Synopsis:

I've made extensive alterations in order to Shape my ideal version. Many changes have been made to strengthen continuity, remove filler & improve pacing.

Intentions:

My intention was to create a tighter version that injects new energy while retaining the original mood.

Change List:

-added my production logo. -scored the production credits with the track The Haunted House. -new "a John Carpenter film" credit. '63 FLASHBACK- -moved the flashback scene to pre-opening credits. -the new music fades-out as the trick 'r treaters sing. -new screams for Judith Myers. (Hanna R. Hall from HALLOWEEN 2007) -new sound effects (stabbing, slashing, chair falling, body hitting the floor) -mixed the Main Theme in as the camera pulls away from young Michael. TITLE CARD / OPENING CREDITS- -moved the Donald Pleasance credit to after the credits for the named characters. -removed the "in" from the Donald Pleasance credit. -re-timed the pumpkin, John Carpenter credit & title to match the music. -re-timed the pumpkin so that it doesn't jump around due to the new credits edit. -Main Theme continues on longer, bridging into the next scene. GOING TO THE SANITARIUM- -shortened the duration of the "Smiths Grove, Ill" & "Oct. 30th" titles. -fade-in on the shot of the car coming around the corner. -Main Theme fades into the sound of the storm. -adjusted the color of the two lightning flashes to look more natural. -cut Loomis explaining that the driveway is just ahead. -shortened the shot of the fence through the windshield. -cut the shot of Marion saying "You're serious, aren't you?". -Marion's "You're serious, aren't you?" is heard during a different shot. -extended the shot of the Rabbit in Red matchbook. -cut a shot of Marion & Loomis riding silently. -adjusted the color of the other lightning flash. LOOMIS FINDS THE SERVICE TRUCK- -re-scored the scene with the track The Haunted House. -looped the sound of the train signal. -added footstep sounds. WALKING HOME FROM SCHOOL- -shortened Laurie & Lynda rounding the corner before Annie catches up. -shortened a shot of Laurie, Lynda & Annie walking away from camera. -shortened a shot of the girls walking on the sidewalk. -shortened the shot of Laurie walking away after bumping into Sheriff Brakett. -shortened the shot of Brakett walking across his lawn. -cut Laurie saying "I thought you outgrew superstition" to herself. LAURIE IN HER ROOM- -cut Michael disappearing in front of Laurie's eyes. -Laurie slams the window as soon as she sees Michael. -new window slam sound effect. -used the longer shot of the sheets, cut earlier, when Laurie looks back outside. SMOKIN' & DRIVIN'- -cut some silence after Annie's "I didn't know you thought about things like that." -Annie's "You could ask someone..." begins earlier, during a different shot.' -shortened a shot of Annie. -adjusted brightness/contrast on the drive-by shot to better match the next shot. ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING- -shortened the shot of the dog going limp. -theme from The Thing begins playing as the dog dies. -cut the production logos from The Thing footage on TV. -extended the shot of the laundry room as Annie calls for Lindsey. --extended the music using the track Better Check the Kids. -shortened the shot of Lindsey watching TV. ANNIE FORGETS HER KEYS & MEETS HER END- -cut the shot of Annie walking across the backyard on her way back inside. -shortened the shot of Annie coming around from the side of the house. -cut Annie stopping to fix her hair in the mirror before going back outside. -patched in missing audio for a few frames before Michael attacks. -shortened a few shots to make Michael's attack faster & more intense. -removed the repeated audio from Annie's strangulation sounds. -added a throat slash sound effect. -cut away before Annie makes an unintentionally silly face. -removed the car horn sounding after Annie dies. -added a shot of the Wallace house. LINDSEY & TOMMY WATCH TV- -cut the first shot of the kids on the couch. -cut the first shot of the TV. -cut Tommy calling to Lindsey from behind the curtain. -cut the shot of the TV. LYNDA & BOB AT THE WALLACE HOUSE- -added music coming from Bob's van. (I'm Your Boogie Man by KC & the Sunshine Band) -added additional sound effects. (engine running, radio knob, engine stopping) -cut Bob saying he's going to "rip Lindsey's clothes off." -cut the "Totally" from Lynda's "This is totally silly!" -shortened the shot of Bob opening the door to the Wallace house. -cut the "Totally" from Lynda's "It's totally dark." -shortened the shot of Bob turning off the light to match the outside shot. -cut the shot of the Doyle house after the lights go out at the Wallace's. A GHOSTLY ENCOUNTER- -cut Lynda saying "Did you get my beer?" before "Cute, Bob." -shortened a shot of Michael in the ghost costume. -cut Lynda saying "What's the matter Bob? Can't I get your ghost?" -cut a shot of Michael in the ghost costume. -cut Lynda saying "Well, can't you answer me?" -cut a quick shot of Michael in the ghost costume. -edited & mixed Lynda's "Well, I'm gonna call Laurie" to sound more intelligible. LAURIE GOES TO THE WALLACE HOUSE- -cut a shot of Laurie walking. -cut a shot of the Wallace house. -extended a shot of the Wallace house. -cut Laurie yelling "alright, you meatheads. Cut it out." ect. -shortened the first shot of Annie so that Laurie reacts faster. -replaced the second shot of Annie with a close-up, cut earlier. LOOMIS FINDS MICHAEL- -new sound effect when Michael hits the ground. -cut Loomis trying to fire more shots from his spent revolver. -shortened a shot of Loomis so he isn't still pointing his revolver. -edited the end montage to flow logically to the Myers' house & to match rhythm. END CREDITS- -adjusted the credits so that the title appears in time with the music. -added music credits to reflect this edits changes. -text scrolls all the way up & off the screen instead of fading out at the end. POST CREDITS- -added a shot of the Myers house. -extended the shot of the Myers house. -added sound effects. (crickets, outside ambiance) -added Michael appearing in Judith's window. -added the sound of Michael breathing. -added my production logo to the end. -added a cue from the track Michael Kills Judith.

Additional Notes:

I wanted the editing to feel more kinetic without any obvious changes. This version has a quicker pulse than the original, but still feels like the '78 classic.

Other Sources:

SOURCES USED: VIDEO- -Halloween (Shout! Factory bluray, 2021) ADDITIONAL AUDIO- -Halloween 2007 (Lionsgate bluray, 2011) -Halloween Soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande Records, 1983) -I'm Your Boogie Man by K.C. & the Sunshine Band (from the album Part 3, 1976) -Sound Effects (YouTube.com).

Special Thanks: