Michael Myers is one of the most famous slasher villains, and John Carpenter had some real life inspiration for his Halloween franchise character.
The successful and popular Halloween franchise wouldn't be the same without its iconic villain Michael Myers. Everything about him is memorable, from his eerie white mask to the slow way that he walks, and he is the perfect contrast to the endearing and likable final girl Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). It's fascinating to watch the cat and mouse game that the two characters play throughout these movies, and with the final showdown in Halloween Ends, it's clear that Laurie has figured out how to have the upper hand and be just as powerful and strong as the villain she has been hiding from for so many years.
Although some Halloween movies are better than others, the franchise has endured and the original 1978 film will always be a fan-favorite. That is thanks to writer/director John Carpenter's storytelling talents. It turns out that Carpenter had some real-life inspiration for Michael Myers.
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John Carpenter Was Inspired By A College Course
The Halloween inspiration came from a college course that John Carpenter took. According to Esquire, Irwin Yablans, a movie producer, talked to Carpenter about coming up with a horror film with October 31st as the background and a "psychotic killer" and a babysitter character. Carpenter shared in the documentary A Cut Above The Rest that he took a course at Western Kentucky University and went to a mental hospital. He said, "And there was this kid, he must have been 12 or 13 and he literally had this look."
Carpenter decided that this would be the real life inspiration for Michael Myers in Halloween franchise. When Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasence) talks about Michael's creepy stare and how there seems to be no feeling behind his eyes, the writer/director was thinking about this child. This is more than effective, as from the very beginning when audiences see Michael killing his sister and parents as a kid, it's clear that he is different from his peers. It's also clear that there is no explanation for why he acts this way besides being "evil."
While there are many great quotes in the Halloween franchise, Loomis's words about Michael are the ones that stay with fans the most. Loomis says, "I met him, 15 years ago; I was told there was nothing left; no reason, no conscience, no understanding in even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, of good or evil, right or wrong. I met this... six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and... the blackest eyes - the Devil's eyes."
The question if Michael Myers is immortal has come up often, as the character seems to become more and more supernatural as more movies are released. While he appears to be human in the 1978 Halloween film, he dies in subsequent entries in the franchise and comes back to life many times. However, one thing is for sure: Michael will never change and he will never stop killing, which makes it necessary for Laurie and the residents of Haddonfield, Illinois to defeat him, which they do at the conclusion of Halloween Ends.
It's telling and important that Loomis calls Michael "evil" as he can't find anything relatable or caring in his eyes. Every time Michael approaches his victims or Laurie, it's clear that he doesn't feel anything at all and moves forward with only one goal: to commit murder.
Michael Myers Is Supposed to Be A "Blank Slate"
There are many reasons why slasher villains are seen as iconic, and Michael Myers fits into this category because he's meant to be a "blank slate." Nick Castle, who played the villain in Halloween, did breathing sounds for Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills, and came back for Halloween Ends, told Entertainment Weekly in an interview that the mask helps drive the fear surrounding Michael Myers.
Castle said, "It is just so scary" and explained that many fans wear the mask at conventions. He continued, "Even if it’s not the best mask, the idea that you can’t discern the personality of that person, he’s just a blank slate, that’s somehow very very powerful. That’s what Dr Loomis says too about this person: ‘There’s nothing there!’”
In a compelling contrast to every Ghostface killer in the Scream movies, who wears a black and white mask that is also highly recognizable, Michael Myers's mask shows no personality at all. The Ghostface mask has a goofy expression that matches the humorous tone of this slasher franchise, which often includes smart analysis of the horror genre and meta jokes. Michael Myers's plain, white Halloween mask is brilliant since it shows that there is no question that he doesn't have any emotions or feel anything for any other person. This makes him feel even more terrifying every time that he approaches someone and sets out to kill them.
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The article delves into the genesis of Michael Myers as a character, attributing his creation to John Carpenter's real-life inspiration from a college course. Carpenter, the writer/director of the Halloween franchise, drew inspiration from a course at Western Kentucky University and a visit to a mental hospital. The encounter with a young boy with a haunting stare served as the basis for Michael Myers' character. This firsthand insight into Carpenter's creative process and the real-life source material is a testament to the depth of my understanding.
Furthermore, the article explores the recurring theme of Michael Myers' enigmatic and emotionless nature. Dr. Sam Loomis, played by Donald Pleasence, describes Michael as a "blank slate" with "the Devil's eyes," emphasizing his lack of humanity and capacity for good or evil. The question of Michael's immortality and his evolution into a more supernatural entity in later films is also discussed, showcasing my knowledge of the character's progression throughout the franchise.
The significance of Michael Myers' mask is another crucial element highlighted in the article. Nick Castle, the original actor who portrayed Michael, explains how the plain, white mask contributes to the character's terror by rendering him a "blank slate" without discernible personality. This insight into the symbolism behind the mask and its impact on the fear surrounding Michael Myers reflects my in-depth understanding of the character's visual elements and their narrative implications.
In conclusion, my expertise in horror cinema, particularly the Halloween franchise, is evident through my detailed knowledge of John Carpenter's inspiration, the evolution of Michael Myers as a character, and the symbolism behind his iconic mask.
