The document provides context and analysis of the opening sequence of the 1978 horror film "Halloween". It summarizes key details about the film's production, plot, and characters. It then analyzes specific shots and creative choices in the opening credits and the first scenes, noting how they immerse the audience in the film's dark tone and build tension through the use of unsteady camera work, ominous music, and symbolic pumpkin images.

1. AS MEDIA STUDIES
FOUNDATION
PORTFOLIO FILM
OPENING SEQUENCE
ANALYSIS
Mima Micic

2. My AS Media Studies main task includes analysing an existing
film opening sequence. As a big fan of the horror genre, the
1978 film ‘Halloween’ is one of my favourites and seemed like
an obvious choice. It’s an American slasher film written and
directed by John Carpenter, who also made the soundtrack.
Debra Hill was the woman who produced and co-written the
film and it stars Donald Pleasence as Dr Loomis and Jamie Lee
Curtis as Laurie. The film budget was only $300,000 and it
earned around $60 million worldwide.
INTRODUCTION
John
Carpenter,
born in 1948,
currently 71
years old.
Debra
Hill, 1950-
2005.
Died of
cancer.
Carpenter and Hill
pictured together while
on set.

3. FILM SYNOPSIS
In 1963, Michael Myers was only 6, but just because he was
young didn’t mean that he was a sweet, innocent child. On a
Halloween night, he stabbed his 15-year-old sister Judith to
death. After being institutionalised for 15 years, a day before
Halloween of the year 1978, Myers escapes the sanitarium and
returns to his hometown, Haddonfield, Illinois. His
psychiatrist, Dr Loomis, claims that Michael is the
personification of pure evil, and is determined to track him.
The other main protagonist who later teams up with Sam
Loomis, a teenage girl named Laurie Strode, is being stalked
by the 21-year-old Michael who brutally murders her friends.
● Production
company: Compass
International Pictures
● Release date:
October 25th 1978
● Budget: $200,000-
$300,000
● Grossing: $60 million
● Screening time: 1h
31m
● Awards: 5 wins, 2
nominations
● Genre: horror, thriller
Dr Sam Loomis,
played by Donald
Pleasence
Laurie Strode,
played by Jamie
Lee Curtis
Michael Myers, played
by Nick Castle (masked)
and Tony Moran
(unmasked)

4. PRODUCTION COMPANY
LOGO
As previously stated, the company which produced this film is Compass International Pictures. Before the
logo is presented, the screen is black and the logo fades in, appearing red at first, then transitioning into
yellow. These colours were picked for a reason; orange, which appears during the transition, and black are
the colours most associated with halloween. Red can resemble sinister things, and yellow provides a strong
contrast against the black background as it makes the logo and companies name stand out more so it’s to a
greater extent readable.
The font in which the production company name is written is clear and creates a serious, dark mood which
targets a specific audience, especially when it comes to age groups. Children would not find the logo visually
appealing and interesting, as the targeted audience isn’t them, but anyone at least over 15 who enjoys films
with dark topics.
The logo is quite simple; it appears to be the company names initials (CIP) arranged in a creative, yet
uncomplicated way. A lowercase letter i is in the middle, with two c’s at sides, ultimately creating the letters
p. It’s uniqueness draws the audience in and leaves them interested in the companies following productions.

5. CAPTIONS
After the logo is presented, the name of Syrian American film
producer, Moustapha Akkad is shown in the same font and
the same red to yellowish orange colour transition that will
be used for the rest of the captions. The background also
remains black and conveys seriousness and the dark theme of
the film. Even before the logo appeared, the repetitive and
threatening theme song composed by John Carpenter started
playing and continues to play throughout the whole credits.
Moustapha Akkad, born in
1930, killed in 2005 during
the Amman bombings,
along with his daughter.
John Carpenter
while composing

6. Next up, the creepy tone is enforced by an ominous looking
pumpkin lighting up on the screen. Carved pumpkins are the
most common way of representing the holiday depicted in the
film, from which the film also got its name. This particular
pumpkin has round eyes and a big grin with square teeth, and
even though it doesn’t exactly fit the ‘scary pumpkin’
stereotype, its round eyes make it seem like it’s staring
directly at the audience, suggesting the haunting events that
will occur in the film and giving them a feeling of being
watched.
Typical ‘scary’
Halloween pumpkins
The main role of Dr. Loomis played by Donald Pleasence
and the title of the film is presented. The films title appears
larger than other captions, which emphasizes its
importance and makes it more memorable to the audience.

7. The credits continue to play as the music becomes more intense and
the camera slowly zooms on the pumpkin. This intrigues the
audience and sets a feeling of tension before the film even started.
The camera finally zooms in on the pumpkins eye, enforcing the
feeling of being watched and paranoia, before the light goes out and
the name of the director, John Carpenter, is once again credited.

8. As the theme song slowly fades, a song about Halloween is sang by children. In horror,
children can often be used to represent what they usually would-instead of being
pure, innocent, unspoiled and full of joy, they can be depicted as vessels used by evil
beings.
The screen shows the time and place of events that are about to occur before it fades
to black. Then, the main theme cannot be heard anymore and the camera shifts
shakily to a house. This makes it clear to the audience that the credits over and the
storyline is about to begin.

9. A shaky, handheld camera
continues zooming into the
house, capturing young
Michaels point of view. The
fact that he’s outside of the
house shows the audience
that he’s a stranger in his
own home. The camera then
shows Michaels sister, Judith
kissing with her boyfriend.
Their clothes look typical for
that period of time.
When the camera passes by the
house, a pumpkin appears,
reminding the audience of the
theme of the film and providing
the same feeling they had while
the credits played.
The couple is shown again
through the window and a
curtain, which can depict
an emotional barrier and
Michaels disconnection
from his family members
and home.

10. As the camera moves back to the front
of the house, it tilts to form a low
angle of it since the point of view is of
a short 6-year-old boy. It seems like
the boy is anticipating something and,
as the light from the window being
observed goes out, a sudden high-
pitched sound is heard, inducing the
feeling of horror and darkening the
atmosphere.
The pumpkin is shown again, and it
seems that every time it appears, the
camera stays focused on it for a bit
after continuing to move. This is the
only time the camera slows down
and it shows Michaels obsession
with it and, in a way, it’s a metaphor
for him, as both represent evil that
should be feared.

11. The setting appears to be a regular american
two-story house.
This shot shows Michael taking a big
kitchen knife from a drawer, and at this
point it’s fully clear to the audience that
they are watching from the killers
perspective.
The boyfriend leaves the house,
paying no attention to Michael,
emphasising how invisible he feels.
Tension is created by whitnesing
Michael climbing up the stairs slowly,
going into pitch black darkness.

12. Michaels hand is seen picking up a clown mask
which matches his Halloween costume. This
contradicts itself since clowns are supposed to
represent fun and laughter.
When he puts it on, the point of view
takes the shape of the masks eyes and
suggests that Michael feels more
comfortable being disguised