Halloween (1978)

"Halloween" (1978), directed by John Carpenter, revolutionized the horror genre and established the slasher film blueprint. This low-budget masterpiece introduced Michael Myers, the emotionless killer who escapes a mental institution to stalk babysitters in his hometown on Halloween night. With its haunting piano theme, unsettling point-of-view shots, and Jamie Lee Curtis's breakout performance as final girl Laurie Strode, the film created unbearable tension through suggestion rather than gore. Carpenter's atmospheric direction turned suburban streets into terrifying landscapes, proving true horror comes from anticipation and the unknown. "Halloween" remains one of cinema's most influential and genuinely frightening horror films.