Halloween: 25 Years of Terror 1978 Anchor Bay Entertainment   Buy It Now

October 30^th, 2003 marked a fairly momentous occasion for me...namely the beginning of the Halloween Returns To Haddonfield convention.  There are those movies that you like...then there are the ones which you really love...  However, there are those select few which simply changed the way you think about films and touch a part of your life that is beyond the occasional hour and a half spent in front of your TV.  These films stick with you forever...are the films you judge others by.  For me, the first of these films was Halloween.

The chance to get together with not only other fans and obsessed loonies like myself, but to actually rub shoulders with those responsible for my favorite film and the franchise it spawned was a dream come true...made even sweeter by the fact that I was invited as press!  But one dilemma faced me.  The convention was occurring over a three day span, the 30^th through the 1^st, but I was also in Southern California making my annual trip to attend Knott’s Berry (Scary) Farm’s Halloween Haunt and the Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland.  I was only going to be attending the convention for a single day!

There were so many guest stars who were appearing on only select dates...the screenings of Halloween and Halloween 4...the location tour of Halloween’s filming spots...the panel discussions with those responsible for each film in the franchise...loads of merchandise to sort through...fan films galore...and of course lots of props from the films to check out.  Upon leaving the convention, I was fairly content, having met some of my favorite film stars from Ken Foree to the ladies of Evil Dead; but always in the back of my mind was a longing to have seen more...to have seen it ALL.

Which brings me to the DVD release of Halloween: 25 Years Of Terror!  A more all inclusive, insightful and fantastically produced retrospective of not only the first groundbreaking masterpiece, but also its sequels, has never been put together.  Everything you ever thought you knew, could ever want to know, or couldn’t have imagined is brought out into the light of day by a bevy of producers, directors, actors, and fans (from famous to fanboy).  And, in a final stroke of satisfying genius, the whole thing is narrated and hosted by one P.J. “Totally” Soles (Lynda, Halloween).

Learn how Halloween blossomed as an idea, morphed into a possibility, and eventually was given a green light.  Find out what was really going on on-set and behind the scenes.  Discover how the filmmaking process affected a traditional sleepy Southern Californian neighborhood, and continues to through today.  Take a peek at how the film has influenced the lives of normal horror fans across the country and the world.  See some of the amazing collectibles and props that emerged over the years, and hear from those who collect them.  Witness first hand how Halloween’s influence can be found in nearly every slasher flick that followed it, and so very much more!

But before you let your over-obsessed horror fanatic brain tell you that you know all of this and more...that you are a Halloween savant...check out what ELSE there is on this two-disc release.

First of all, the aforementioned convention is explored to great depth; giving those like myself whose time in attendance was cut short as well as those who were unable to attend at all, a chance to see nearly every major moment which took place.  An introduction montage goes over the basics of what took place and a series of featurettes covers all the details.  The panel discussions from the first, second and sixth film are all included, as are the producer’s panel and a few others.   There is a gallery of the conventions behind the scenes and another of the films Pasadena locations.

Another bonus takes us on-set for Halloween 5: The Revenge Of Michael Myers; an eye-opening look at what it takes from all involved to put one of these movies together (albeit the mistakenly rushed one!).  There are also some lengthy and probing interviews with the cast and crew of Halloween II and in a surprising but long overdue move, another set of interviews for those involved with the shunned bastard child, Halloween III!  It is actually a far more fulfilling experience than you might think to hear more about this inferior and totally unrelated sequel, simply because the reasons for its creation are finally laid out and discussed publicly.  Some of those reasons might surprise you...

I really enjoy the “Fans Of Halloween” featurette which will introduce you to...well, people like me I suppose.  All sorts of folks with something to say, something to show, or in a few cases, something to embarrass their entire families, show up in this featurette proving that the Halloween franchise reaches across age gaps, ethnicities, and definitely IQs...  Hearing a variety of others telling the tale of just how Michael Meyers has changed their lives makes me feel a little more secure in my own personal geekiness.

There is a ton more stuff on here...there is almost no end to all the great inclusions!  More interviews, more photos...and let’s not forget that ALL of this is in edition to the main feature hosted by P.J. Soles!  Two discs, each filled to the brim with Haddonfield’s best kept secrets and best known faces dishing them out.  If you are at all a fan of this series, or for that matter, horror and slasher film in general, then this is a must have. 

It is important to realize one thing, and that this release isn’t supposed to be THE tell all on any ONE of the films, but instead to be a tell all on the franchise as a whole and how it has evolved.  I also feel it important to point out that Halloween director John Carpenter has (as he always does) decided not to participate directly in this project but there is plenty of pre-recorded material featuring his comments included.  Having gotten past these couple of points, it is easy to see how absolutely awesome this release really is. 

Any series of films that has been entertaining fans for nearly 30 years must be based on something truly special, and while there have been a few bombs, this doesn’t detract from the power of the franchise as a whole.  Do yourself and the legacy of Halloween a favor and add this one to your shelf!

-aaron-