created the term.. -Horror Slasher.. -At
that time in; -1980.. -That one was directed by; -Sean S.
Cunningham.. -Ho directed it.. -Now incomming; -John
Carpenter.. -A low budget film maker ho wanted two make
his first feature horror flick for those ho really

Want pure horror movie.. -Yes.. -He gave us the edge of
what he needed in his film.. -It is the edge of the monster
him self.. -Michael Myer's.. -Ho was a little boy ho had
butchard his sister in the same house where Laurie Strode
drop's off the key at the Myer's place.. -Right..

At the beginning of the film.. -We are introduce two
Sam Loomis.. -Played by the really cool actor.. -Donald
Pleasence.. -Ho try's out his best performance.. -The
film don't seem two need his character a lot.. -But
he just hold's up the blend of his dialoge.. -And take's
it seriously for us two understand what monster he is
dealing with.. -Dr. -Loomis learn's that Michael has
escaped from; -Smith Grove .. -And is planning a surprise

Welcome home party for; -Laurie Strode.. -Jamie Lee Curtis.
Ho will become known as the scream queen..! -In the early
80's.. -And other nameless scream queen name's..! -After
Michael get's away with his doctor's; -official car..! -He
is ready two strike on Halloween.. -That's when the next
day come's.. -Luarie is on her way two drop off the key at
the myers house.. -We are introduce two Tommy Doyle..

Played by; -Brian Andrews..! -Ho seems like an annoyance
two Laurie about his belief in this hole boogeyman myth..?
later on in the film.. -Laurie is being stalked by Michael.
from his home.. -Two the school..! -Laurie is then ask by
her friends of what her plan's are.. -As they tell her
their plan's for the holiday..! -But we all know what is
going two happen.. -Their..? -Tonight..! -Right..!

This is a horror slasher..! -These horror type's will know
what these kid's; -teenager's will do on a holiday..?
So Luarie is about two baby sit Tommy Doyle.. -Tommy asks
her about Lonny teasing him about the boogeyman..! -Annie
call's and Laurie is disturb that she asked Ben Traimmer
two come ask Laurie two the dance.. -Just in a while as
the barking dog annoy's; -Annie..! -So Michael is watching
Annie.. -At the widow.. -Walk's away.. -As she is talking

on the phone that she may be the pest problem of the family
and the dog is her replacement.. -Which makes me laugh..
then Laurie is shocked and angry at Annie for asking Ben
Traimmer two take out Laurie Strode.. -Ho get's a bit
tad jealous..! -Then Annie hangs up the phone..! -Here's
Lester barking so loud.. -Michael kill's the mutt..?

Annie walk's out two the Laundry room where she gets
changed.. -Get's trap.. -Michael is around the Laundry
back way where he sees her.. -Annie call's for the
pesky little girl.. -Linsday..! -Ho goe's out two get
her out..! -Paul has called; -she and Linsday go out
two the back kitchen.. -As she talk's two Paul..?

So Annie take's Lindsey two Tommy Doyle's..! -House..!
Where Laurie is baby sitting with him..? -She is
invited over two sleep for the night..? -Annie asks
if she take's care of her she will talk two Ben
Traimmer two not ask her out..! -The Jealousy their..?
And Annie is attack by; -Michael in her red car..?

Then two sex crazed..! -Student's..! -Bob and Linda..!
Spend the night..! -as they do the sex stuff..? -The
two get killed by; -Michael..! -In a violent way..!

Laurie is survied by the killer stalking her after her
encounter and attack.. -At the both houses..! -Dr.
Loomis shoot's his monster at the end..

Sorry for spoiling this review..! -This is for those
ho don't really care in seeing Halloween.. -Rather just
watching this review..!

I just like two say that I've hope that Anchor Bay
Home Entertainmeet..! -Need two learn two make up their
mind's which special edition's.. -Is right for us fan's..!
It is just a waste of time..?

But doe's not accomplish any thing..! -I've really enjoy
the theatricle Version instead..! -The T.V. -Version was
interesting when I saw it again on my friend's
DVD..!

John Carpenter's. -"Halloween.." -1978.. -Still a great
slasher.. -The script is really bitter..? -The characters
don't seem two have a purpose for this flick..! -But it is
about the monster and are heroin ho doe's it in any

better way..