Overview
- The 1978 film was produced for roughly $300,000 and shot in under three weeks using Southern California locations dressed as Haddonfield, Illinois.
- Despite early skepticism from critics, strong word of mouth propelled the movie to more than $70 million worldwide and signaled that independent horror could compete with studios.
- Contemporary reviews emphasize that the spare synth score and prowling camerawork are the elements that most strongly endure for first-time viewers.
- Fans continue to note quirks tied to the fast, low-budget shoot, including lush California foliage, Michael Myers’ inexplicable driving, and a hardware-store alarm that seems to ring for hours.
- Jamie Lee Curtis says she accepted Laurie Strode because she needed work and recently said she would “never say never” to returning, with no new project announced.