When Halloween approaches, the movie that immediately comes to mind is, "Halloween". First released in 1978, John Carpenter's directorial success was immediately compared to Hitchcock's "Psycho". The next five sequels, however, did not fare so well. If you were to omit "Halloween III: Season of the Witch", which had nothing to do with the other five, you would find that the story is linear. The beginning of one picks up roughly where its prequal ends. This technique helps the series maintain a following.
The pseudo-antagonist, Michael Myers, is a man who refuses to die. His ability to sustain stabbings, gunshot wounds, explosions, and other creative methods of extinction tend to confuse a viewer. It is easier to believe that he will die and resurrect, than to see him immune to mortality. It seems that the confusion involving his immortality takes a back seat to the man himself, and all his grisly deeds.
In the first movie, we learn that little six-year old Michael has a taste for blood, which he proves by killing his sister. After spending 15 years in an asylum, he finally escapes, beginning a new life for himself as public enemy number one. It is not until the sixth installment of the series that we find out what his motivation is. We are told that he is a Druidic Avatar, sacrificing every member in his family until the blood-line is severed. Anyone who finds himself in his way will quickly become a victim, family or not. You never hear him speak, or see him coming, but with a slow, methodical gait, he always seems to capture his prey. His trademarks are his pale-white mask and lack of emotions. Like the shark, he is a perfect killing machine. But being perfect isn't always enough, I am reminded of another slash and gash serial killer by the name of Freddy Krueger.
Originally released in 1984, Wes Craven's, "A Nightmare on Elm Street", took horror films to new heights. Craven introduces us to "Fingernail Freddy", a killer who is dead right from the beginning. Through the use of flashbacks, we see that Freddy Krueger was once a child molester, brought to justice by the members of his community. He was burned to death for his crimes, though no judge nor jury was present for the sentencing. The incident was covered up, and the responsible parties were sworn to silence.
Although any one of the seven "Nightmare..." movies could be viewed separately, the storyline is consistent, allowing each sequel to add more depth to the characters and to the plot. For some strange reason, Hollywood left this series of sequels unmarred, allowing the viewer a consistent, strong storyline, atypical of the west coast mentality. Frequently, senseless violence is used to pack movie theaters, not story content. Movies such as: "Three on a Meathook", "Lunch Meat", and "Dead Alive", are good examples where gallons of blood are shed with no apparent purpose. When a film like "Nightmare..." comes along, the viewer can develop a long term relationship with the story, not just a one night stand.
"Fingernail" Freddy differs from Michael Myers in several ways. First of all, Freddy is dead, and has been since Act 1, Scene 1, while Myers is supposedly still alive. Secondly, while Myers is a slow moving, silent sicko of the waking world, Krueger is full of witty one-liners, seems to be everywhere at once, and permanently resides in the dreamworld. Because of Michael's cold, impersonal methods, and means of disposal, the viewer has a harder time identifying with him, leaving him less favored to the flamboyant, self-confident Krueger, whose wit and charm make him almost lovable. Kruegar also tries to stay creative with his killings, always offering some witticism to go along with death.
In the first "Nightmare...", we learn Freddy's motive for coming back and raising hell. He wants to seek revenge on all those responsible for his demise. He does this by getting to the children of those individuals. Whereas with Michael Myers, we never really know the "Why?" until we see the sixth movie. There is also mention of Krueger's background, which sheds a little light on why he was screwed up before his death. His mother was a nun who became locked in a tower for several days with lunatics, convicts and other miscellaneous deviants. She became pregnant, and brought Freddy into the world. Whether or not mothers play an active role in the lives of serial killers, Norman Bates included, I dare not say. However, let me mention one more maniac, Jason Vorheese, who had a thing for his mom.
Back in the seventies, a movie called "Friday the Thirteenth" hit theaters, terrifying thousands. The killer, however, was not Jason. It was his mother, and she killed for revenge. Little Jason drowned in the lake while his camp counselors made love on the beach, oblivious to his pleas. The mother snapped, and started one of the most well-known killing sprees to date. Somehow, though Jason had died, the evil within him brought him back, back in time to see his mother beheaded. The legend starts here. Part two begins with scenes from the end of part one, a great technique for flashbacks. This was also the case with the first and second "Halloween" movies. Part five of the series was the only other "Friday..." movie where Jason wasn't the star. The gruesome killings in this one were the handiwork of a copycat killer. So much for continuity.
Despite the fact that there are nine "Friday.." movies, a record for sequels in my book, each new addition adds more depth and clarity to the characters (if any are remaining), as well as the development of the plot. We learn that Jason had a mother, whom he watched die, a sister who surfaces late in the series, and a possible nephew. Like Myers, Jason seems intent on terminating his blood line. And revenge is the motive for both Krueger and Vorheese. Outside of those few facts, we don't find much else out about Jason until the last movie. The lifeforce, or black energy that sustains Jason's' body is encapsulated in his heart. But beware, unlike the other sociopaths I've mentioned, Jason finds that he has the unique ability to transfer that blackness from his body to anyone unlucky enough to be within spitting distance.
Jason doesn't speak, but his facial expressions can sometimes say a dozen words. His classic is the confused puppy look (tilt your head to one side, then stare out into space, mouth slightly ajar). But then again, a six foot, 250-pound dead guy with a hockey mask on, wielding a machette, would get his point across rather well, don't you think?
I'm not going to recommend any of these movies, strictly on the grounds
of personal bias, but any one of them will scare you (and probably make
you laugh, too). I would recommend picking a 'part one', and then watching
all the others in series to keep the story fluid. As you can see, though
all three series are classified as horror, each killer has their own distinct
personality, and each series has its own way with plot development. Now,
go home, turn down the lights, pop in any one of those 22 movies you've
just rented, brew a full pot of coffee, and stay awake for the next three
days watching every one. Have fun!!