The Endurance Of ‘Halloween’: How John Carpenter’s Horror Became A Classic

40 years have passed since the original “Halloween” shocked and terrified audiences in theaters. The horror classic, directed by John Carpenter, has stood the test of time and delivers spine-chilling scares with every watch. The original spawned countless sequels, and critics have lauded the 2018 version for its connection to the original and homages. But what is it about “Halloween” that makes it endure and still keep us up at night?

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A new video essay from Fandor addresses these very questions. “Halloween” is not just an exceptional film or representation of the power in the horror genre. “Halloween” paved the way for future slasher films like “Friday The 13th” and “A Nightmare On Elm Street.” It took horror tropes and popularized them without feigning or overdoing them. The film made a lasting impact by creating the formula used and commentated on years later.

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But of course, one of the major components of the “Halloween” endurance is its primal, yet nerve-inducing score, which Carpenter wrote. It’s a minimalist tune that dominantly sticks with audiences when the credits roll. Having been told the film wasn’t scary enough following a screening, Carpenter wrote the theme, and the rest is horror-movie-history.

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Along with the chilling, minor-keyed theme is the simplicity of the story itself and one of the most memorable horror heroines of all time. While the sequels tried to add further unnecessary layers to the horrors of the boogeyman, “Halloween” is a spare, easily described story. There’s nothing to else to get in the way of whom amongst the cast we are meant to identify (Laurie) and who the antagonist is (Michael). The film forces audiences to focus on a singular, terrifying object and of course, the way the movie uses an eerily voyeuristic point of view cinematically is breathtakingly frightening.

With Carpenter’s craft of long takes and scares, “Halloween” remains a classic film. Its story is clear and concise, with an accompanying score that stays with you, even after 40 years.