As a die-hard fan of the original “Halloween” franchise, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of reverence and admiration for the indomitable spirit of Laurie Strode, portrayed brilliantly by Jamie Lee Curtis. Growing up, I remember watching the 1978 film with bated breath, my heart pounding in my chest as young Laurie battled against the relentless evil that was Michael Myers. Over the years, the saga has evolved, and so has Laurie, transforming from a terrified teenager to a resilient warrior.
It’s hard to believe the Halloween saga ended for good with Halloween Ends.
Currently, Michael Myers is out of circulation, as Jamie Lee Curtis’s character Laurie Strode managed to defeat him in the 2022 sequel. This event marks a significant milestone, being 44 years after he initially scared the living daylights out of the responsible babysitter in Haddonfield on Halloween night.
But while you’ll have to rely on repeat viewings to relive those chills, you do have many, many Halloween incarnations and installments to choose from, Halloween Ends having capped off a trilogy that was filmmaker David Gordon Green‘s answer to the John Carpenter-directed original from 1978.
In an interview with TopMob News last July 2022, I shared that instead of discussing a trilogy, we were focusing on one film – my return to the iconic final girl role in the 2018 Halloween movie. This project invites audiences to set aside the seven films (including the Rob Zombie-directed remake from 2007 and its sequel from 2009) that were released since then.
Beyond the technical details, Curtis exclaimed, “that was an incredibly liberating moment,” attributing it to Green’s unique directing style and the film’s remarkable financial triumph. She explained that experiencing David’s method brought back her creativity, saying, “It felt like I remembered, ‘Wow! This is enjoyable!’
Theater-goers thoroughly enjoyed it, earning a staggering $256 million at global box offices. Consequently, she collaborated once more with Green on the 2021 release of Halloween Kills, and subsequently in 2022 – though Laurie’s character was four years delayed according to the film’s chronology – for Halloween Ends.
However, just as it’s difficult to eliminate horror movie antagonists from the scene, our heroine viewed the most recent movie as her swansong, or final act.
Curtis expressed that he hadn’t initially wanted to dwell on it, but eventually found himself deeply contemplating it. To TopMob, he shared his feelings about parting ways with Laurie Strode, saying goodbye to the fans who cherish her character, as well as those who have been instrumental in this journey. He acknowledged that it would be a sad moment, and hinted that by the end of the next week, or perhaps over the weekend, there might be a day when he’d just be an emotional wreck.
Unaware of what was to come, the star of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” found herself becoming a regular figure during award seasons, claiming her first Oscar in 2023 and an Emmy in 2024 for “The Bear”. Although she has left that kind of terror behind, a more unsettling day, reminiscent of “Freaky Friday”, awaits her in the future.
As a lifestyle expert, I delved deep into the intriguing history of the iconic “Halloween” franchise, tracing its origins and understanding why the terrifying figure in coveralls and a white mask continues to haunt our collective nightmares for over four decades. Here’s what I discovered:
According to John Carpenter, Halloween director, Jamie Lee read for him back in 2021, marking her debut on the big screen. He noted that she was ideally suited for the role, embodying the necessary inner strength and resilience required for the part. This quality proved instrumental in the movie’s narrative.
Jamie Lee Curtis, however, thought she was going to be fired after their first day of filming.
In 2018, she recounted to Rotten Tomatoes about an incident when the director seemed hesitant and said something like, “I guess I messed up.” This is why I recall that slow stride towards the phone and the awkward greeting, “Um, hello?” She had this memory from that night in a Studio City house she was sharing with a hairdresser friend, as the phone rang.
I, a fervent admirer, couldn’t help but be taken aback when none other than John Carpenter, hailing from the bluegrass state of Kentucky, addressed me with such warmth. He said, “Hey there, sweetheart, it’s John. Just wanted to share my joy and tell you how incredible you were today. I just have this feeling that amazing things are in store!
With an analog synthesizer, Carpenter created the distinctively chilling theme music that always sends a chill down your spine.
In 2018, during an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, Carpenter shared that he had only three days to create the music for Halloween. He composed five or six themes without the visual reference of the film, later fitting them into the movie as he guessed various moods. What amazed him was how well these themes synchronized with the movie, despite this being an inexpensive yet effective method of scoring.
