Halloween (1978)

Film and Plot Synopsis

Halloween tells the now iconic story of Michael Myers, who, as a child, butchered his sister with a kitchen knife. After the incident, officials commit the boy to a mental institution where Dr. Loomis watches over the boy for the next 15 years. However, the boy grows into a madman who engineers his escape. He returns to his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois on Halloween night, and terrorizes the residents there; including a babysitter named Laurie Strode.

‘Halloween’ Movie Summary

Our film begins on Halloween night in 1963 in the town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Little Michael Myers is 6 years old, and he kills his older sister Judith with a butcher knife. We then jump ahead 15 years to October 30, 1978. Dr. Samuel Loomis is Michael’s psychiatrist, and he’s headed to Warren County’s Smith’s Grove Sanitarium to escort Michael to court. However, Michael escapes; stealing Loomis’ wheels, and hightailing it back to his hometown.

On his way there, Michael encounters a mechanic wearing a pair of overalls to die for. So, he kills the man, and takes his clothes. He then steals some killer supplies consisting of a mask, a knife, and a rope from a roadside hardware store.

On Halloween day, Michael arrives to town. He takes a liking to Laurie Strode when she drops a key off at his abandoned house that her dad is looking to sell. Michael is pretty obvious about stalking Laurie, and she notices him throughout the day. Unfortunately her BFFs, Annie Brackett and Lynda Van der Klok dismiss her; thinking it’s all in her head.

Dr. Loomis finally arrives in Haddonfield to capture Michael. He visits Judith’s grave at the cemetery, but finds someone stole her tombstone. Leigh Brackett is Haddonfield’s sheriff (and Annie’s father). Loomis meets with him, and the men head to Michael’s house. Loomis explains that Michael is a true danger to the town, and must be brought in at all costs. The Sheriff and his men keep an eye out while Loomis waits at Michael’s old house.

Night falls, and Laurie finds herself babysitting Tommy Doyle while Annie babysits Lindsey Wallace just across the street. Both girls are unaware Michael is lurking nearby. Annie’s boyfriend, Paul, asks her to come and pick him up at his house, so she takes Lindsey over to Laurie to spend the night with her and Tommy.

As Annie starts her car, Michael pops up from the backseat, and strangles her to death before slitting her throat. Next, Laurie’s other BFF, Lynda, and her boyfriend Bob Simms arrive at the Wallace house. There, they have unprotected, teen-aged sex. After a minute of that, Bob goes to get a beer for Lynda. Michael stabs him, dead.

He then pretends to be Bob in a ghost costume, and walks up to Lynda. She teases him like all girls tease boys, but there’s no reply from Michael. So, Lynda calls Laurie to complain, but Michael strangles her using the telephone wire just as Laurie picks up. Meanwhile, Loomis discovers the stolen car, and begins searching the streets for Michael.

Laurie is suspicious, so she goes across the street to the Wallace house, and finds Annie, Bob, and Lynda dead along with Judith Myers’ headstone. As Laurie stands horrified at the sight, Michael appears and attacks her. Although he slashes her arm open, Laurie escapes.

Michael follows closely behind, but Laurie holds him off long enough to let Tommy and Lindsey escape. She then stabs Michael with a knitting needle, a metal hanger, and his own knife, but not all at once.

When Loomis sees Tommy and Lindsey running out the house, he goes in to investigate. He finds Michael attacking Laurie upstairs. So, Loomis shoots Michael six times until he falls off the balcony, but is he dead? As Loomis goes to examine Michael’s body, he finds it’s already missing. Loomis looks out into the shadows as Laurie begins cries in terror. Cue the chilling Halloween music.

Additional Film Information

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