Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter's Halloween follows masked killer Michael Myers as he stalks people in an ordinary suburban setting. Released in 1978, it builds much of its fear through patient observation and the possibility that danger is already nearby. Carpenter's spare, repeating score gives the film a recognizable pulse, while the framing often invites attention to the edges of the image. The emphasis falls on suspense and atmosphere rather than elaborate displays of gore.

That restraint suits viewers interested in slow-building dread and the roots of the modern slasher film. Michael Myers' blank mask and unexplained menace became influential elements of the genre, though Halloween did not invent every convention it helped popularize. The BFI places it within that earlier horror tradition, acknowledging predecessors while recognizing its lasting role.