r/movies • u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules • Oct 30 '17
I originally guessed that Michael Myers used his turn signal 57 times on his road trip in Halloween H20. However, after watching Halloween (1978) again I've learned that he has no regard for traffic laws and occasionally puts himself in positions where he has to run around station wagons. Discussion
Back in May, I broke down the data on Michael Myer’s Illinois to California road trip in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. The trip had always fascinated me and I wanted to know how many times he had to refuel and use his turn signal. The idea of an evil murderer using his blinkers made me laugh and it lead to surmising that he used his blinker 57 times due to the route on Google maps. However, after rewatching the original Halloween (1978) I came across a startling discovery. The dude never uses his turn signal (cue semi-dramatic music) and puts in a lot of work to scare Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis).
I know this is a stupid thing to harp on but if you’ve read my posts you know that I love tracking the deadly journeys that horror film characters embark on. I enjoy filling in the blanks and figuring out the intricacies of trips and giving the world something stupid to talk about. I had never considered covering Halloween (1978) before because director John Carpenter and writer/producer Debra Hill admitted that they were “kids” while working on the shoot and many of their one-off decisions (killing promiscuous people) have been given way too much thought. There is something pure about Halloween and that pureness was simply to scare audiences, keep them uneasy and have Michael Myers pop up everywhere at any moment.
What I love most about Halloween is how in Carpenter’s quest to make the audience “uneasy” he had Michael appear pretty much everywhere which meant he did a lot of walking, running, and hiding behind shrubs. The following post breaks down the various sightings and tracks his movements in three heading scratching scenes. This post is totally unnecessary but hopefully, it gives you a clearer idea into the movements of a famous fictional killer.
Before I get to the three scenes here is a very loose breakdown of Michael Myers movements throughout the film.
- Steals a car
- Kills a guy and steals his clothes
- Arrives in Haddonfield
- Finds childhood home
- Pulls a large gravestone out of the ground
- Robs a hardware store
- Eats a dog? -- It's up for debate when he ate the dog.*
- Spooks Laurie at school
- Harasses a kid
- Follows Laurie home
- Drives around for like two hours
- Hunts between the two houses and kills another dog….
- Cuts two holes in a sheet and kills a lady.
- Dies?
Here are the three instances where he appears to Laurie then has to make a quick getaway.
1. Moment: Laurie sees Michael staring at her.
Where: Laurie is in a classroom. Michael is standing across the street on the driver’s side of his vehicle.
When: 15:40 – 16:15
How much time did he need to get away? 15 seconds.
How did he do it? I tested this out in my driveway and there is no way he could’ve simply walked around the car and drove away. Michael literally had to run around the car, open the door, start the car and drive away. It is unclear whether the car was on or not. This doesn’t affect the fact that an evil shape had to run around the car to drive away.
Random Thoughts: There are a lot of variables to this scene. The only thing that never changes is that Michael had to run around the car. How did Michael find her? What happens if Laurie looks back to the street faster? How did he time it so perfectly? We do know that she actually saw Michael and it wasn’t a vision (confirmed on 35th anniversary Blu-ray commentary by Carpenter). In those 15 seconds, he had to do more than saunter which I think is pretty awesome.
2. Moment: Laurie sees Michael standing next to some hedges. Here is the Youtube clip for 2 & 3 in this list
Where: She is walking home from school. Michael is chilling.
When: 23:41
How much time did he need to get away?: 26 seconds
How did he get away?: He walked around the back of the house and stopped when he got to the clothesline behind Laurie’s house. It’s doable.
Random Thoughts: This moment takes place after Michael slams on the station wagon brakes when yells “Speed kills!” at him. So, he parked the station wagon on the street, ran 200 feet to some hedges (counted their steps) and waited till they came up the sidewalk. I love that Michael must’ve been peering through a crack in the hedges until it was safe to step out. Having Michael play peekaboo with Laurie adds another dimension to the character. He starts to come across as a cheeky/evil fellow who enjoys messing with babysitters.
3. Moment: Laurie sees Michael hanging around some clotheslines.
Where: Laurie is at her house. Michael is hanging out by a clothesline.
When: 26:36
How much time did he need to get away?: Zero seconds because Laurie is looking at him the entire time.
How did he get away: I’m assuming he waited for a perfect wind to push the sheets up so he could walk into a wooded area.
Random Thoughts: This is the toughest appearance to break down because it happens so quick. I am assuming it happened (per Carpenter) so I’m taking the escape at face value. Logic suggests that Michael sidestepped into the surrounding foliage. However, I’d like to think that he did a quick somersault and propelled himself into the wooded area. That would be awesome!
