Halloween horror movie franchise – terror sells!

Movie-goers have, over the years enjoyed being terrified watching horror films in darkened cinemas. From the first known horror film, a supernatural-based 3-minute short called The Haunted Castle produced in 1896, right through to modern day offerings including the Chucky, Saw and Nightmare On Elm Street franchises.

One of the most effective and successful was the American slasher horror flick Halloween produced in 1979, which starred Donald Pleasence as a concerned psychologist and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode, the young damsel in distress. The film was written and directed by John Carpenter.

The story centered on a murderous character named Michael Myers who escaped a mental institution fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night in 1963 and returned to the small town Haddonfield to continue the barbaric slaughter.

The synopsis allured unsuspecting horror film buffs to the movies, but they had no idea that what awaited them was a suspenseful and frightfully disturbing piece of filmmaking that would leave many movie-goers traumatized.

Produced on a shoestring budget of US$300,000 Halloween proved gold at the all important box office and ultimately made an incredible return of US$70 million worldwide. Jamie Lee Curtis also became a household name.

Based on the success of this film it wasn’t long until Halloween II surfaced in cinemas in 1981, followed by Halloween III: Season Of The Witches which proved a disappointment as the original cast was absent and the movie followed a completely different storyline.

Donald Pleasence returned in the next 3 sequels which renewed profitability and interest in the franchise, but it wasn’t until Jamie Lee Curtis resurrected her character in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later in 1998, that anticipation peaked amongst the fanbase. Donald Pleasence’s character had been written out owing to his death in 1995.

Box office takings accelerated and Jamie Lee Curtis appeared in the next sequel followed by two competent reboots starring an unknown cast.

In 2018, forty years after the original film, Jamie Lee Curtis once again returned in the next chapter which proved to be a massive hit grossing US$159 million, followed by Halloween Kills in 2021 another monstrous hit delivering US$92 million.

Fans adored this franchise which continued to be profitable long after leaving cinemas, via DVD and sales to television networks and streaming services worldwide.

To date this cinematic low budget horror franchise has earned US$775 million worldwide and the question that needs to be asked is why do moviegoers enjoy being petrified, or ‘scared shitless’ more aptly? Is it that screaming out loud in absolute terror is a fun release and enjoyable way of spending hard-earned cash?

Just in time for Halloween this year, the final chapter in this highly successful franchise which has spanned over 45 years comes to cinemas. Halloween Ends once again brings Jamie Lee Curtis back to the big screen in what promises to be the most violently horrific in the series, as her character Laurie Strode and Michael Myers have a confrontation like no other and fight till the bitter end!

This film is destined to be a sure fire box office monster hit but is it really the final chapter? Is there any such thing as finality where box office dollars are concerned in the world of movie making? Never say never….

** Watch this space for an upcoming review of Halloween Ends **