Halloween (1978)

Our Halloween 1978 Review takes Born to Watch to Haddonfield, where the hedges are suspicious, the babysitters are distracted, and a bloke in a white mask has somehow mastered driving without a licence. Whitey, Gow, Damo and Dan revisit John Carpenter's horror landmark to ask a question guaranteed to upset somebody: does the original Halloween still deliver the goods, or has its legendary reputation become scarier than the film itself?

This is no polite gathering of horror devotees worshipping at the altar of Michael Myers. The boys arrive with very different histories with the film, and those differences quickly become the main event. Whitey has watched it repeatedly over the years, but this latest viewing challenges his memories. Gow considers the gap between an iconic character and an entertaining movie. Damo discovers that a film he assumed he knew might actually be a first watch. And Dan? Let's just say Haddonfield won't be getting a glowing tourism review.

Before the knives come out, the discussion explores Halloween's place in horror history. Whitey puts it alongside Psycho, Night of the Living Dead and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a defining influence on the genre. That opens a debate about the films that shaped modern scares, the difference between tension and gore, and whether historical importance should earn a movie extra credit when you're watching it today.

At the centre of the episode is Carpenter's approach to suspense. Michael appearing behind hedges, watching from a distance and emerging from darkness gives Damo plenty to appreciate. Others are less convinced that all that stalking translates into enough excitement. Is the quiet suburban setting a masterclass in making ordinary spaces feel unsafe, or are we spending an awful lot of time waiting for someone to cross the road?

Then there's the music. Carpenter's unmistakable theme receives serious attention as the boys debate where it belongs among cinema's most recognisable scores. From Jaws and Star Wars to The Exorcist and The Terminator, the comparisons come thick and fast. Whatever their disagreements about the film, that simple, unsettling sound gives everyone something to talk about. Can a score carry the fear when the action isn't doing it for you?

Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode and Donald Pleasence's Dr Loomis also face the Born to Watch treatment. Laurie's place in horror history meets practical questions about survival, while Loomis's warnings spark a discussion about whether anyone in Haddonfield is taking the situation seriously enough. Michael's unexplained driving ability, the locals' relaxed response to suspicious behaviour, and some questionable decisions around an apparently defeated killer all attract attention.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly leaves plenty of room for disagreement. There's appreciation for memorable imagery, including Michael's mask materialising from the shadows, alongside frustration with dialogue, pacing and character choices. The original trailer also gets a serve for apparently being determined to show viewers far more than it should. If you've ever shouted at a horror character to finish the job, you'll feel right at home.

Behind the scenes, the boys discuss the tiny production budget, the origins of that famous mask, and the Hitchcock connections woven through the film. Film School for F-Wits turns its attention to Donald Pleasence, following a career that stretches from Bond villainy to Wake in Fright and Escape from New York. Naturally, even a little film education comes with interruptions, tangents, and someone not listening when they probably should.

And because this is Born to Watch, the evening wouldn't be complete without Gow's latest musical contribution. His Halloween-inspired hit brings Haddonfield into the podcast's own ridiculous universe, proving that even an unstoppable masked killer can become material for a very questionable rhyme.

The Rank Bank awaits, but you'll need to listen to discover where Halloween lands. Before that, expect nostalgia, disagreement and four blokes testing the distance between a film’s reputation and their own enjoyment.

Does Halloween still give you the creeps, or are the boys saying what you've secretly thought for years?
Listen, tell us whose take you agree with, and share the episode with the mate who insists Michael Myers is untouchable.
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