Show Notes
The most frightening face in horror is a $1.98 Captain Kirk mask from a magic shop on Hollywood Boulevard, with the eye holes cut wider and the face sprayed white. In the very first episode of The Midnight Reel, Steve from the Haunted UK Podcast and Melissa from Haunted UK Fiction review John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), the film that started the modern slasher.
Before the review, the episode goes behind the scenes of a horror classic made for around $300,000 in about three weeks. Jamie Lee Curtis, in her first feature film, bought Laurie Strode’s whole wardrobe at JC Penney for under $100. Donald Pleasence took the part of Dr Loomis after Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee both turned it down. Nick Castle got $25 a day to play The Shape. Paper autumn leaves were painted and reused in a South Pasadena spring, and Carpenter made one of the most famous theme tunes in film history on synthesisers, with hardly any money.
Then Steve and Melissa give their honest verdict on Michael Myers’ first night home in Haddonfield.
Watch or listen now, leave your own verdict in the comments, and vote in the poll for next month’s film. Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave us a rating, and drop a review. It really helps the show reach more listeners. Here's where to find more: Support the show: Patreon (patreon.com/hauntedukpodcast) | Ko-fi (ko-fi.com/hauntedukpodcast) Follow us: Instagram @hauntedukpodcast | TikTok @hauntedukpodcast | X @hauntedukpod Website: https://hauntedukpodcast.com/ Produced by Pink Flamingo Sound Studio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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