In a turn of events, he re-joined the franchise in 2018, serving as an executive producer for the sequel – marking his return to the series since his role as a producer on the 1982 film “Halloween III: Season of the Witch”. Notably, he has been credited as a writer for the characters since the 1978 original, which he co-wrote with Debra Hill, and also received financial compensation. Moreover, Jason Blum inquired about his interest in composing the music for the upcoming film.
In this endeavor, Carpenter was joined by his son Cody and his godson Daniel Davies, the offspring of Dave Davies from The Kinks.
As a devoted fan, I’d like to share an interesting tidbit about the classic horror movie, Halloween. In the end credits, the primary antagonist is referred to as “The Shape”. Interestingly, for most of the original film, this menacing figure was portrayed by none other than Carpenter’s friend, Nick Castle.
As an ardent admirer, let me share my perspective: “I reckon he pocketed a few hundred here and there, give or take. But let’s make this clear – no one earned anything substantial. In fact, I took home a mere $8,000 for the entire film, which, at the time, was equivalent to earning $2,000 per week as the lead actor.
The carpenter stated, “I appreciated his movements because he had a unique grace, given his background as a dancer. Moreover, he was affordable. He donned the outfit, and I instructed him to move from this spot to another. That’s all there was to it.
Tommy Lee Wallace, collaborating with Charles Bornstein on the film’s editing, also took on the role of wearing the mask to supplement his income. Anthony Moran played Michael for the fleeting instance where you catch a glimpse of his face. Interestingly, Castle came up with the chilling head tilt on its own accord.
According to Castle, he had been instructed in 2018 (when speaking with Movie Web) that the initial direction was nonexistent. Essentially, it was simply a matter of crossing the street and heading in my direction.
In essence, he pointed out, “Occasionally, events transpire without an obvious cause, but when circumstances align perfectly, it can lead to success.
Following this, a series of progressively muscular stunt performers assumed the role of “The Shape” starting with Dick Warlock in Halloween II. George P. Wilbur succeeded him on two occasions, followed by Don Shanks, Chris Durand, and Brad Loree. In the Rob Zombie-directed reboots, it was wrestler Tyler Mane who took over the role, and most recently, James Jude Courtney, working alongside Castle, has portrayed The Shape in the last three films featuring Curtis.
Initially, Tony Moran was hesitant when considering the relatively minor yet crucial role he would eventually play as the true visage of Michael Myers.
In 2020, he shared with Horror Geek Life that many people may not realize this, especially those who are younger. However, making a horror film in the past was essentially on par with producing soft core pornography, only slightly more respectable.
At the time, he was rather aloof and unenthusiastic about the project, largely due to his sister Erin Moran’s success on “Happy Days.” He found nothing appealing about it—he thought the title was “fairly stupid” and didn’t recognize Jamie Lee Curtis. However, his agent convinced him by mentioning that Donald Pleasance would be involved in the production.
As a connoisseur of film and theater, I fondly looked up to him, being a quintessential British actor. Thus, when I chanced upon an opportunity to work alongside him, even if the project was a low-budget horror flick, I seized it without hesitation. After all, who would pass up the chance to collaborate with such a renowned talent? Little did I know that this seemingly obscure production might not see the light of day in mainstream cinemas. Given its independent nature and minimal budget, I assumed it would only make brief appearances at drive-ins before fading into obscurity.
Despite the success of Halloween, he declined the opportunity to star in the sequel, humorously remarking, “I was an actor, not some puppet wearing a mask.” (Michael’s face remained unseen until 2021’s Halloween Kills, where he was credited for his contribution.)
As a lifestyle connoisseur looking back, I can confidently say I’ve come to embrace something I once felt shy about. In essence, I spent years overlooking an aspect of my life that later proved to be a blessing beyond measure. To put it in simpler terms, I rejected what I now consider a golden opportunity for most of my existence, but fate had other plans. It’s simply mind-boggling!
To avoid confusion, it’s worth mentioning that at first, Michael had a mask of William Shatner, which the directors picked randomly from a shelf.
In an episode of Netflix’s “The Movies That Made Us” titled “Halloween,” editor Tommy Wallace described finding masks of Richard Nixon, Mr. Spock, and Captain Kirk on shelves. He mentioned that Mr. Spock was at the end, next to which was a blank-faced Captain Kirk. According to the crew, the Captain Kirk mask was scarier than any clown mask. To make it even more unsettling, Wallace enhanced it by painting it white, expanding the eye holes, erasing the eyebrows and sideburns, and darkening the hair.
