This is an amazing horror. Many think its too violent, but compared to friday 13th it might as well be Barbie! This would be great starter horror for anyone wanting to try out the genre.
Halloween
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
First Michael Myers slasher fest isn't for kids.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 16 and Under
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Halloween was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that, while the blood and gore are left to your imagination in this horror classic, there are numerous stabbings and slayings. And most (though not all) of the victims seem to be sexually active teenagers.
Families Can Talk About
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- Families can talk about what makes the movie so scary, especially because it doesn't fall back on using gore-makeup effects or fancy, swooping digital camera angles. Parents might point out that director Carpenter pays tribute to the science-fiction classic The Thing (1951), which took a similar straightforward approach to a homicidal space monster (and somehow avoided sex-minded teenagers and curse words in the process).
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More on Halloween
What’s the Story?
On Halloween in 1963, Michael Myers stalks and kills his own sister after she has sex with her boyfriend. Some 15 years later, Michael escapes from an asylum on the anniversary of the murder. He soon becomes fixated on three high school girls who are looking forward to hot dates and a horror-movie marathon on trick-or-treat night -- all except for bookish Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), who has to babysit. While Michael's psychiatrist leads a skeptical sheriff around town in search of Michael, the killer gets to the schoolmates, one by one, until he's left with just Laurie, who's like Sigourney Weaver in Alien, terrified but resourceful enough to fight back. (Of course, she's not caught unawares in bed with a boyfriend, either.)
Is It Any Good?
If critics could send a Terminator robot back in time to destroy a movie at the film-processing lab, all because of the countless trashy ripoffs and imitations it would inspire, HALLOWEEN would probably be the main target. But many critics hail the original Halloween as a masterpiece, and it earned then-largely unknown director John Carpenter a reputation as the new Alfred Hitchcock (maybe Orson Welles is more accurate, since Carpenter has never been quite able to make as big a hit again).
Halloween may be saddled with some unnecessary R-rated elements, but it still provides frightening moments with more taste and subtlety (you rarely ever see any blood -- you just think you do) than its imitators. Like Hitchcock, Carpenter has an innate sense of exactly where to put the camera, how to light a scene, and what to have going on in the frame to make you shudder and jump. His use of careful silences and the sudden bursts of his now-famous pulsating electronic musical score are especially unnerving and effective.
Movie Details
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment, Director: John Carpenter
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/25/1978, DVD release: 9/28/1999
MPAA Rating: R for violence, sex, profanity.
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: 10/25/1978, DVD release: 9/28/1999
MPAA Rating: R for violence, sex, profanity.
Our Members Say
See all 48 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Violent, Ha!
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I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Perfect film for 17+
good suspense but still too scary for young kids
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Okay for Tweens and up
It is a great horror movie. Their is alot of violence. Some sex. Thier is minimal drinking
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Okay for Tweens and up
It is a great horror movie. Their is alot of violence. Some sex. Thier is minimal drinking
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
Michael Myers
It is THE BEST horror movie of all time. shows a woman's breast,and sex. nearly no blood but terrifying.
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Waaaaay Toooo Scary!!!!!!!!!!
I can tell you right now, don't watch this movie. It's so scary, I watched it a month ago and I'm still having nighmares. This is so scary. Just spooky, to much horror in it. Michael Myers creeps up on everyone, and kills 'em. It's just soo scary. You'll never get his face out of you face at night!
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I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Michael Myers the famous killer
Of course the famous Michael Myers isn't the best role model, he kills people. But really isn't show you it, they leave it to your imagination. Sex is limited, it shows one couple in bed (two teens). Beer,smoking,and drugs aren't seen to much.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
classic slasher film that is great for its time content among the violence and sex isn't that bad, but something to look out for when watching it with children.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Good for kids 12 and up
well there isn't much visual violence, but if u have a good imangination it could be scary. The worst part of the movie is sex. There are two somewhat explict sex scenes but there is underage smoking too.
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Lives in FloridaI rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
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I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Negative role models
good, but slow in pace
This is one of the first slasher movies, I got it for my 11th b-day so, I watched it, accepted it's slow pace, with too many people scenes, and not enough Michael scenes, and I found it to be very, very enjoyable.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
The best of the best
This could possibly be the best horror film ever made, it is so creepy and the autumn atmosphere pulls you in. There is surprisingly not much violence for a slasher film, but there is some stabbings and a little blood. However, there is a lot of sex and nudity, and teens smoke a joint in one scene. Overall, very good!
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Not nearly as explicit as modern horror films, but an extremely stupid movie nonetheless.
This site ripped on this movie just because it was a slasher, but it's really not very explicit at all. The violence is the strongest factor, with occasional implicit killings that never even show blood. Sex is not an issue. One scene shows breasts, and another scene shows two people in bed. That's it. The language is even tamer, with only an occasional s-word or b-word. Some brief drinking, as well. It's appropriate for most teens, but that doesn't save it from bad acting, uninspired writing, and a boring backstory (or lack thereof). Someone must enjoy this movie, what with all the sequels and idolization of Michael Myres, but it really doesn't deserve all that attention. It's just a sad little slasher flick in a world where there's so much better.
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I rate this title off for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
Brutal Violence is not for kids. Horrifing
Scariest movie ever. definitely NOT for kids
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Negative role models
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Classic Slasher Flick
One of the greatest horror films of all time. Most of the violence is only implied, but it's still very frightening. A great film.
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Ok, this movie is not for kids. Plain and simple. My sister, who is two years older than I am, was scared by this. However, if you can stand the utterly gut-wrenching suspense, you get a very good horror film. One which downplays the gore while playing up the psychological and suspenseful aspects. With a powerhouse performance by Donald Plesance and an atmosphere that cannot be replicated, "Halloween" is above most other slasher films. One thing that always struck me was the attitude of the now-famous antogonist, Michael Meyers. The way he walks and moves with an almost machine-like determination is genuinley creepy and very memorable. You've got Jamie Lee Curtis, who would be a rare find today. What's that? She's attractive, AND she can act!?!?!? *GASP!* And of course, there's that theme. That undeniably eerie chordal progression that can make the sequel to the remake look good. I don' think I need to say more. "Halloween" is a great horror film, fantastic to watch on its namesake day.
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
I really liked the movie a bit viloent though
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Perfect for all ages.
LOVE IT
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I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Great movie. This is Similar to "Psycho".
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I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This movie is good, but really scary. It is not ok for younger kids. I first saw it when I was 13.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 60% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 60% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 40% | of parents say there are good role models |
| 40% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
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