Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006 Video) User Reviews

True Die Hard fans of the Halloween Series will enjoy this well done documentary.

[hu675 · 8/10 · 29 August 2006]

This insightful, well made documentary is about the groundbreaking horror classic "Halloween" and its seven sequels. Which this feature has interesting interviews with several of the cast and crew of each "Halloween" movie, including Michael Myers less sequel "Halloween 3:Season of the Witch". This is a true story of what went great and the controversies, they had with these pictures. This DVD also has interviews with the die hard fans of the original like Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects), Clive Barker (Hellraiser) and Edgar Whight (Shaun of the Dead).

DVD has an sharp full frame (1.33:1) presentation and an fine-Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound. Beside the very good documentary, this 2-disc set is packed with extended interviews with the well respected sequel to "Halloween" and the oddball third film, extended celebrity interviews, several behind the scenes footage of the Halloween movies, terrific Panel discussions and a whole lot more.

What makes this DVD special is genuinely feel that this documentary is certainly made with care. It is also surprisingly funny to see the real fans of these movies (Which it was filmed in California at the "Return to Haddonfield Convention" back in 2003). Which makes you realize how special the Halloween movies are. DVD also included a collector's booklet and a bonus comic book. Since the late executive producer of the series:Moustapha Akkad (Who passed away in 2005) managed to succeed to keep the franchise alive and had every reason to be proud. Even from non-fans of the series will certainly enjoy it. (****/*****).

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror: Does exactly what it says on the tin

[Platypuschow · 6/10 · 29 October 2017]

Recently I binge watched all of the Friday 13th movies I hadn't seen (Which was most) followed by the documentaries. I always found them underwhelming but watchable.

Halloween however I've never liked, not a single one of the entries did anything for me at all so what chance did a documentary stand? Crystal Lake Memories was the pinnacle of Friday 13th documentaries standing at 5hrs and was a fantastic piece of work. 25 Years Of Terror emulates that but on a smaller scale.

It covers the first 8 movies, gives you a small background on each before moving onto the next so it might not enlighten you as much as you'd hope.

With backstage footage, horror-con access and more there is certainly plenty of material for fans but nothing as ground breaking as they did for Friday 13th.

Essentially viewing for fans? Not really, but it's harmless enough if only for the Danielle Harris interviews.

The Good:

Danielle Harris

Some interesting background on each film

The Bad:

PJ Soles narration is awful

Some of the fan videos are cringe inducing

Things I Learnt From This Documentary:

Halloween fans are lunatics

Michael Myers was a lot funnier as Austin Powers

one for the freaks

[trashgang · 8/10 · 5 January 2011]

Everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask will be solved with this DVD issue. It's in the same way as the documentary of Jason Voorhees but it's in some way better, I mean, when some actors refer to a scene you actually see the scene. Some interviews are a bit too deep in explaining things but I guess if you are really a Halloween geek you will love it. For me it was very interesting to hear why some editions failed and why for example part 6 has two different versions, one that's out on DVD and strangely a more bloodier part that is called the 'producer's cut'. Also nice to hear what happened to the original Myers house, you will see all the locations that still exist and others that are gone or completely changed. A must have for the Halloween geeks.

The beginning of the horror franchise documentaries

[ugotit-1 · 10/10 · 5 September 2010]

As many horror fans now, a new sub-genre (if you will) has started in the horror genre.The retrospective documentary on famous horror franchises.There's been one for Friday The 13th,A Nightmare on Elm Street,Psycho and there's even one in production for Hellraiser.But it all started with Halloween:25 Years of Terror.Production for this documentary started back in October 2003 when the H25 convention was happening.It's great to have footage from the convention to go along with the documentary.P.J. Soles does a great job of narrating.She has a natural speaking voice that is nice to listen to.With this documentary you get tons of interviews with cast and crew from all 8 films.Even all the actors who played Michael Myers!! It's an entertaining and informative documentary that every Halloween fan should see.Even the hard core fans will find something new.As great as this documentary was, I think it should been way longer than 84 minutes.I also felt that they could have spent a little bit more time on Halloween 3 and 4.But besides that it's a fantastic documentary that lets you explore 25 years of Michael Myers and the Halloween movies!!

