“Halloween” DVD Review
So what can I add about this movie? How it’s a bonafide classic? That it’s still one of the most tense and chilling horror movies around? While it is different than the horror movies of today, it’s still recognized for how groundbreaking this movie truly is. Halloween is the movie that started it all, the slasher/horror genre, and all the assorted offsprings. And, thankfully, even all these years later, it’s still scary. So, let’s move onto the synopsis and get to the goods.
Fifteen years ago, Michael Myers brutally murdered his sister. Now, after escaping from a mental hospital, he’s back to relive his grisly crime again, and again…and again. This is Halloween like you’ve never seen or heard it before! Halloween has been fully restored under the supervision of Lucasfilm’s THX digital mastering Services. The DVD was transferred by the award-winning colorist Adam Adams (Terminator 2, Titanic) from a new 35mm interpositive (made from the original camera negative) and approved by the film’s cinematographer Dean Cundey (Jurassic Park, Who Framed Roger Rabbit). The new Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack was created by Chace Productions in association with Alan Howarth using the original 16–track music studio master and the recently discovered original 35mm magnetic dialogue and effects tracks.
Like my poorly-worded intro says, what can I say about Halloween that hasn’t already been said? It’s a solid movie, one that everyone should really see. Whether you’re a movie fan, a horror movie fan, or just a casual moviegoer, this is a movie that everyone should see. I understand that this movie isn’t like horror movies that we see today. It’s not like the torture porn we’re privy to in theatres today.
So what is Halloween. It’s a tight story with great scares, great actors, and some of the most chilling music you’ll ever hear in a horror movie. It’s a bonafide classic in the genre, becoming unknowingly the first of what would become basically the predominant sub-genre in the horror category. John Carpenter truly did change the face of horror with this film, a film that has been gone over repeatedly with a fine tooth comb, every aspect gone over in exhaustive detail. However, when you boil it down, it’s still the story of a troubled man, a man of evil, and his killing spree. It’s much more than that, as a few of the worthy sequels would demonstrate. Personally, I find Halloween II and Halloween: H20 to be probably the best of those sequels as they actually carry the more relevant and thoughtful aspects of the story itself. The rest are either best left forgotten, or worth watching for some laughs and a couple cheap scares.
This is a movie that is so embedded in pop culture psyche that there’s really no need to go over the plot. If you’ve never seen this movie, you should. And since the Rob Zombie-helmed remake is currently in theatres, you may want to watch this before you watch that one. It’s a very different take on the classic Halloween story, one which looks at Michael himself, but one that’s worth catching if you’re at least curious how the original can be updated to today’s very different horror movie standards. It is different, I will say. But nothing can top a classic like this. Moviegoers today may not appreciate it or find it boring, as some people I know did, but it’s a classic. And it’s a great movie that’s actually scary. And you just can’t beat that tense lead to the climax (or the scene where Laurie, out hero, is trapped in a closet as Myers closes in on her). If you don’t own this movie, or haven’t seen it, now is your chance.
So, how’s the DVD? Well, with the new Halloween remake now in theatres, Anchor Bay quickly whipped out a nice one-disc release for the classic movie. The disc contains both the anamorphic widescreen and full-frame presentations of the films with some assorted goodies thrown in. Included is the theatrical trailer, TV Spots, a radio spot, some talent bios, a still gallery, a behind the scenes still gallery, and a short featurette called Halloween Unmasked 2000.These extras are merely excerpts from a bigger release Anchor Bay released a few years ago. Hardcore fans may want to seek that version out, but casual fans may want to pick this up. If fans are looking for a new transfer of the film, then perhaps they may want to consider this release.
It goes without saying that Halloween (or Halloween: Restored as the press release calls it) comes Recommended for those wanting to see a great movie. If you already own this movie in one of the many previous editions, there’s nothing new here aside from the new transfer. Now, I’m not well versed on the previous releases of this movie, so you may want to do some research before laying down the cash. However, if you don’t own the movie, then here is your chance. It’s a great movie from start to finish, a great horror flick shrouded in mystery and tension. It’s a nice look back when movies didn’t rely solely on jump scenes and torture. It’s exciting from start to finish, one that is worth checking out.
Halloween is now available on DVD.