The idea of being alone, young and vulnerable, and caring for a younger child creates part of the suspense and horror inherent in the film, as the innocent Laurie is attacked by Michael.
Halloween" is best classified as a horror film and indeed only a horror film -- it does not transcend the genre in any way or provoke philosophical questions about the responsibility of creation like "Frankenstein" or challenge our ideas about morality like "The Silence of the Lambs." Michael has no perverse charm like Hannibal Lector or the vampires of "Interview with the Vampire." There are no shades of grey in the film, except for the shadows that conceal Michael's shadowy presence as he lies in wait, watching for his victims until he can strike at the moment when they are most unaware, like a boogeyman in a closet.
Halloween" is perhaps best viewed as an example...
Teens are implicitly punished for having
sex by being attacked by the murderous, rampaging central killer. The innocent and virginal Laurie lives because she is protecting a child. The 'expert' and force of the
law, Michael's psychiatrist is powerless to stop Michael, despite all of his knowledge. However, although these cliches may seem tired, even if these themes were fresh when the film was first released, there are certain aspects of the film that should be complimented -- it has relatively little gore, in
comparison to later teen slasher flicks, and relies more upon surprise than special effects. The visual effects of the film are especially striking, as Michael's masked face hangs in the background, waiting for its victims. Its storyline is straightforward and simple, and even if it does not provide any reason for Michael's murderous rage, at least it does not try to give any easy answers as to why people kill, or excuses, it only strives to offer a series of murderous shocks like a Grimm fairy tale.
Works Cited
Halloween." Directed by John Carpenter. 1978.
