Halloween 4K UHD (1978)

[CreasyBear]

Was really hoping Shout would have shipped my order of 1-3 by now...

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by jayman3

I might be called out for blasphemy for saying this though I only ever view Halloween as a singular film. The sequels are okay, with Halloween II being an optional continuation of the first film and Season of the Witch being a holy outlier as it's non-connection to the franchise makes for a nice standalone entry. Everything afterwards is drivel. I have never had much interest in owning the sequels outside the original.

At the very real risk of triggering certain people again, I've never seen any of the H sequels apart from the second one. And even with that film I can't remember any of it for the life of me.

[stvn1974]

Halloween (78) is the only one I like and is the only one I ordered. I find ignoring bad sequels easy.

[CreasyBear]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

At the very real risk of triggering certain people again, I've never seen any of the H sequels apart from the second one. And even with that film I can't remember any of it for the life of me.

Good for you?

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Good for you?

Thanks!

[DaylightsEnd]

Watching this disc now. Only half-way through so far. Totally agree that it strikes a nice balance up to this point, being neither excessively desaturated nor overly boosted. It feels like fall, as it should. Primaries are mostly punchy and warm. Detail is excellent. Prior comments are accurate that the color grading varies from scene to scene, but it's not overly distracting, and things look healthier and more realistic than on any prior blu ray offering IMHO. The big surprise is the new Atmos mix, which ALMOST makes up for the absolutely shite milktoast mono track. Granted, some of the sound effects are hyped a tad (the rain is so loud as Loomis and the nurse drive up to the sanitarium, it sounds like he's in an open convertible and it's raining into the car LOL), but the fidelity is excellent, the music score is strong and mostly well-balanced with the effects, and the mix is solid, decently prioritized, and immersive. Thumbs up on the Atmos mix. It smokes any other audio option on the disc and leaves the Lionsgate disc in the dust.

Haters can hate, but now I really can't wait to get my mits on that H2 4k disc. Always dug that one big-time, but then, I'm a big fan of early 80's slashers, and it's one of the granddaddies of the genre.

[RyanMatthew]

Mine was delivered today. Right from the beginning, I'm impressed because the whole image during the opening credits is perfect black. On the previous 4K, the top right corner was lit up and always bothered me. Dialogue seems a bit deeper and more up front on the mono track. I haven't been able to watch / listen to the whole film yet, but so far I'm very satisfied.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by BillieCassin

Are you asking for a friend?

Halloween

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

At the very real risk of triggering certain people again, I've never seen any of the H sequels apart from the second one. And even with that film I can't remember any of it for the life of me.

I think you can get away with the first two, which basically run back-to-back. Season of the Witch is a standalone masterpiece.

The others can be sporadic depending on how batty you like your Donald Pleasance.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

At the very real risk of triggering certain people again, I've never seen any of the H sequels apart from the second one. And even with that film I can't remember any of it for the life of me.

Sure. I like the 2nd one for mostly nostalgic purposes- it was a Halloween sleepover movie when I was in High School. I like it in the same spirit that some people watch wrestling, I suppose. And I probably just triggered somebody as well. The 3rd one, however, is legit a fun 80's throwback that stands just fine on its own. Alas.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

I think you can get away with the first two, which basically run back-to-back. Season of the Witch is a standalone masterpiece.

The others can be sporadic depending on how batty you like your Donald Pleasance.

I'll have a deep fried Donald please

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

I'll have a deep fried Donald please

Then you've got options, at least....I'd recommend the 1981 vintage, it's probably aged better, and is less apt to have a cringey aftertaste than younger vintages.

[steel_breeze]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

At the very real risk of triggering certain people again, I've never seen any of the H sequels apart from the second one. And even with that film I can't remember any of it for the life of me.

Yeah, the first Halloween is a stone-cold masterpiece, and in my Top Five favorite flicks of all time... but all the sequels? Yeah, not so much. As I've stated before, I literally lecture about the first Halloween's lighting (and blocking) in cinematography chats I've been known to give. It's one of the reasons I got into the film biz. And I enjoy H2 as well, out of nostalgia; it's suuuuper fun for me and was a huge part of growing up.... but it's obviously not in the same ballpark as H1. I happily own it, but it's firmly in the "Second Tier / Guilty Pleasure" portion of my library.

As for the other sequels? Hated H4 in theaters and never went back. Never saw 5 or 6 at all (and remember, here, H1 is a Top Five all-time fave!). I did see H2O cuz they brought back Jamie Lee, but never revisited after the theaters. And I don't even know off hand if there were any more sequels after that. I think there was one with a reality show in the Myers' house? I obviously didn't go near the Rob Zombie flicks. Anyway... I haven't enjoyed a "new" Halloween movie since 1981... 'til 2018. I do own that recent flick, but it's also on my "Second Tier / Guilty Pleaure" shelf.

Soooo... that's my 2-cents; not that anyone asked, lol. Very very happy to have a definitive edition of Carpenter's masterpiece, and very happy with my final upgrade of H2.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by steel_breeze

Yeah, the first Halloween is a stone-cold masterpiece, and in my Top Five favorite flicks of all time... but all the sequels? Yeah, not so much. As I've stated before, I literally lecture about the first Halloween's lighting (and blocking) in cinematography chats I've been known to give. It's one of the reasons I got into the film biz. And I enjoy H2 as well, out of nostalgia; it's suuuuper fun for me and was a huge part of growing up.... but it's obviously not in the same ballpark as H1. I happily own it, but it's firmly in the "Second Tier / Guilty Pleasure" portion of my library.

