Halloween Between Reality and Fantasy: The Secret of Michael Myers' Horror

Since 1978, the film Halloween has become a global symbol of horror, and the character of the masked killer Michael Myers is a terrifying icon. Although the events of the film are fictional, director John Carpenter was inspired by a visit to a mental hospital where he met a boy with evil looks, while the character's name was a tribute to someone who helped him distribute a previous film.

The famous mask was designed from Captain Kirk's face after being altered to appear expressionless, to enhance the terror. The fictional town of Haddonfield was inspired by the hometown of writer Debra Hill and her experience as a babysitter, while Myers' house was filmed in South Pasadena, California.

The film blends reality and fantasy to present a masterful psychological horror, and Carpenter described Michael Myers as “the very idea of evil that never dies.”