10 Things you may not know about the movie Halloween

Top 10 Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About John Carpenter's Halloween

The 1978 horror classic Halloween continues to captivate audiences with its haunting story, memorable characters, and eerie music. As we approach the holiday that inspired it, here’s a look at some lesser-known facts that make the film a cornerstone of the horror genre.

1. Jamie Lee Curtis' Casting: A Scream Queen Legacy

Jamie Lee Curtis landed her breakthrough role as Laurie Strode largely due to her famous lineage. The film’s producer, Irwin Yablans, and co-writer Debra Hill recognized that her mother, Janet Leigh, had starred in Hitchcock’s Psycho. Hill once explained, “I knew casting Jamie Lee would be great publicity for the film because her mother was in Psycho. At least I knew she had the genes to scream well.”

Curtis was virtually unknown at 18, but this role launched her as horror’s iconic "scream queen" and left a lasting legacy that would extend through the Halloween franchise. In a nod to Leigh, Yablans even distributed promotional photos juxtaposing Curtis’s scream with her mother’s infamous shower scene from Psycho.

2. A Tale of Two Haddonfields

While the movie is set in the fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois, the name itself pays homage to Debra Hill’s hometown, Haddonfield, New Jersey. Although Carpenter and Hill’s film locations were in Southern California, the Midwest setting made the story feel more relatable to audiences across the U.S.

3. A Team Effort in the Script

Though John Carpenter is the name most associated with Halloween, his then-girlfriend Debra Hill co-wrote the screenplay. Hill, who’d been a babysitter herself, brought a unique authenticity to the dialogue between Laurie and her friends, crafting the kind of natural banter that resonates with audiences even today.

4. From "The Babysitter Murders" to Halloween*

The initial script for Halloween wasn’t tied to the spooky holiday. Originally called "The Babysitter Murders," the film’s concept revolved around a psychotic killer targeting babysitters. Producer Irwin Yablans suggested setting it on Halloween, infusing the film with a distinct atmosphere that has since made it synonymous with the holiday.

5. October 30th, 1981

On October 30th, 1981, HALLOWEEN aired on television for the very first time. Here's the NBC intro to that very famous broadcast, which included scenes that weren't in the theatrical cut.

6. Iconic Score in a Time Crunch

The film’s music, a now-iconic element, was composed by Carpenter himself. After a test screening, Carpenter was told the movie wasn’t scary without music, so he scored the film in just three days. Using a simple piano melody, Carpenter’s minimalistic, haunting music added a layer of tension that would become instantly recognizable to horror fans everywhere.

7. The Origins of Michael Myers

The name Michael Myers wasn’t arbitrary—it was an homage to a British film distributor Carpenter and Yablans had previously worked with. But the character’s disturbing stare was inspired by a patient Carpenter once encountered in a psychiatric hospital, a young boy with what Carpenter described as “a real evil stare.”

8. Jamie Lee Curtis and Laurie Strode Aren’t the Only Connections to Psycho*

Halloween isn’t just connected to Psycho through Janet Leigh. The character of Dr. Sam Loomis, who tirelessly hunts Michael Myers, shares a name with Marion Crane’s boyfriend in Psycho. The name was a subtle nod to one of the inspirations behind the film and further links the two horror classics.

9. Real Housewives Star in the Halloween Cast

Long before she became known as a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, a young Kyle Richards played Lindsey, one of the children Laurie babysits. Richards, who enjoyed her experience on set, reprised her role as an adult in the 2021 sequel Halloween Kills, proving that no one can resist Michael Myers’ grasp for long.

10. A Legendary Actor Almost Played Dr. Loomis

Before Donald Pleasence took on the role, the filmmakers considered British horror icons Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Both actors declined the part—Cushing due to budget constraints, and Lee later regretted turning it down. Ultimately, Pleasence brought a unique gravitas to Dr. Loomis, making him one of horror cinema’s most memorable characters.

With its memorable characters, chilling atmosphere, and fascinating backstory, John Carpenter’s Halloween remains a masterclass in horror filmmaking. These behind-the-scenes details offer even more reasons to appreciate the film that gave us one of cinema’s most enduring boogeymen.