As for the other sequels? Hated H4 in theaters and never went back. Never saw 5 or 6 at all (and remember, here, H1 is a Top Five all-time fave!). I did see H2O cuz they brought back Jamie Lee, but never revisited after the theaters. And I don't even know off hand if there were any more sequels after that. I think there was one with a reality show in the Myers' house? I obviously didn't go near the Rob Zombie flicks. Anyway... I haven't enjoyed a "new" Halloween movie since 1981... 'til 2018. I do own that recent flick, but it's also on my "Second Tier / Guilty Pleaure" shelf.

Soooo... that's my 2-cents; not that anyone asked, lol. Very very happy to have a definitive edition of Carpenter's masterpiece, and very happy with my final upgrade of H2.

Yeah, the 2018 is 2nd tier for sure, and it makes at least one pretty unforgivable story misstep, but Ima still enjoy the bloodbath I thoroughly expect this new one to be.

[ronnie21]

I hold a special place in my heart for being just turned 9 in October of 81 and seeing the broadcast for the first time... and seeing the commercial for Halloween II and so wanted to see that in the theater.. i did however end up sneaking in for the hot tub scene when i told my dad i had to go to the bathroom while seeing raiders... that Sunday. he never knew... gotta love 81.... also ended up saving my allowance and buying the novel at the local drugstore... i got real good at reading that school year ha ha ha

[Nick Michalak]

I decided to check out the Extended TV version a bit after watching the new 4K transfer, and they did NOT reinstate the previously missing May, 1964 title card before going into that added scene with Loomis and the Smith's Grove board. It's not like they couldn't have recreated it. It's just a readily available font in white on a black screen. However, the stand def footage is integrated with the new transfer despite being on the same disc as the 2007 transfer.

[bbwiscfan]

I love the original the most but the sequels still get plenty of replay value for me. I also have a soft spot for Halloween 6 theatrical version and LOVED H20. Resurrection is my least favorite of them all as it just annoys me to no end and what they did with JLC at the beginning just didn’t work for me. The two Zombie films I do give a spin but they are more “meh” as he is an acquired taste.

I personally love the new trilogy, with Kills and Ends to follow, I think they have done an amazing job with continuing the story with JLC coming back, I have been extremely impressed and have high hopes for the next two films.

And any time Donald Pleasance is on screen is just worth it.

[Benh911f]

I’ll share my Halloween story:

I was probably 9 or 10 at the time, ‘96/‘97. I was over my Grandmother’s house and saw the jack-o-latern on the screen and the movie about to start, and had never heard of Halloween before. I sat in that room and didn’t move the whole movie. I was instantly hooked. Obviously at that time I had been watching the TV Broadcast version with the extra scenes, and for years I always could remember seeing additional scenes in the film, but started thinking I had just imagined them, since when I saw the movie going forward they weren’t in there. It was nice finding out later I wasn’t crazy and those extra scenes actually existed.

[Croweyes1121]

Originally Posted by Nick Michalak

I decided to check out the Extended TV version a bit after watching the new 4K transfer, and they did NOT reinstate the previously missing May, 1964 title card before going into that added scene with Loomis and the Smith's Grove board. It's not like they couldn't have recreated it. It's just a readily available font in white on a black screen. However, the stand def footage is integrated with the new transfer despite being on the same disc as the 2007 transfer.

None of this is news. It’s a direct port of the EC they already released, mistakes and all, including the audio being a fold down. I’ll never revisit it. Got my own version of the EC as my go-to for that version. The one SF assembled is just too sloppy. You can hear the closing note of Michael holding the knife in the clown suit after the Smith’s Grove addition, for example. Annoying as hell editing.

[jayman3]

I never knew these novels existed





An excerpt from the Halloween novelization:

He stepped into the room and was halfway across when she saw him. Her eyes clouded and her eyebrows knit with puzzlement. She crossed her wrists in front of her breasts. She recognized him through his mask and called his name, bewildered, ‘Michael is this a joke...?’

He continued coming at her.

‘Get out of here, goddamn it. Get out of here before I..’

The first slash of the knife caught her on the wrist, splashing blood across her chest and legs. She looked at the wounds with more surprise than pain. She couldn’t believe it was happening. Then she realized.

She jumped to her feet and backed away to the wall, knocking over her chair. ‘What are you doing? What are you doing?’ She cried. As he raised the blade again, she held her hand out to protect herself. He slashed the hand viciously, and it dropped limply to her side. Now she was shrieking insanely as she grasped what was happening.

He plunges the knife into her right breast, and a great gout of scarlet blood spurted out of the wound and soaked his hand and wrist. He thrusted the blade into her belly. At what point she died, he didn’t know, for now that she was defenseless he stuck the knife into her again and again, jamming it into her breasts, belly, groin, arms, legs, and throat. He stabbed her fifty times if he stabbed her once, exultation sweeping over him like no joy he had ever known.