Shatner recalled thinking, “Could this be real? Are they pulling my leg?” when he learned about the killer’s disguise on Jake’s Takes in October 2021.
When producing Halloween II, they allowed Dick Warlock to keep his entire costume, including the mask, after Michael Myers’ apparent burning. Decades later, in the 1990s, he sold the entire ensemble to a collector.
In 2017, Mark Roberts informed Michael-Myers.Net that the mask he bought remained exactly as it was, shape-wise. He views this mask as the ultimate treasure in horror movie memorabilia, and takes great care to keep it intact.
As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but marvel at the making of Halloween. It took Curtis 17 days to bring it to life, while Carpenter clocked in at 20. On a shoestring budget of just $300,000, they managed to create something truly remarkable. And initially, the reviews…well, let’s just say they weren’t exactly kind. But as time passed, this classic horror film found its place in the hearts of countless fans like me.
Carpenter reminisced to Rotten Tomatoes, sharing that many found fault with the conclusion I crafted, deeming it unsatisfactory and poor.
The director went on, “Initially, the audience didn’t seem engaged, but as time passed, they began to show interest.” He explained, “The success of Halloween can be attributed to its popularity through word-of-mouth.
It ultimately made $47 million, enough to be the 10th-highest-grossing movie of the year among titles that played in theaters solely in 1978 (as opposed to blockbusters such as Superman and Saturday Night Fever, which came out in December and ran into 1979). And in 2006 it was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress’ U.S. National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Michael Myers appears human in that he breathes, yet his mechanical nature makes it difficult to stop him using conventional tactics. Curtis attributes his ability to last for four decades as a terrifying figure to his expressionless face and straightforward, unyielding manner of operation.
As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but express my fascination with the cryptic, mask-like visage of Michael. To Rotten Tomatoes, I shared my thoughts on how this mysterious expressionlessness transforms his face into a canvas for all our deepest fears.
Simultaneously, she mentioned, “I’m essentially guessing since I have no knowledge of his reasons for putting up with things. Yet, I’m grateful that he does as he’s my friend. We are like two peas in a pod.
As a devoted admirer, I too find myself pondering the enigma surrounding Michael’s seemingly unexplainable immortality. In his own words to Cinema Daily, the director described him as less of a human being and more like an essential element. This lack of conventional characterization, he suggested, is what made him truly terrifying.
To further emphasize that Michael isn’t good, even though the trail of human victims might not be sufficient proof for some, it is stated in the film’s DVD commentary that, contrary to appearances, a trainer was present and the dog was secure throughout the scene where he appears to be strangled.
Though the sinister action takes place in fictional Haddonfield, Ill. (there is a Haddonfield, N.J., producer Debra Hill’s hometown), the Strode and Myers homes are in South Pasadena, Calif.
1) The Strode residence remains at 1115 Oxley Street, and its owners kindly display some plastic pumpkins on the porch for visitors to take pictures with. On the other hand, the dilapidated Myers house was relocated from 707 Meridian Avenue to 1000 Mission Street, rescued from demolition by a passerby who bought it for just $1, agreeing to move it in one piece away from its original location.
In the initial two movies, Laurie goes on to live a challenging life for the majority of the 20th century without being seen again.
1982’s “Halloween III: Season of the Witch,” written and directed by Wallace, didn’t include Michael Myers as a character. However, he reappeared in the 1988 film, aptly titled “Halloween 4: The Resurrection of Michael Myers.” Since then, he has continued to appear in various films and just refuses to be eliminated.
In Halloween II, Dr. Sam Loomis, portrayed by Pleasance, who saw pure evil in young Michael’s eyes, made the ultimate sacrifice but resumed his involvement with the series in 1988 and remained connected until his passing in 1995, just eight months before the release of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers. This film was dedicated to the English actor.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that as: “In a behind-the-scenes conversation on the DVD commentary for Halloween, renowned writer-producer Hill shared an interesting tidbit about British horror legend Christopher Lee (who would later become well-known for his role in The Lord of the Rings). Apparently, he declined the opportunity to play Dr. Loomis in the film, and years later, he confessed that it was a decision he deeply regretted.
In the commentary, it was mentioned that Pleasance joined the film due to his daughter’s admiration for the director’s previous work, specifically Assault on Precinct 13. Interestingly, Pleasance also proposed omitting any mention of his character’s personal life, thus enhancing his connection to Michael.
