Since the release of Alfred Hitchcock’s film “Psycho” in 1960, the American “slasher film” has been all the rage in the film industry. The basic concept of all slasher films is essentially the same: a masked killer goes on a murder spree, usually targeting a specific group of people, and usually using a bladed weapon, hence the name “slasher.” Different names are discussed when talking about the greatest slasher films ever: “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Friday the 13th,” “Black Christmas,” and many more, but one title stands above all the rest: “Halloween.” 

“Halloween” was released in 1978 and was an instant classic. The movie follows the masked killer Michael Myers, played by Nick Castle, who has escaped from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium in the small town of Haddonfield. Myers stalks high school student Laurie Strode, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, and her friends as they babysit. The film ends with a final encounter between Myers and Strode, and Myers is shot off of a balcony. However, Myers’ body is nowhere to be found, so it is assumed that he is still alive.

Spencer Waugh (11) is an avid horror film enthusiast, and he enjoys the original “Halloween.” 

“I like the ‘Halloween’ movies because they have a simple yet effective style of creating the movies. I think ‘Halloween’ was successful because of its take on horror. It was really the movie that popularized the whole idea of slasher films,” Waugh said. 

After the success of the original film in 1978, 12 more movies were released under the “Halloween” franchise. There are eight movies in the original series, including “Halloween,” “Halloween II,” and “Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.” These original movies were created and directed by John Carpenter, then a separate pair of movies directed and written by Rob Zombie, and finally another trilogy by director David Gordon Green.  

The first movie in the David Gordon Green trilogy, “Halloween,” was released in 2018. This movie follows grown-up Laurie Strode, as well as her daughter and granddaughter. Michael Myers has come back for revenge, and it is up to Laurie to stop him again. The final movie in this trilogy, “Halloween Ends,” will be released in theaters on Oct. 14. “Halloween Ends” will be the last movie released in the “Halloween” franchise. 

Aidan Ahern (11) has seen “Halloween,” “Halloween II,” “Halloween (2018),” and “Halloween Kills.” 

“My favorite ‘Halloween’ movie is the 2018 one because it continues the first movie in a much better way than ‘Halloween II’ did. The storyline and how certain people are killed are also a lot better,” Ahern said. 

An important piece in the “Halloween” franchise was the soundtrack. Instead of choosing to use a symphonic soundtrack, original creator John Carpenter decided to utilize a piano melody. 

Professional film critic James Berardinelli speaks on the soundtrack to “Halloween,” and how it affects the film.

“While relatively simple and unsophisticated, ‘Halloween’s’ music is one of its strongest assets,” Berardinelli said.

Katelyn Anderson (11) has seen 4 of the movies in the “Halloween” franchise. 

“Laurie is my favorite character since she’s the protagonist and knows how to fight Michael Myers. I think “Halloween” was so successful because it wasn’t too graphic and meant more people were able to enjoy it,” Anderson said.