Questions: Halloween (John Carpenter, 1978)

HALLOWEEN (John Carpenter, 1978)

1. How does the start exemplify a common technical code convention of the horror genre? 

The point-of-view shot used gives the audience a restricted view, showing only the important things, much like a tunnel-vision view. For example, Mike peering through the window, taking the knife, and using the effect of the mask over the eyes, it censors the killing of his sister, while still giving a clear indication of what's happening. Along with this, the use of low-key, mostly ambient, lighting helps to emphasize the dark themes within the film, enforcing the idea that bad and evil people/things come out at night. 

2. How does the setting fit the horror genre?

The night of Halloween is the most infamous day of the year for being linked to horror. Using this, the audience expects something supernatural or evil to appear, which is played upon in the scene where Laurie goes to a neighbour for help, and they close the blinds and shut off the lights. As well as this, the use of the psychiatric centre links to the negative stigma of the 'mentally ill', and how a lot of these kinds of people are used as plot points within horror movies of the time. In the same scene, there is lightning and rain, and it is dark, adding more to the horror element. Also, the idea of these things happening in a normal town, within a seemingly normal home, was very topical at the time, with the news about serial killings within western countries becoming more and more publicized with the growth of media. It was far closer to home than they thought.

3. What iconography of 'innocence' do we hear or see early on?

The first appearance of true innocence is through Laurie, as we learn she's virginal, and when told that her friend had told the boy she likes how she felt about him, she was incredibly embarrassed. However, there is the juxtaposition with Mike Myers in the opening scene, a child that should be innocent, yet is not. The innocence is through the costume in which his parents dressed him up in, giving a seemingly innocent appearance to someone that is not. This adds more to the idea of these horror films being closer to home than people, and the horror creators, before this time may have thought. 

4. What was the main industry impact of Halloween?

The main impact upon the horror industry was bringing everything closer to home with the idea of 'slashers'. Because of the reasonably original idea at the time, many films copied the concept and created their own versions, with their own killers. 

5. Name some 'slasher' films which followed on from Halloween.

After inspiring a new trend in horror movies, some of the 'slasher' films that followed include a few of the most iconic slasher films to date. These include, Friday the 13th (1979), Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Terror Train (1980), Hell Night (1981), The Slayer (1982), My Bloody Valentine (1981), Prom Night (1980), and more. 

6. What are the four plot rules of the 'slasher' film sub-genre which Halloween began? 

The plot rules within slasher films are as follows; Firstly, a traumatic event in the past creates a killer. In Halloween's case, Mike Myers kills his sister, and is taken away to a psychiatric centre. Secondly, the killer returns to the site of the event, typically on a specific date, such as Friday the 13th, or Halloween, to use a calendar motif within the title. Third,  the killers stalks and kills (usually very graphically) a group of teenagers, most commonly with a weapon of some sort, e.g. an axe, or a knife. Lastly,  a 'final girl' usually androgynous and virginal, survives and thwarts the killer, although in most cases, they are never entirely stopped, and end up escaping. 

7. Give three ways in which Laurie is androgynous.

Laurie's physical appearance alone gives her quite an androgynous appearance, with a strong jawline, a deep voice, and her clothing is typically 'unflattering', and not as sexualised as the other girls within the movie, with long, calf-length skirts, high-neck jumpers, long socks/leggings, and so on. She also appears to be wearing no make-up. Along with this, she has the 'final girl' stereotype, where she is able to fight the killer, managing to survive and apparently kill him more than once.

8. What does the extract mean by a 'reactionary sexual agenda'?

A reactionary sexual agenda is the idea that some people, mostly teenagers, are distracted by sex rather than anything else, which is typical of horror films at this time, and because of this, the teenagers are punished for their lack of attention.

9.How does the director, John Carpenter, counter the suggestion that Halloween had a reactionary sexual agenda?

John Carpenter said that the reaction was not intentional, but the teenagers who were distracted by sex were punished because they were too distracted, and did not notice the threat.

10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?

According to John Carpenter (and Sam Loomis), the only reason why he killed his sister is because he is evil. Sam Loomis had been trying to help him for years before he realised there is no way to help him, that he is just the embodiment of evil.