Excellently Crafted Documentary On A Classic Series.

[drownsoda90 · 10/10 · 31 July 2006]

If you're a fan of the "Halloween" series, this is most definitely the ultimate Halloween documentary you've been waiting for. The 80 minute feature is an excellent compilation of interviews with all those involved with every film (so far) in the series, with extensive behind-the-scenes takes and very informative input from cast and crew, all excellently narrated by P.J. Soles (who played Lynda in the original "Halloween"). The documentary is topped off with footage from the "Return to Haddonfield" Halloween convention in Pasadena, California, which consisted of panel discussions and interviews with the cast and filmmakers of each of the movies, where fans could come together and meet those who were a part of creating some of their favorite movies.

Basically, if you are a fan of the series, this 2 disc DVD-released documentary is a must have. It's very informative and gives you a lot of great info on the making of the movies. It was nice to see all of the cast and filmmakers from all the films come together to compile such an interesting documentary. Very well done, every Halloween fan must see this. 10/10.

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

[Scarecrow-88 · 6/10 · 20 July 2015]

Decent documentary on the Halloween franchise up until right before Rob Zombie's two contributions to the story of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode. It doesn't quite cover each film thematically in elaborate detail like the later Jason and Freddy docs would ultimately do, but it has a lot to say about Myers in pop culture, and what the groundwork for Myers accomplished thanks to Carpenter and company back in '78. It acknowledges what the films in the franchise did or didn't do right according to fan and critic reaction. Truthfully, this is one of those docs where it covers the films yet doesn't quite hit each of them in the kind of enlightening detail that others would later do.

Seeing various actors/actresses from the films showing up like Nancy Kyes and Tom Atkins along with makeup artists like Nicoterro and Buechler, and directors like Rosenthal and Tommy Lee Wallace does lend to some cool tidbits. Like the debate of the Myers mask in H20, the production dysfunction of Part 6, how Harris decided Part 6 wasn't respectful (and right she was) to her character, Clive Barker (much to my personal astonishment) rather open (maybe he was being sarcastic) to writing a film directed by John regarding Myers vs. Pinhead, reactions to the slasher themes set in motion (what happens if you are promiscuous), what elaborating on The Shape does to the enigma he once had in Carpenter's film (rather obliterated years later by the Thorne storyline), Pamela Stroop's reveal about having a closed set with a few people when she does shows her breasts and how members of the crew were supposed to strip too, and why men get it quick and rather less elaborate while women die in a lengthy and rather cruel way.

Kudos, though, to addressing the lingering bad taste regarding Busta Rhymes' karate chop to Myers, the return of Jamie Lee Curtis to the franchise because a lot of money was thrown at her, how the franchise often teetered in regards to what the emphasis should be on (violence or suspense), how the character of Myers should be treated over the long term (humanizing him or providing "too much" back story), and letting us see behind the scenes and how popular Halloween is.

Lots Of Nostalgia, And Then Some.

[Phantasm01 · 10/10 · 10 August 2006]

Certainly John Carpenter had no idea what sort of an impact he would be making when he created his masterpiece, "Halloween" in 1978. Not only did the movie go on to be the most successful independent feature of it's time, but it spawned seven sequels, which in turn gave birth to a large and loyal fanbase. "Halloween: 25 Years Of Terror," a two-disc DVD set, centered around an in-depth documentary, celebrates that. Captured at a 2003 convention to mark the 25th anniversary (hence the title), this set beautifully covers nearly every angle of all eight "Halloween" films, their effect on the industry, their successes, their failures, and so on and so forth.

