10 Secrets From The Set Of John Carpenter's Halloween 1978
2. Donald Pleasence Is Responsible For The Iconic Ending
The ending of the film is one of the truly iconic horror endings of all time. In the script, Dr. Loomis managed to shoot Michael (6 times! I shot him in the heart!), causing the silent stalker to fall backwards, through the window, over the balcony and down the ground below. Loomis sees the body, speaks to Laurie, and is then shocked to find that there is no body down there anymore.
Donald Pleasence, the veteran actor playing Loomis who had previously appeared as Blofeld in You Only Live Twice, made a suggestion to John Carpenter.
Loomis had been Michael's doctor for many years and, as such, was the one both knew him best and knew what he was capable of. He suggested that they try something different.
With Pleasence's suggestion, they filmed the ending with Loomis discovering the body is gone. Rather than register any shock, he stares fixedly down, resigned to the fact that this battle is not over.
Pleasence would return in five subsequent Halloween films. The battle was far from over, and an iconic horror movie scene was created.