Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 108 Ratings

  • Starring: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tony Moran
  • Summary: Fifteen years ago, Michael Myers brutally murdered his sister. Now, after escaping from a mental hospital, he's back to relive his grisly crime again, and again...and again. (Anchor Bay Entertainment)
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. 100
    Halloween is an absolutely merciless thriller...I would compare it to "Psycho."
  2. 100
    From a shock-and-suspense point-of-view, Halloween is the rival of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." With only a few arguable exceptions (such as "The Exorcist"), there isn't another post-1970 release that comes close to it in terms of scaring the living hell out of a viewer... A modern classic of the most horrific kind.
  3. Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    80
    There's nary a drop of blood on screen in this rollicking funhouse of a movie but there is enough sheer cinematic ingenuity on display to coax screams out of the most jaded gorehound.
  4. Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    50
    After a promising opening, Halloween becomes just another maniac-on-the-loose suspenser. However, despite the prosaic plot, director John Carpenter has timed the film's gore so that the 93-minute item is packed with enough thrills.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 44
  2. Negative: 1 out of 44
  1. Greatest horror film that has ever been made. This movie is amazing and will always be my favorite. It is so creepy and scary without even showing blood and gore. I can't imagine not loving this movie. This movie is horror! You can't top Michael Myers. John Carpenter is amazing!! Expand
  2. Legendary director John Carpenter made his mark in the horror genre with "Halloween". Yes, its that good (and scary).
  3. Boy kills his sister, goes to asylum, escapes 15 years later, goes back to hometown to terrorise teenagers.
    John Carpenter's benchmark slasher
    film which served as a template for many others to follow & created the horror that is Michael Myers.
    Most of it still stands up quite well using Myers sparingly, sometimes only seeing Myers' mask standing out in the darkness in the corner of your eye.
    It does get a bit silly in the last ten minutes but overall a solid horror film.
    Expand
  4. PatrickD.
    4
    Cliched, dull and far from exciting.

See all 44 User Reviews