Over the years, different actors have portrayed Tommy Doyle, the child Laurie babysat in the 1978 film ‘Halloween’. Among them is Paul Rudd, who played the character in the 1995 movie titled ‘Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers’.
Clueless was released before the other movie, which may have been beneficial for his career, but that other film was actually his debut. Due to this, even though it’s quite absurd, it will forever hold a significant sentimental value for Rudd. Interestingly, now that he’s a well-known actor, he always gets top billing when the movie airs on cable.
2007 marked the first time I stepped into the world of filmmaking, and I couldn’t be more elated about it! Sharing this experience with the iconic Michael Myers on a Halloween movie set was surreal. I remember sipping coffee next to him at the craft table – an encounter that still feels too cool! Meeting George Wilbur, who brought Michael Myers to life, was another unforgettable moment for me.
Initially, he felt they were creating something special while filming, but upon watching the final cut, he found himself thinking, “Oh dear, this film isn’t good,” and was quite disheartened…He pondered, “Oh dear, will people think I’m a joke? Will I ever find acting work after this is released?” However, his perspective has since shifted: He adores it. He feels privileged to be associated with a franchise that has endured for so long, boasts such a dedicated fanbase, and allows him to say that his debut film was part of the “Halloween” series.
Additionally, Josh Hartnett, who played John Tate, Laurie’s son, avoided being written out of the series during his first appearance in 1998’s “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later” (even though his character was not carried forward into the concluding trilogy).
Hartnett had doubts about taking on the role in what was initially known as “Halloween 7: Laurie Strode’s Return” for fear it might not boost his career. However, Curtis’ return to the series after a long hiatus and Kevin Williamson’s unacknowledged script revisions helped make the film more appealing.
In the DVD commentary, Curtis mentioned that Hartnett always wore a beanie off-camera. She admired this trait, even though it sometimes irritated her.
It’s uncertain if the 2018 Halloween reboot would have featured John had Hartnett shown interest, but in an interview with Huffington Post back in 2017, the actor stated, “I generally look forward. I’m not really interested in being a part of that [reboot], but I did enjoy my time shooting H20.
There’s been so much Halloween, it can be easy to lose the thread.
In the legend it is said that when Michael Myers was just six years old, he brutally murdered his older sister Judith who was supposed to be babysitting him. At 17, she had gone upstairs to have a private moment, but this led to her tragic demise. Subsequently, Michael Myers was institutionalized for the following 15 years. On October 31st, during transportation for a hearing, he managed to escape and returned to his hometown of Haddonfield where he caused chaos among the teenagers and anyone else who crossed his path.
1981’s “Halloween II” continues the story shortly after the first film, with Laurie being hospitalized following her harrowing experience. She keeps a blood-stained bracelet from the hospital as a reminder of her ordeal. It isn’t long before she learns that Michael Myers, despite being stabbed, shot, and falling out a window, remains undeterred in his pursuit of her. John Carpenter and Debra Hill wrote the screenplay and produced the film, while Rick Rosenthal took on the directing duties as Carpenter focused on his 1980 cult-hit “The Fog”.
In the second installment of this series, there’s an unexpected revelation: Laurie and Michael are revealed to be siblings. Their connection stems from the fact that the traumatized Myers sister was adopted following a tragic car accident that claimed her parents’ lives. Carpenter admitted that this plot twist was necessary to give substance to a film they had not anticipated making when they created the original Halloween.
In Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, director Steve Miner viewed his film, being the seventh installment in the franchise, as a direct continuation of the original storyline, but with a twist – he incorporated a sibling plot that wasn’t present in the 1978 version.
In the films that followed, a cult and a curse were presented as the reason behind Michael Myers’ immortality, but these elements have been debunked, and the sibling connection is considered nothing more than a myth by Allyson, portrayed by Andi Matichak, in the 2018 reboot of Halloween.
According to Nick Castle, the 2018 film serves as the continuation of a character with minimal motivation. However, there are deep psychological elements that viewers can interpret for themselves in the movie. For instance, if a child stabs his sister after she’s had sex, it raises questions about the character’s psyche and whom he might be inclined to murder. Interestingly, John Carpenter didn’t want to delve into this character’s psychological analysis early on in the production process.
It wasn’t until Mike Myers became part of Saturday Night Live in 1989 that the fact he shared a name with a notorious fictitious mass murderer caused him a slight annoyance.
