Halloween

What’s it about?

It’s 1963, and on Halloween night a young boy murders his teenage sister in the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois. He is institutionalised under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis. Fifteen years later, he escapes and returns home in time for Halloween, where he begins stalking a group of teenage girls, including babysitter Laurie Strode. Meanwhile, Dr. Loomis races to find him, convinced that he is pure evil and will kill again.

The facts 

• Directed by John Carpenter (Halloween Kills)
• English language
• Runtime: 91minutes
• Halloween is the first in the film franchise comprising of 13 films

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was classified by the Chief Censor for Films (CCF), prior to the establishment of Te Mana Whakaatu, Classification Office in 1994. You can find out more about the history of censorship here.

Horror

The horror is driven by sustained tension, stalking, and the sense of being watched. The killer silently follows characters, appears unexpectedly in the background of scenes, and lingers outside homes at night. There are jump scares and moments where characters are chased or trapped. The film creates fear through atmosphere, quiet suburban streets, dark interiors, and the persistent presence of the masked figure, rather than through gore. The tone is intense and suspenseful throughout. 

Violence

The film contains several scenes of violence involving a knife. Characters are stabbed, and in some cases the wounds are briefly shown with visible blood. The violence is not prolonged or graphic by modern horror standards, but it is deliberate and threatening. There are also scenes of strangulation and implied off-screen killings. Much of the impact comes from the anticipation of violence rather than explicit detail. Strongest scenes include:

• A character is struck in the eye with a wire hanger.
• A character is stabbed in the neck with a knitting needle.
• A character is shot multiple times and falls out of a window.
• A dog is choked to death.

Offensive language

The film includes occasional uses of words such as “shit,” “damn,” “bastard,” and “ass.”

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau?
• Halloween Ends – Content breakdown