Halloween is often regarded as one of the most influential horror and independent movies ever made, not to mention the most success full independent movie.The film put director John Carpenter's name on the map as a filmmaker as well as giving birth to one of the most iconic villains in horror movie history Michael Myers.Michael Myers, played by Will Sandin, has spent many years locked away in a mental hospital under the care of child psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) after he killed his older sister, by stabbing her to death, at the age of six.After many years of treatment Loomis begins to suspect that there is more to Myers than meets the eye and plans to have him committed indefinitely after a failed attempt to convince the hospital staff that he needs to be placed in a maximum security facility.One night he escapes from the hospital and returns to his hometown of Haddonfield to continue his killing spree.Once in Haddonfield Myers begins stalking teenager Laurie Strode, Jamie Lee Curtis, and some of her friends.

Upon release many critics didn't take much notice of the film, despite it's reasonable success at the box office without an advertising campaign.

Al that changed after a glowing report from a critic from The Village Voice who likened to Psycho by Hitchcock and Night of the Living Dead by George A. Romero.

The film grossed $47 million in the U.S. and a further $8 million at the international box office, which is the equivalent to $176 million today.

But the film did receive some criticism with a handful of critics suggesting that the violence depicted in the slasher movie could encourage sadism.

The success of the film set the careers of director John Carpenter and his longtime producer Debra Hill alight and the pair would go on to work together many times over the next twenty five years.

Halloween also made a star of actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the role of Laurie Strode was her first.

Halloween has also produced seven sequels and a remake, the remake was released in 2007. Carpenter did not direct any of the subsequent movies but he did write Halloween II and produce Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

The film itself was a major influence in the horror movie genre. Films like Friday 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream all owe their success to this original slasher film.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw