Halloween (1978)

I really enjoyed seeing this on the big screen again, 40-odd years after John Carpenter introduced us to his brand of slasher-horror with Jamie Lee Curtis great as the flighty young girl "Laurie" who finds herself caught up in the revenge antics of the faceless "Michael Myers" that perhaps only Donald Pleasence ("Loomis") can save her from. The pace and tension build really well - helped by some good use of sound and light (I didn't much care for the over-synthesised score), the supporting screams from PJ Soles and Nancy Kyes and the occasional…

A competent film, with a killer who doesn't seem that ferocious when we read what's in the daily newspapers. Well, before writing a review of this film I have to make a declaration of interest that I think is appropriate: I absolutely hate Halloween, it's one of the days of the year that I can't stand. It's not a festival that belongs to my culture, it's completely foreign to the Portuguese tradition, and a poor excuse for stray teenagers to go to strangers' houses, at inappropriate hours, to bother those who are calmly in their own business. I've…

"His evil, schizophrenic stare..." John Carpenter AKA Dr Sewer, projecting like IMAX and exploiting some poor mentally Ill sod. No atmosphere, some sicko fantasies - albeit details thankfully left off-camera - and charisma-free Jamie Lee Curtis. The routine story goes nowhere.