In addition being a genuinely good movie, part of what is great about Blumhouse's Halloween is that John Carpenter, the man who wrote, directed and scored the original 1978 film, was a part of it. Beyond just adding an air of legitimacy to the reboot-quel by producing and returning to help score the film, he also had an influence on the story. John Carpenter advised to not revisit the ending of the original film, as screenwriter Danny McBride explained.
He would read the scripts and definitely gave us his thoughts about the beginning of the movie. At one point, we imagined shooting the climax of the original Halloween from a different point of view to set up how our movie starts. He was like, 'nah, you don't need to mess with that. The audience will understand where you are coming from.' That was a very smart note. Also helpful was his advice to David in directing it. Keep it simple, and relentless, he said. And man, this movie wouldn't be the same without his score. It is so iconic and so fused to what makes Michael Myers work, that having him put his stamp on the movie just with his music, that really elevated the entire project.
It sounds like at one point in the development of the film, there was a possibility that it might have begun with Dr. Loomis shooting Michael Myers out the window, and would have maybe shown a different perspective where you see him get up and escape. John Carpenter felt that was unnecessary, and the audience would be able to catch up and follow along without any need to rehash what happened at the end of his original film.
The film was originally set to begin with a prologue that contextualized the film, but production constraints made that impossible. The prologue sounds slightly different than the flashback idea, but perhaps the idea morphed over time due to John Carpenter's notes, and scheduling issues eventually resulted in the final film.
Danny McBride also told Deadline John Carpenter advised director David Gordon Green to keep the film simple and relentless. That is perhaps part of why the new Halloween feels like it fits with the original, more than some of the other sequels that didn't keep things as simple. Keeping it relentless is exactly what fans wanted from Halloween, and shows what Michael Myers is: a never ending force of chaos.
John Carpenter's score for the original Halloween is iconic, one that even those unfamiliar with the franchise have likely heard. Danny McBride has been open about the importance of having John Carpenter return to the franchise, to once again help provide the terrifying music to Michael's rampage. Just like the film itself, the new score is everything you would want it to be, echoing the original, while working for the new narrative.
This story just goes to show that, as CinemaBlend writers have maintained, original architects matter to celebrated franchises-- a lesson Hollywood should take to heart whenever continuing, rebooting or remaking such properties. That lesson has a stellar box office to back it up, too. Halloween made a killing at theaters during its opening weekend, earning a franchise best that has all but guaranteed a sequel won't be too far away.
Halloween is now playing. Check out our release schedule for all the biggest movies still to come this year.
