Rewatchables Reference

• The closet scene / final bedroom sequence – the entire last 12 minutes (Laurie discovers bodies, closet scene, Myers rising up, Loomis shooting).
• Also discussed: the opening single-take scene (young Michael kills his sister), Loomis's 'blackest eyes, the devil's eyes' monologue, Bob's death and the head tilt, Myers in ghost costume killing Linda/P.J. Soles, Annie's last 15-20 minutes.

• The original Myers mask and its origin story – a $2 Captain Kirk mask that can never be replicated.
• The Myers head tilt.
• Lack of gore – suspense over splatter.
• Just calling the movie 'Halloween.'
• Opening credits with the pumpkin and the score.
• The score overall – Carpenter composed it in 5 days.
• Michael stalking Haddonfield all day.
• The widescreen cinematography (Dean Cundey).
• Kyle Richards as Lindsey – now a Real Housewife.
• The 'blackest eyes, devil's eyes' monologue.

• Six-year-old Michael killing his older sister (she should have fought back).
• The stunt casting of Jamie Lee as Janet Leigh's daughter – nobody knows that connection now.
• Myers's inefficient killing technique in this first film – 'a little bit of a James Wiseman.'
• The sexual subtext analysis (the virgin survives, phallic symbols) – especially problematic once 'Halloween' 2 reveals Laurie is Michael's sister.
• Most of the sequels.

• Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee both turned down Dr. Loomis (pay too low); Pleasence was the third choice.
• Carpenter wanted Anne Lockhart for Laurie but went with Jamie Lee Curtis for the Psycho connection.
• Dennis Quaid was supposed to play Bob but couldn't due to another film commitment (he was dating P.J. Soles at the time).

Sheriff Brackett, played by Charles Cyphers – a John Carpenter regular. Also appeared in The Fog, Assault on Precinct 13, and 'Major League'.

• P.J. Soles as Lynda – 'Come on, Bob, didn't I get your ghost?' and the giggling.
• Also Annie. Junior award goes to Tommy Doyle.

• Winner: the cemetery guy who never finishes his story about Myers – 'really strong 90 seconds.'
• Also: Annie, Nancy Stevens as Marion Chambers (the nurse).

Refused to touch this one – 'It's perfect. No way.'

• Carpenter visited a psychiatric hospital in college and met a terrifying child (inspiration for Michael).
• Shot out of sequence in 20 days. Carpenter created a 'fear meter' for Jamie Lee Curtis.
• Original title: 'The Babysitter Murders.'
• The mask story – $2 Captain Kirk mask, spray-painted, original discarded.
• The station wagon history – left in a barn for 37 years.
• $10K total pay for Carpenter. Score done in 5 days.

• John Carpenter – debatable vs. Escape from New York, but the MVP performance of writing/directing/scoring argues for Halloween.
• Jamie Lee Curtis – debatable ('Trading Places'? 'True Lies'?).
• P.J. Soles – Stripes.
• 'Halloween' the holiday itself – 'if you say the name of a holiday, the first thing you think of is this movie.'
• Movie serial killers – yes, apex mountain.

• The premature ejaculator boyfriend at the opening.
• Car window mysteriously repaired after Michael smashes it.
• Myers finding the Haddonfield graveyard with no map, pulling a heavy tombstone and carrying it.
• Sheriff Brackett not telling his own daughter about the escaped killer.
• Loomis refusing to alert the public via TV/radio.
• Myers driving around all day in a stolen, marked station wagon with a mask on and nobody noticing.
• All the parents being out on Halloween night.
• Myers knowing how to cut phone lines.

• How did Michael Myers learn to drive?
• How did he navigate 150 miles from the hospital to Haddonfield?
• How did he refuel (1970s cars got ~11 mpg)?
• Bill's answer: 'Satan is basically controlling him. That's the only explanation.'

• The original mask (which no longer exists – most obvious answer ever).
• The station wagon.
• Judith Myers's tombstone.
• Loomis's raincoat.

• Wouldn't do it – but Chris suggests: 'What if Euphoria Season 3 is Michael Myers shows up?'
• Netflix has essentially been doing this blueprint with Stranger Things and Fear Street.

John Carpenter – he directed, co-wrote, and scored the film. Jamie Lee Curtis is right there but it's got to be Carpenter.