16 Responses to “The Shape of Evil: confronting darkness through the ‘Halloween’ series”

1. 

   Shan

   October 26th, 2018 at 6:48 pm

   A handy guide to choosing your journey through the Halloween mulitverse:

   

   Handy Chart Lays Out the 'Halloween' Franchise's "Choose Your Own Adventure" Timeline - Bloody Disgusting

   The franchise gets real interesting with this year's David Gordon Green-directed Halloween, as it's not quite a continuation of the original franchise or R

2. 

   Larry Sternshein

   October 26th, 2018 at 7:45 pm

   Super enjoyed reading it Vern

3. 

   Mr. Majestyk

   October 27th, 2018 at 9:42 am

   Excellent overview/defense of the series, Vern. Your takeaway on it sounds a lot like Carpenter’s, which he expressed at then very end of his first commentary track for HALLOWEEN: “If there’s any point to be made in the film, it’s that you can survive the night. […] Being aware of evil is an important thing in life. All children need to be told that the world can be bad, and dark, and dangerous. But with a little luck and awareness, you can survive.”

   I think of this quote, delivered so matter-of-factly in that indelible calm and confident Carpenter way, when I need a little pep talk. I think this concept, of facing the boogeyman and realizing you’re stronger than it, even if just by a little, is what got me into horror as a scaredy-cat young kid in the first place. Really, isn’t that what most horror is about? To look the night in the eye, to know it for what it is, to fight it with whatever defenses you have, no matter how weak or few, and maybe, just maybe, live to see the dawn. It applies to any and all challenges, obstacles, or trauma we may face.

   So just remember what old John Carpenter does when the earth quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of Heaven shake. Yeah, John Carpenter just looks that big old storm right square in the eye and he says:

   YOU CAN SURVIVE THE NIGHT.

4. 

   The Kurgan

   October 27th, 2018 at 10:00 am

   Great piece, Vern. I read bits of it to my wife and she talked a little about how that same feeling- not the fear of death, but the idea that you might get away in the end- is what really drew her to true crime shows after the death by suicide of a close family member. As she put it, “if these folks can get through the worst day of their lives and come out the other side, than so can I.”

5. 

   Larry Sternshein

   October 28th, 2018 at 6:42 am

   Awesome Mr. M. That was a great read too.

6. 

   Franchise Fred

   October 28th, 2018 at 2:01 pm

   Excellent analysis and glad you’re getting some freelance work.

   I realized something similar on my last rewatch of Nightmare on Elm Street Series. It’s not about who Freddy kills. It’s about who’s strong enough to face him. It’s not the martial artist or the wizard. It’s usually the girl everyone underestimated.

   It’s why I love H2O so much. And maybe why I love Busta Rhymes kickboxing Michael Myers. But seriously, it’s the survivors that give us hope, whatever the evil is.

7. 

   Crushinator Jones

   October 29th, 2018 at 11:09 am

   This was a very good article, thanks Vern.

8. 

   Jerome

   October 29th, 2018 at 1:50 pm

   Great write-up, Vern. You just made my crappy Monday worthwhile.

9. 

   Skani

   October 29th, 2018 at 2:17 pm

   Awesome work Vern. This was a great read!

10. 

    The Kurgan

    May 31st, 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Oh dang I just watched the newest HALLOWEEN and wanted to revisit this article, but it looks like the site’s shut down. Too bad, I’d love to read it again.

11. 

    VERN

    May 31st, 2019 at 2:43 pm

    Oh, fuck. I better create a backup. Also I spent a month on that essay while grieving and didn’t get paid for it.

    Here it is on Internet Archive though:

    https://web.archive.org/web/20190121034337/https://drugstoreculture.com/halloween-movies/

12. 

    Franchise Fred

    May 31st, 2019 at 9:01 pm

    Another nonpaying site. Fuck, man.

13. 

    VERN

    May 31st, 2019 at 11:58 pm

    The person who recruited me was not at fault. Suddenly there was an email saying that there were financial problems, the entire editorial board had resigned and to address financial questions to so and so. I assume they didn’t get paid either.

14. 

    Rymar

    June 1st, 2019 at 9:09 am

    This is a great essay, Vern, and brought a new layer of meaning to a film I love (and even the flawed-to-bad by comparison Michael Myers oriented sequels) . When I first read this last fall I was feeling intense existential dread – having to suddenly prepare for and flee potentially home-destroying storms on the heels of the U.N. climate report – and the essay brought me a sense of gritty solace. It’s one of my favorite things you’ve written. Thanks!

15. 

    The Kurgan

    June 1st, 2019 at 10:51 am

    Dang that sucks they didn’t pay, but I’m glad to reread it. Really is a great article that nails what puts Michael Meyers on a higher level than any other horror villain.

16. 

    The Kurgan

    June 1st, 2019 at 11:01 am

    Wow just realized I missed a big opportunity to refer to The Shape as “a cut above the competition”, so that’s on me. You live and you try to learn I guess.