Halloween
Quick Summary
John Carpenter's 1978 film Halloween is a seminal work in the horror genre, particularly within the "psycho-slasher" subgenre. The film centers on a terrifying encounter between a psychopathic killer, Michael Myers, and a babysitter named Laurie Strode.12
Halloween is noted for its suspenseful atmosphere and reliance on tension rather than explicit gore, a departure from some later films in the genre. Its success, despite a low budget, spawned numerous imitations and sequels, solidifying its place as a cult classic and a significant influence on horror filmmaking. The film's formula, featuring a ruthless killer and a focus on teenage victims, became a template for many subsequent horror movies.21
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
History of filmThe youth cult and other trends of the late 1960s…Carpenter’s highly successful low-budget chiller Halloween (1978). The formula for producing films of this type begins with the serial murder of teenagers by a ruthless psychotic and adds gratuitous sex and violence, with realistic gore provided by state-of-the-art makeup and special-effects artists. Its success was confirmed by the record-breaking receipts…
Read More…Carpenter’s highly successful low-budget chiller Halloween (1978). The formula for producing films of this type begins with the serial murder of teenagers by a ruthless psychotic and adds gratuitous sex and violence, with realistic gore provided by state-of-the-art makeup and special-effects artists. Its success was confirmed by the record-breaking receipts…
Read More
horror film…best represented by John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978); and science-fiction thrillers, such as Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). The popularity of B-grade, low-budget horror films grew with the introduction in the 1970s of the videocassette and cable television.
Read More…best represented by John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978); and science-fiction thrillers, such as Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979). The popularity of B-grade, low-budget horror films grew with the introduction in the 1970s of the videocassette and cable television.
Read More