Claire Cameron is a novelist, essayist and author of the forthcoming memoir How to Survive a Bear Attack. This poem was assembled using quotes from reviews of the 13 films in the Halloween franchise.
Thirteen Halloweens
In late 1978, a small horror film opened the original “Halloween” a scrappy little indie film initially dismissed by many serious critics John Carpenter’s nerve-frying thriller a phenomenon influencing an entire genre the most profitable independent film release in history the story of the night deranged killer Michael Myers came home
Great horror monsters are stand-ins for some cultural anxiety shattering the illusion of suburban utopia eerily electronic soundscape teens have sex under sheets the virgin survives a modern classic of the most horrific kind
Michael Myers is not like other movie monsters he walks, steadily a mute slasher he is borderline invulnerable a force devoid of humanity in casual blue coveralls his trademark kitchen knife the mask originated from a cast of William Shatner’s face
Halloween was a labor of love Halloween II was impelled by the desire to make money the killer is still at large it’s a little sad to witness the movie does not have the artistry no sign of the brave, smart heroine was the nightmare over?
Obviously not “Halloween III” means to be funny a low-rent thriller perfectly watchable it ought to be better co-star, Stacey Nelkin nails the inquisitive nature too bad she plays her last scene without a head
20 Years Later at least “Halloween H20″ manages to be considerably better Jamie Lee Curtis screaming she suffers from nightmares, drinks heavily nonetheless delivers requisite jolts the dialogue occasionally sparkles lordy, but Curtis can shriek
The final curtain descending “Halloween Ends” the uninspired 13th poorly executed in every way Myers is reduced to a cameo as if the team were hired as a contractual requirement it’s a whimper not a bang
Over five decades there are 13 “Halloween” movies but which entries are worth watching? a wild ride that veers dramatically from the downright awful to the exceptionally good a lot of what is scary is the thought of how long this has all been going on.