In a 2022 interview, the Austin Powers star reminisced about an occasion when he appeared on Saturday Night Live, which was thrilling. After that, he went to deposit a check from NBC at the bank. The cashier, surprised, asked if he wasn’t going to murder her, referencing his character Michael Myers. Such incidents don’t occur frequently, he added, but it was like, “Wow, really? Oh well.” He was simply grateful to be part of Saturday Night Live.
Interestingly enough, the famous co-star of Wayne’s World, Dana Carvey, made his first appearance on the big screen in Halloween II, taking on the role of “Assistant.
Nancy Stephens, the actress who portrayed psychiatric nurse Marion in the original film, its 1981 sequel, and Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, as well as reappearing after her acting hiatus in Halloween Kills (2021), is married to Rick Rosenthal – the director of Halloween II and Halloween: Resurrection.
They first crossed paths while filming “Halloween II” in 1981, eventually getting married in May of that year. Together they raised three kids. This unbreakable bond is something we fully support.
Janet Leigh, who is famously known as the original scream queen and the mother of Michael Curtis, portrays Norma, a shrewd secretary at Hillcrest Academy in the series H20. Here, Laurie (alias Keri Tate) holds the position of headmistress. Notably, before Michael arrives and chaos ensues, Norma departs from the school in a 1957 Ford Custom 300 – the same car that Marion Crane drove in Psycho. As she drives away, Bernard Hermann’s memorable score subtly echoes in the background.
By chance, the love interest of Marion in Psycho was named Sam Loomis, similar to the psychiatrist character from the Halloween series. It’s also worth noting that there is another character named Nurse Marion in the story, although John Carpenter hasn’t spoken about any potential connections.
In the same vein, Chris Durand, known for his role as Michael in H20, was also concealed behind the cloak and mask in Scream 2. This is hinted at when a TV playing Scream 2 is spotted in one of the dorm rooms. (It’s worth noting that H20’s script doctor, Williamson, penned Scream 2 as well. Furthermore, H20 director Miner had previously directed several episodes for Dawson’s Creek, which was created by Williamson.)
Despite Michael’s seeming invincibility up until now, if you were to attack a heavily breathing beast, specifically by targeting its eye like Laurie did in the initial Halloween film, it would likely lose that eye.
In the 2018 version of Halloween, intended as a sequel to the 1978 film, they covered Michael Myers’ left eye, the one that gets stabbed, with prosthetics for any close-up shots through the mask. They kept this detail from the original movie, which is quite interesting.
Kyle Richards originally portrayed Lindsey Wallace, a character initially entrusted to the care of the unfortunate babysitter Annie (Nancy Kyes), who later comes under the watchful eye of Laurie, in the 1978 film “Halloween”. At the 2018 premiere of the latest installment, Kyle expressed her wish she could have been part of the new movie to TopMob News.
Richard expressed, “Perhaps there’s another one around – where is John Carpenter? Is he present here? I’ll only be a moment away!” He spoke this with a grin.
She laughed, but the manifestation worked: Grown-up Lindsey was back for Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends.
2022 found me, an ardent admirer, given the opportunity to validate my statement to TopMob: Michael Myers can’t hold a candle to the chaos unleashed during the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion. With a sly grin, I mused aloud, “You know what they say, variety is the spice of life.” So, I thought, why not bring together Michael Myers and the Housewives for an unforgettable gathering? Let’s let them create their own brand of terror!
The first “Halloween” movie opened the door for over a dozen follow-up films starring Michael Myers, as well as numerous other imitators, all attempting to recreate the iconic “final girl” template. This pattern typically involves a mix of naive/rebellious/flirtatious young individuals who are successively eliminated by an unyielding slasher until only the lone, seemingly ordinary but wittier-than-the-rest heroine remains victorious.
Curtis shared with Variety his thoughts about portraying Laurie in Halloween Ends: “The experiences I’ve had from this role far exceed what I’ve given to it. When I’m no longer around, her story will carry on as my own. Of course, my children and their lives are the most important aspect of mine, but in these films, Laurie Strode is my legacy. I couldn’t be more proud of any potential legacy—except perhaps for one like Mother Teresa or Nelson Mandela—but in terms of film characters, there’s none I’d rather have as mine than Laurie Strode.
James Jude Courtney, who played Michael in the final trilogy opposite Curtis, praised the heroine by saying, “She embodies a strong, empowered woman. An empowered individual has the power to inspire everyone around them, and she has inspired an entire generation, even an entire genre of people.
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2024-10-25 10:21