A detached killer, Michael Myers, makes his way out of the mental institution and goes back to the Illinois town where he killed his sister fifteen years earlier, intending to cause trouble on Halloween night. Donald Pleasence portrays Myers’ understandably worried doctor. John Carpenter's "Halloween" (1978) is considered a foundational work and model for the slasher movies that became popular in the 1980s, establishing features like an unstoppable killer wearing a mask, jump scares, the “final girl” trope, and a sense of being unkillable. Of course, "Halloween" drew inspiration from earlier horror films or near-slasher movies, such as "Psycho" (1960), "Dementia 13" (1963), "A Bay of Blood" (1971) “Torso” (1973), “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974), and “Black Christmas” (1974). The “Friday the 13th” (1980) series and its sequels built on the "Halloween" formula, incorporating other elements like a summer camp setting and a killer who becomes increasingly supernatural. While I personally find the “Friday” movies more enjoyable, “Halloween” possesses a certain sophistication that many later slashers lack, such as the rather straightforward “The Slumber Party Massacre” (1982). It also maintains a serious tone unlike those that added humor and campiness, like "Friday the 13th Part 3" (1982). The film creates an effective atmosphere with the sanitarium escape scene in the rain and the Halloween night sequences. This unsettling feeling is enhanced by Carpenter’s moody score, which he composed and performed himself. Even though the story takes place in a fictional Illinois town, filming occurred in the Los Angeles area (South Pasadena and Hollywood, etc.), which isn't necessarily a problem since the neighborhood scenes could represent any typical American community. What doesn't work is how the trees clearly indicate that it’s not late October. There are other issues as well, including a sluggish pace and some weak lines of dialogue, like the conversation the girls have while walking home from school – it just doesn't feel realistic. The actresses are fine, but they aren’t quite as good as those in the “Friday” films. Nancy Kyes (Loomis) is arguably the strongest performer as Annie, followed by Jamie Lee Curtis as the main character (whose mother, Janet, appeared in "Psycho"). PJ Soles, who is somewhat flighty but likable, also has a role. Another questionable element is the doctor hiding in the bushes near the abandoned Myers house and speaking in a dramatic way. I appreciate “Halloween” because it’s classy, atmospheric, and it's an appropriate movie choice for autumn; it also occupies an important place in horror film history. However, considering these flaws, I think it’s somewhat overrated by enthusiastic fans. GRADE: B-

Source on TMDB