8 Great Acting Performances That Outshone The Horror Movie

John Carpenter himself often admits that it was the star booking of the late Donald Pleasence as Dr. Samuel Loomis that helped push his 1978 horror debut Halloween into worldwide success.

With Pleasence having already established himself as a marvellous Hollywood talent in films such as 1967’s Bond-sequel You Only Live Twice and 1964’s wartime classic The Great Escape, he brought serious experience and presence.

Pleasence electrifies the film’s expository scenes with his top-tier acting. After all, some of horror’s most celebrated dialogue comes in the form of Loomis’s monologue - “I met this six-year-old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face - and the blackest eyes - the devil’s eyes."

Ultimately, Pleasence’s grade A career is precisely why it’s so surprising that he kept on coming back time and time again to the franchise’s less-than sequels. It shows just how whole-heartedly dedicated he was to his portrayal of Dr. Loomis. He was a craftsman honouring his own intended vision for the character.

As a result, the biggest clash between his superior talent and an unworthy movie is Halloween’s sixth instalment - The Curse of Michael Myers. The film itself is the sequel that wrongfully introduced a confusing and senseless backstory to Michael Myers, and the end product is a badly written misfire considered to be a tiresome watch even for loyal franchise fans.

Pleasence’s performance, however, once again stood up against the film’s lack of entertaining thrills, proving just how imperative he once was for keeping the later instalments of the franchise afloat. Just about any way.