Halloween- 1978 John Carpenter

1. How does the start exemplify a common technical code convention of the horror genre?

There is restricted narration, so we don't quite know who's perspective we are viewing the film from. It is only when there is the shot of the little boy holding the knife that we see he was the murderer who's perspective we were in. Similarly, another convention is the low-key lighting, along with the diagetic heavy breathing. This makes it seem spooky as it limits our view of what we can see in the shot. Likewise, there is iconography of a clown mask and a large knife. These are all common in horror films as dangerous and there is a creepy nature to the childlike image of the clown.

2. How does the setting fit with the horror genre?

It is set in an average suburban town, which makes the audience feel more scared, as they can see that this could happen at any time to them as well. There is also a mental asylum which is common in a horror film. This is because people that are there are usually unpredictable and can flip without notice. This is why they are featured in horror films, because the audience never know what strange things are going to happen there. Similarly, the 'Myers house' where the initial murder took place is isolated and run down. This is frequently used in horror films, because the audience don't know what is hiding in the shadows, not wanting to be found.

3. What iconography of 'innocence' do we hear or see early on?

Laurie is seen as a virginal character, who is an innocent babysitter. She is referred to, and refers to her self as a 'girl scout'. She coughs when she tries smoking, and shudders at the idea of sex. She is compared to her friends who are promiscuous and sexually driven, so this brings out even more of her prudish nature.

4. What was the main industry impact of Halloween?

This film was cheap to make, with a low budget, allowing it to make a large profit. It was not focused on the well-established stars or producers, but the introduction of the 'slasher' movie industry.

5. Name some 'slasher' films which followed on from Halloween

Friday 13th, Prom Night, The Burning, Night School and Terror Train all followed the theme of Halloween in the 'slasher' industry

6. What are the four plot rules of the 'slasher' film sub-genre which Halloween began?

• Past traumatic event creates psychopathic killer
• Killer returns to the site of event
• Stalks and kills teens
• 'Final girl' survives  

7. Give three ways in which Laurie is androgynous?

Laurie fights back against Micheal, almost killing him twice, showing she's stronger and more masculine than her friends who have been victims of Micheal. Likewise, her voice is quite deep, and she has a strong jawline showing her masculine face with wearing no make-up. Similarly, she wears clothes that cover herself up, and are not revealing or promiscuous at all. This shows she doesn't want to be viewed as girly or revealing.




8. What does the extract mean by "a reactionary sexual agenda"?

Virginal character survives, and the sexually driven people are killed and promiscuity is punished.

9. How does the director counter the suggestion that Halloween had a reactionary sexual agenda?

He says that Laurie was always the intended victim for Micheal. The others are just used as a way to get to Laurie, and become vulnerable because of their other distractions with sexual desires.

10. Why does Mike Myers kill his sister?

He is evil. Nothing could have happened to spar this murder, it was just because he was "born evil".