The Strange Story of John Carpenter and Debra Hill’s Plan to Turn Halloween Into an Anthology

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The Strange Story of John Carpenter and Debra Hill's Plan to Turn Halloween Into an Anthology

In the early 80’s, as a budding horror enthusiast, I was captivated by the chilling tale of Michael Myers and his bleached William Shatner mask in John Carpenter’s masterpiece, Halloween. The original film, released in ’78, set the stage for a new era of slasher films, with its self-contained narrative on pure evil, and perfect blend of old horror techniques and audience expectations.

1978 marked a significant turning point in horror cinema when John Carpenter and Debra Hill unveiled the groundbreaking film, “Halloween“. Initially met with skepticism by critics, this economically-produced chiller about a relentless, masked killer targeting a group of teenagers went on to earn nearly $50 million at the box office and paved the way for the slasher genre. Characters such as Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger would later achieve iconic status in their own right, but they are undeniably indebted to the knife-wielding Michael Myers, donning a bleached William Shatner mask.

Despite all the sequels that have followed over the decades, the original Halloween works perfectly as a self-contained rumination on the nature of pure evil. And if Carpenter had his way, things would have ended after that fateful night when young Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) lost her friends — and innocence — to Michael’s bloody rampage.

Back in 1984, during an interview with Jim Whaley, I shared my thoughts about the film. It was designed to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride and a chilling horror experience that would leave you terrified. I modernized some classic haunted house tactics, such as the old hand reaching out to give you a startle. I also played with audience anticipation. I truly believe that its success came down to good timing. If this movie had been released earlier or later, it might not have had the same impact. Consider us lucky!

But money talks and when it does, it whispers the same word over and over into the ears of Hollywood bigwigs: Franchise…Franchise…

Exploring All Things Halloween:

Revisiting John Carpenter and Debra Hill’s attempt to turn Halloween into an anthology

The carpenter initially felt that his blockbuster didn’t require a follow-up, but when the studio offered a substantial sum of money, he agreed, working as both producer and co-writer for the sequel titled “Halloween II” (now streaming on Peacock). Directed by Rick Rosenthal in 1981, this film continued the storyline from the first movie and introduced the twist that Michael Myers and Laurie Strode were siblings, a plot development influenced by writer’s block and excessive drinking. This twist became a central theme in many later installments. Despite earning over $25 million at the box office, “Halloween II” failed to match its predecessor’s success, with the carpenter himself criticizing it as an “abomination” and “a terrible movie.

When it was time to produce a third movie in the growing series, Carpenter and Hill showed no inclination towards resurrecting Michael Myers, whom they had already deemed deceased following the hospital explosion triggered by Samuel Loomis (Donald Pleasance). “Michael Myers is dead, and so is Loomis’ character,” Carpenter declared after the sequel was screened in cinemas.

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With Myers out of the picture, the plan was straightforward: transform the Halloween franchise into a grand-scale horror anthology akin to Night Gallery or The Twilight Zone. Director Tommy Lee Wallace, who directed Halloween III: Season of the Witch (available on Peacock), explained this change, noting that it would be larger in scope and was Carpenter’s last contribution to the series until the 2018 reboot.

In 2017, Carpenter expressed, somewhat sheepishly, that he had mistakenly believed the tales surrounding Michael Myers and the masked figure were concluded. He felt there wasn’t much left to add. However, a new idea sprang up – let’s create a fresh story annually, retaining the ‘Halloween’ title, but not necessarily tying it to Michael Myers.

In essence, Carpenter and Hill changed their attention to explore topics of suspicion and compliance, with Hill labeling Season of the Witch as “a pod film” instead of “a knife movie.” Noteworthy for its eccentric storyline involving spooky Halloween masks, robotic killers, a purloined Stonehenge artifact, and that iconic Silver Shamrock jingle, this third cinematic adventure received negative reviews and failed financially. However, it’s important to mention that the movie has since been reevaluated and has garnered a dedicated cult following.

After spending two nights in Haddonfield, viewers of the early ’80s anticipated seeing Michael Myers again. A brief appearance by him was made in Season of the Witch, through a clip from the 1978 movie, thereby creating two distinct film worlds.

In a conversation with Fangoria Magazine, Halloween’s initial producer Paul Freeman noted that the first two Halloweens were well-received, but following the third installment, there was a common sentiment among viewers, “Where is Michael?” The team then decided to refocus the narrative on The Shape. Six years later, he reappeared on the big screen in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, thereby solidifying Michael Myers as an enduring and defining figure within the horror franchise.

Instead of “Carpenter, on the other hand, stuck by Season of the Witch, which he viewed as a superior movie,” you could say: “On the contrary, Carpenter strongly supported Season of the Witch, considering it a better film.

If the anthology format had been the norm for this franchise, the films might have presented standalone stories rather than a continuous narrative. However, since we cannot turn back the clock, it remains speculative as to how the series would have evolved under such conditions. Some viewers argue that the filmmakers may have had more creative freedom and less pressure if they’d started with unrelated tales instead of direct sequels, but ultimately, the true outcome is a mystery that time has taken with it.

You can now stream Halloween III: Season of the Witch, along with Halloween II and the 2018 version of Halloween, on Peacock.

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2024-09-13 18:31