10 Things You Learn Rewatching Halloween (1978)

10. The Opening Credits

The film opens on an elongated opening credits sequence that clocks in at just over two-and-half-minutes.

The credits are accompanied by one long-take, that lasts for the entirety of the sequence. The camera slowly pushes in on a lit jack-o'-lantern amidst a pitch black backdrop. The shot closes in on the jack-o'-lantern's eye, leaving only the flicker orange hue of the candle within amongst the darkness.

This sequence serves to introduce us to the aesthetics of the film. The flickering light amongst the darkness combined with the use of the orange ITC Serif Gothic font spells out the film's color palette, as well as establishing Carpenter's affinity for playing with sparse lighting amongst the darkness. Not to mention that it gives audiences a full two-and-half-minutes to grow accustomed to Carpenter's preferred aspect ratio of 2.35:1.

And of course, it is all backed by the use of Carpenter's iconic Halloween Theme.

This sequence is the first thing audiences see from the film, and it is a perfect set-up. It establishes the visual and sonic landscapes of the film and cements Carpenter's style, all within one shot.