Halloween (franchise)
American slasher film series centered on the masked killer Michael Myers, spanning multiple continuities, remakes, and sequels since the original 1978 film.
Overview
The Halloween franchise is a long-running American horror film series that began with John Carpenter's 1978 film and was developed and produced by Moustapha Akkad. It established Michael Myers, an imposing, silent figure who escapes confinement and returns to stalk victims in and around the fictional town of Haddonfield. The original film's spare direction, eerie score and focus on suspense helped define the slasher subgenre.
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Main elements and characters
Central to the series are Michael Myers—also credited in early films as "The Shape"—and his frequent foil, the psychiatrist Dr. Samuel Loomis. Another recurring figure is Laurie Strode, the archetypal final girl introduced in the first film. The franchise is known for Michael's featureless white mask, the blunt knife weapon, and the minimalist synthesizer theme composed by John Carpenter.
Continuity and major releases
Although the 1978 original spawned a direct 1981 sequel, the series later branched into several timelines and reboots. Notable divergences include the late-1990s sequels that adjusted Laurie Strode's fate, a 2007/2009 two-film reboot directed by Rob Zombie, and a 2018 film produced by Blumhouse that acts as a direct sequel to the 1978 picture while disregarding many intervening installments. One entry, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, deliberately departed from the Michael Myers story to experiment with an anthology approach.
Production, authorship and adaptations
The franchise grew through multiple production teams over decades. John Carpenter co-created the original and contributed its signature score; Moustapha Akkad guided the series' long-term production. Several of the films were adapted into novelizations and tie-in books; author Dennis Etchison adapted some entries in prose form. For more on the series' films and releases, see the franchise overview here.
Cultural impact and notable facts
- Widely cited as influential in shaping slasher film conventions and holiday-themed horror.
- The Michael Myers mask and Carpenter's theme are among the franchise's most recognizable elements; the original mask was famously a modified production mask.
- Dr. Loomis and Michael Myers are among the most persistent figures in the series' many iterations; details of their portrayals and motivations shift between continuities.
Further reading
For character-specific information consult the Michael Myers entry here and the Dr. Samuel Loomis profile here. Biographical or bibliographic details on novelizations can be found via resources that list contributors such as Dennis Etchison here.
Questions and answers
Q: Who created the Halloween movie series?
A: Moustapha Akkad created the Halloween movie series.
Q: What is the Halloween movie series about?
A: The Halloween movie series is about Michael Myers, who was committed to a sanitarium as a child for killing his older sister, and fifteen years later, he escapes to continue his killing spree.
Q: Who helps Michael Myers' victims escape death in the Halloween movie series?
A: Dr. Loomis, a psychiatrist, helps all of Michael Myers' victims escape death in the Halloween movie series.
Q: Which Halloween movie does not feature both Dr. Loomis and Michael Myers?
A: Halloween III: Season of the Witch does not feature both Dr. Loomis and Michael Myers.
Q: Were novels written about each of the Halloween movies?
A: Yes, novels were written about each of the Halloween movies.
Q: Who wrote many of the novels about the Halloween movies?
A: Dennis Etchison wrote many of the novels about the Halloween movies.
Q: When was the first Halloween movie created?
A: The first Halloween movie was created in 1978.
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AlegsaOnline.com Halloween (franchise) Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/41941