Billed as a “revealing look at the classic horror series” and it is that and more. Taking interviews and footage from the Return to Haddonfield Convention, this documentary well accomplishes that billing and adds some very nice special features in this two disc set.
In 1978 a killer rampaged through the small town of Haddonfield. To the filmmakers he was known as the Shape, but to the fictional residents of Haddonfield his name was Michael Myers. John Carpenter’s hit 1978 film has spawned a total of eight sequels (a ninth is in the works supposedly).
This documentary from director Stefan Hutchinson and producer Anthony Masi chronicles the complete series. It has interviews with over 80 members of the cast and crews of those films. Including John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Jamie Lee Curtis, Moustapha Akkad, Tom Atkins, Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Kathleen Kinmont, Nancy Loomis, makeup artists Greg Nicotero and John Carl Buechler, cinematographer Dean Cundey, composers John Ottman and Allan Howarth, directors Tommy Lee Wallace and Rick Rosenthal to name but a few.
There are also contributions from famous fans such as Rob Zombie (now supposedly directing H9), Kim Newman, and Clive Barker. There’s also contributions from not so famous fans (some cringe inducing), but nevertheless rabid fans of the man called Michael Myers. The documentary is narrated by original Halloween actress P. J. Soles.
The man that started it all
I thought the documentary was excellent and it accomplishes its mission statement in covering all of the sequels and the phenomenon behind the Halloween series. It’s also rather sad to see some of the famous faces behind the series that have now passed on.
The actor who was a constant presence in the series was Donald Pleasence who passed away in 1995. Also Moustapha Akkad died in 2005 after a caught in a Jordon hotel that a terrorist bombed and Debra Hill died of cancer in 2005.
Halloween: 25 Year of Terror is presented in fullscreen. This two disc edition is full of special features. Disc 1 contains the documentary. It also contains the 17 minute “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” which is a show from the Horror Channel that tours the locations of classic horror films. This episode concentrates on the 1978 Halloween and features an appearance by P. J. Soles.
Next is 11 minutes of Halloween II extended interviews with Pamela Susan Shoop, Tawny Meyer, Gloria Gifford, Rick Rosenthal, Dick Warlock and Tommy Lee Wallace. Next is 13 minutes of Halloween III extended interviews with Brad Schacter, Garn Stephens, Tommy Lee Wallace, and Tom Atkins. Up next is 35 minutes of Extended Celebrity interviews with Charles Cyphers, Dick Warlock, P. J. Soles, Alan Howarth, Greg Nicotero, and 19 others. 7 minutes of Halloween 5 on set footage follows.
The Myers house as it appears today
There was a contest at the 2003 Return to Haddonfield Convention to win a walk on role in Halloween 9. The 2 minutes of footage when the winner is announced is next (I’ll not tell you who won, but if you look up Halloween 9 on IMDB they’re the only role listed).
There is also 3 minutes of a montage of footage from the convention. Finally there is 7 minutes of “Fans of Halloween” footage which I believe is clips from the videos that the contestants entered for the contest above.
Disc 2 contains the 22 minute Halloween Panel Discussion with P. J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Brian Andrews, and Joseph Wolf. Next is the 24 minute Halloween II Panel Discussion with Pamela Susan Shoop, Tawny Moyer, Cliff Emmich, and Gloria Gifford. Next is the 19 minute Halloween 6 Panel with Marianne Hagan, Daniel Farrands, Janice Knickrehm, Paul Freeman, Bradford English, and Kim Darby.
Following that is the 15 minute Ellie Cornell Panel Discussion which features Ellie Cornell (fancy that!). Next is the 27 minute Michael Myers Discussion Panel which may be the largest gathering of actors to have assayed the role. It features Jim Winburn, Dick Warlock, George P. Wilbur, Tom Morga, Don Shanks, Chris Durand, and Brad Loree. Next is the 24 minute Dean Cundey Panel which interviews the cinematographer of the first Halloween.
The 21 minute Halloween Producers Panel features Moustapha Akkad and Irwin Yablans. There is also a Halloween Location Stills Gallery, Convention Behind the Scenes Gallery, and an Original Artwork Gallery.
There’s a song by the band Viscous Disorder called “Pure Evil” that features the Halloween theme. Finally there are trailers for Halloween, Halloween 4 and 5, and the Masters of Horror series. The case also contains a comic book called Halloween Autopsis.
The director of Halloween 9?
This could be definitely be described as a packed disc. The Halloween fan will find this a welcome addition to their collection.
Halloween - 25 Years of Terror is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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