CLASSIC MOVIES: HALLOWEEN (1978)

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Brief Movie Synopsis [courtesy of Turner Classic Movies]:

In 1963, a young boy kills his sister on Halloween
and is sent to a mental hospital. Fifteen years later,
he escapes and returns to his hometown to kill again.

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REVIEWS:

"1978's 'Halloween' never seems to grow old, or stale, or tiresome,
or dated. .... I'd call it a "fine wine of cinema" -- it seems to get better
each year. .... I don't even mention any of the killings here, because
(IMO) the "anticipation" of the evil-doings to come is much more
unsettling and scary than the actual killings themselves."

-- David Von Pein; May 2004

"John Carpenter’s relentlessly terrifying masterpiece. .... Ruthlessly
simple. .... Chilling chase scenes. .... Elegantly orchestrated camerawork
that keeps you disoriented, moment by moment, as the beating notes of
the soundtrack remind you something bad and unstoppable is on the way.
From the first shot to the last, this movie is confidently guided by a
specific and committed vision. .... An unsettling and fascinating classic."

-- Excerpts from The New York Times; October 17, 2018

"Halloween is an absolutely merciless thriller. .... It's a terrifying
and creepy film. .... [It] is a visceral experience -- we aren't
seeing the movie, we're having it happen to us. .... I'd like to
be clear about this. If you don't want to have a really
terrifying experience, don't see 'Halloween'."

-- Roger Ebert; October 31, 1979

SISKEL & EBERT: