(Reviewed by Snake-666) - One of the most important slashers of all time!  Jamie Lee Curtis plays Laurie Strode in the role that made her famous.

Fifteen years after brutally murdering his sister while he was a child, Michael Myers breaks out of a mental institution and sets off for Haddonfield. His psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance in one of his greatest roles) knows what is on it's way for Haddonfield, evil, and Loomis has to try and stop it.

Meanwhile in Haddonfield the town prepares to celebrate Halloween. The children get their costumes and make jack-o-lanterns, some parents go out for the night and hire babysitters, life continues as normal with no one having any idea what is about to enter their little town, the diabolical monster Michael Myers.

This is easily one of the most important slasher films of the genre. While not being the best or the first ('Black Christmas' and Mario Bava's 'Bay of Blood' spring to mind as earlier and more impressive slashers) it still holds a standard which few films have been able to match and even fewer films have been able to surpass. From the brutal opening scene to the shocking and unnerving end 'Halloween' is a tense and suspenseful horror film brimming over with quality.

Jamie Lee Curtis puts in an amazing performance as Laurie Strode, the young woman babysitting on Halloween night unaware that the what is in her town. Acting credit also has to go to the two young children who played the kids that Laurie was babysitting. They certainly managed to successfully portray a couple of children terrified of "the boogey man". And of course there is Donald Pleasance who puts in a truly dramatic and convincing performance as Sam Loomis. Despite occasionally seeming to over-act a little he definately deserves recognition for his performance in 'Halloween'.

The film uses suspense more than actual killings to generate the horror. While in some scenes Michael Myers is obviously around suspense is generated by leaving him to "lurk" rather than strike immediately, which is what someone of his immense power could do. The film is superb when watched at night, darkness compliments it as all the shadowy imagery that John Carpenter used to create his dramatic effects is enhanced by the darkness, and even more terror can be instilled in the viewer. Perhaps not the scariest film of all time, but there are definately some heart-thumping and nerve-wracking moments in this film.

If I had any complaint about this film it would be the lack of action. While all the suspension was good and effective there were few truly violent scenes which could have, in my opinion anyway, improved on the shock factor of the movie. It does seem towards the end that so little has happened in so much time, but that still doesn't take away from the film that much, because the suspense and tension in the film is still unnerving in it's own right.

I would recommend this movie to any horror fan, especially those into slashers if you are yet to see it. There are many memorable scenes and 'Halloween' is a very effective horror film. One of the modern-masterpieces of the genre, this John Carpenter film deserves respect as one of the most important slasher films of all time. 8/10