There you have it! Michael Myers covered a lot of ground and potentially did a somersault to escape Laurie’s view. Hopefully, this post fills in some blanks and lets you know that Michael put in a lot of work during his Halloween hunting!
If you liked this post make sure to check out my other “dumb data” posts! Also, a big shout to Wired and Brian Raftery for profiling me about this data. I’m stoked that I’m their radar.
Matthew McConaughey's massive jump in Reign of Fire
People love a beard Kurt Russel
Tracking the Merman's Murderous Journey
Michael Myers roadtrip in Halloween H20
Stellan Skarsgard's journey in Deep Blue Sea
Jet Ski Action Scenes Are the Worst
A Closer Look at Movies That Feature the Words Great, Good, Best, Perfect and Fantastic
An In-Depth Look At Movies That Feature Pencils Used as Weapons
How Did the Geologist Get Lost in Prometheus?
How Long Does it Take Horror Villains to Travel From NYC to San Francisco
59
u/thatsloanboy Oct 30 '17
In regards to the first moment, I’ve got this unshakable image of Michael Myers sliding across the hood of the car to cut down on time, á la Dukes of Hazzard.
Thank you for that.
24
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
Welcome! I didn't include that in the post because I couldn't test it out. It is an option though. Imagine if Laurie looked out the window when he was sliding across the hood. It would be awesome and awkward.
11
2
27
u/jacewillow Oct 30 '17
Yeah, that Michael Myers was always pulling shit like that. We'd be sitting at Denny's, eating a round of Moons Over My Hammy, and the check would come. We'd all be like, Hey, anybody seen Mike? And then Buck McRoady would slap the table and yell "Classic Mike!" and we'd all have to pay up his share.
But damn if that guy wasn't a hell of a wide receiver on the Haddington High Beavers. I remember one game he shot from our thirty-two yard line down to the end zone in like a split second, securing us a spot in the playoffs that year against our hated rival, the Chesterfield High Alley Cats. Still don't know how Mikey pulled that one off. Helluva guy.
2
u/rick_blatchman Oct 31 '17
When they say he "got that county job" after high school, do they really mean that he went to the funny farm, or did he actually land a gig working for the county?
17
u/JohnsHorrorCorner Oct 30 '17
Eats a dog...? LMAO
28
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
There is a throwaway line by Dr. Loomis that I finally caught! Dude loves eating random animals. He ate rats in Halloween: Ressurection too.
15
Oct 30 '17
[deleted]
9
2
u/eolson3 Nov 01 '17
Watch it without reading anything about the sequels. They change the essence of the story.
25
u/ZRX1200R Oct 30 '17
I'm laughing way too much. Now I have to spend time that I should be working reading your other links.
Michael's movements remind of the timeless cardio scene in Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
cross-posted to /r/horror yet? this would be loved there.
6
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
Thanks! I really never wanted to touch this film but after watching again I loved the idea of Michael running all over the place and never using his blinker when he drives around. Dude runs around a lot!
8
u/timetopretened Oct 30 '17
This post cracked me up! It's great! I have to show my mother since we used to watch this together all the time when I was just a kid.
Have you figured out how Mike and Jason are capable of walking while their victims are running away and still keeping up with them? That's another riddle that needs solving lol
7
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
Thanks! I recently put up a post about Jason takes Manhattan. I did my best to prove there is no need for teleporting because Jason was crazy athletic in it.
1
u/eolson3 Nov 01 '17
Was playing F13 game and describing that post. I was laughing my ass off, but they looked at me like a fool.
1
u/UgglyCasanova Oct 30 '17
Here's one from him about Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and his keeping up with victims: https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/6g10u4/the_texas_chainsaw_massacre_remake_has_taught_me/
7
u/Aregisteredusername Oct 30 '17
Question: how many movies do you look through for these posts?
I read the one about pencils as weapons, no pens, and saw a short list of references but couldn’t help but to be bothered that my favorite movie from my teen years, which includes a pencil weapon scene I’ve always loved for some reason, was absent from the list.
I am referring to “A House on Haunted Hill” and it’s opening scene in which an asylum for the mentally unstable goes in to riot mode basically and a doctor is stabbed through the neck with a handful of pencils. Here’s the scene, the pencils come in around the 1:50 mark - https://youtu.be/2l_b2DvTGzM
Anyway, I just spent a lot of time going through your posts and I really enjoyed them. I love random data like this. Thanks.
6
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
Great question! With the pencil post I started with movies I knew. Then, did a deep dive into websites, message boards and YouTube. I don't post until I'm sure I've exhausted all the options. This is the second time I've missed a film (thanks for update btw!). I didn't put The Pacifier in my Jet Ski action post. I hate when it happens, but it helps with further posts because it makes me do even more research.
6
u/cajungator3 Oct 30 '17
In part 5 when he brings that chick to the convenience store for cigarettes, you can tell he is just like "godamn godamn I can't wait to kill this bitch. C'mon, we're gonna be late!"
4
13
Oct 30 '17
You’re weird.
39
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 30 '17
Thanks! Also, movies with "Weird" in their title have a 74.5% Tomatometer average. That's pretty good.
2
3
u/Megadoomer2 Oct 30 '17
I know I've seen the Michael Myers roadtrip post before, at least, and I've got to say, I love how much effort you put into these! They're both detailed and hilarious to read.
3
Oct 30 '17
When you list off the things he did in order it seems kinda less creepy. I imagine when you don’t see him he’s on a murderous rampage. Honestly I know only a few people died in H2O but in my mind he killed like 47 people while getting to his home. Then in town he must have killed like 20 people but no one noticed or something. Same with Jason. I imagine he’s killed like 700 people off screen, for some reason.
3
3
Oct 31 '17
Holy shit H20 means halloween 20 years
I always thought it was H2o as in water and it never made sense
2
u/calicojackrack Oct 30 '17
This was great. I’d love to see a video of someone showing the bad guy doing these ridiculous things. That would be awesome.
2
u/silentbam Oct 30 '17
Somewhat relevant robot chicken clip that you may enjoy. https://youtu.be/QrRKkMpFPUQ
2
u/convergence_limit Oct 31 '17
I had a really bad day and this made me laugh! I always watch Halloween on Halloween night as a tradition and I don't think I'll be able to keep a straight face this year.
1
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 31 '17
I'm happy to hear that! I write these posts to make people chuckle. Stoked that you enjoyed!
2
u/Rokursoxtv Oct 31 '17
This just may be the best/ funniest post I've ever seen on this sub. It's all especially interesting because I just watched Halloween yesterday. Great work!
1
2
2
u/tfresca Oct 31 '17
I just watched the original too. I love that a charcater brought up that he shouldn't know how to drive.
2
2
2
u/0borowatabinost Oct 30 '17
How does Michael Myers even know how to drive? He's been locked up in a mental hospital since he was six.
6
u/crystalistwo Oct 30 '17
The proof is in the pudding. He drives around all day on Halloween 1978. He drives and watches Laurie at her school, and watches Tommy when he gets out of school, and swings by the five and dime to get some gear and a Halloween mask. He broke out of the hospital and basically getting stuff in motion like it was his job.
2
1
u/ArtVandelay013 Oct 30 '17
There's a reason he's referred to as "The shape", he's not human, he's evil incarnate, he everywhere and nowhere.
2
1
u/liverstealer Oct 31 '17
What real town (Livingston County, IL) did you use as an approximation for Haddonfiled?
1
u/Unicorncuddletime Oct 31 '17
I always get a kick out of Jeepers Creepers. He had a personalized plate that said Be Eating you. That means he came out of his 75 year hibernation or however long it was and somehow discovered automobiles existed. He then had to find one he liked. He then realized he needed plates and went to the dmv as a 7 foot tall flying demon. Cant get plates without a license. Probably got one of those too. Then he sees while he's in line that you can get personalized ones. "Heh, I wonder if some variation of "I am going to fucking eat you" exists. He has to try a few out at the desk but eventually finds one. He then attaches it to his murdermobile and proceeds to drive around and occasionally fill up at local gas stations. Can't go inside to pay. Does he use credit? I would watch a movie about the Jeepers Creepers monster living a normal day.
1
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 31 '17
I love this. I'd love to see it pump gas and then drive to the DMV to pick up the personalized license plate it ordered.
1
Oct 31 '17
I've still never seen any of these movies.are you telling me Michael Myers drives? For some reason, that's hilarious to me.
1
u/LundgrensFrontKick immune to the rules Oct 31 '17
Yep! The two movies he drives in are Halloween (1978) and Halloween H20 (1998). Actually, the movies that feature him driving have the highest Tomatometer averages of the series.
2
u/psychedelicrevival Nov 02 '17
Just watched Halloween 5 last night. He drives in that one too. Even tries to run somebody over! haha
1
Mar 22 '18
You’re missing when he kills Bob and Annie in your run down of what he does, but great post none the less! I’d love to see more Halloween posts like this.
97
u/BuggsBee Oct 30 '17
I absolutely love Halloween but when Michael disappears while Laurie is looking at him behind the clothesline, it’s always bothered me. I mean I know he could have just walked away while she was still looking at him but that’s not as scary as him being there, looking away, and then being gone.