The documentary itself, clocking it at the length of the average "Halloween" film, traces the history of the franchise, from the baby stages of the original film, to the ridiculous nature of the most recent installment, "Halloween: Resurrection." Nothing is really held back here. The producers, directors and castmembers are not shy about revealing certain problems encountered during production (especially on parts 2 and 6) but also don't treat the films as complete failures, or as cinematic scum, as some critics might label it. If you own access to the internet and have done enough research on the films, this information may not be any news to you, but it's nice to have all the wrinkles ironed out and to hear it straight from the source. We get interviews from the legends, such as Jamie Lee Curtis, John Carpenter and Danielle Harris, to the lesser-knowns like Sasha Jenson, Marianne Hagan and Pamela Susan Shoop, and are even treated to input from everyone from internet critic John Fallon (Arrow In The Head) to future "Halloween" director/reinventor himself, Rob Zombie. I was intrigued by the documentary, and was only disappointed when it ended.

Good Documentary.

[AaronCapenBanner · 7/10 · 12 September 2013]

This documentary exhaustively examines the "Halloween" franchise, with interviews with creators John Carpenter & Debra Hill, along with actors Jamie Lee Curtis, Charles Cyphers, P.J. Soles, Tom Atkins, Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, and archival footage with the late(and much missed) Donald Pleasance, among many other actors, directors, and writers involved. Takes a look at how and why the first film was made, following its production and release, where Carpenter thought it had failed, only to discover to his surprise that it was a big critical and commercial success. Also goes into the formation of the many sequels, the ups and downs of their production, and then the possible future of the franchise.

Made before the two(needless) remakes and tragic death of owner Moustapha Akkad, this film was quite an interesting look at the franchise, now 35 years, rather than 25!

Cutting edge - pun intended - documentary

[dusterfrek · 10/10 · 5 August 2006]

I enjoyed H25 a lot, both as a Halloween fan and a documentary maker myself. Chock full of cool information and rare tidbits, this one is, to my knowledge, really the first out of the gate in terms of a fan-made FULL retrospective on a film. Not just covering the production stories, or the fan base, or some other aspect exclusively -- but it's really a full-orbit "all-things-Halloween" documentary. Very well crafted and interesting from start to finish. The appropriately somber, even chilling, narration by P.J. Soles is a great touch. Though I am not a fan of Halloween in terms of it's entire franchise... essentially from H3 onward, in my opinion, I was nevertheless equally intrigued with the stories and info on the later films of the series, which I think speaks to the quality of the show's craft. Also quite fascinating was the coverage of fans and the activities attending the first Halloween convention in 2003. Certainly a must-have for any fan of "Halloween" but also for cinema enthusiasts. Particularly those who enjoy the wave of groundbreaking films from the seventies among which was this first classic monsterpiece that started it all.

Erik

The Night He Came Home!

[kylehaines96 · 10/10 · 28 October 2011]

Day 28 Of My 31 Days Of Horror.

Director Stefan Hutchison gives Halloween fans a well deserved Halloween Documentary titled Halloween 25 Years Of Terror. This has got to be the best documentary I have ever seen It is well made and every time I watch the film it just keeps getting better and better. The film is just basically the cast crew and fans of Halloween stating how much they love them. I definitely recommend this if you are a Halloween fan such as myself.

Not Rated.

1hr 24min/84min.

4 uses of the F-word.

****/****

Excellent...

[jwtrox08706 · 10/10 · 25 July 2006]

***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*** This DVD was definitely worth waiting almost three years for. Actually I only was aware of its release date for no more than six months or so, but it was definitely worth the wait. The documentary narrated by P.J. Soles, the footage from the convention held in South Pasadena in 2003, and the interviews were all well done. I loved seeing all of the cast members from all of the different Halloween films come together to answer fan questions and reunite with each other as some of these cast members hadn't seen much of each other for years. If you are a Halloween fan, I definitely recommend this DVD for you. Also check out the Halloween 4 and Halloween 5 Special Edition DVDs also released the same day as this one was as well (July 25, 2006). 9.9/10 stars.

Awesome Documentary By Stefan Hutchinson

[donnaplus3-9-336104 · 10/10 · 24 March 2011]

This Is An Awesome Documentary About The Halloween Film Series Including Halloween (1978) Halloween 2 The Nightmare Isn't Over (1981) Halloween 3 Season Of The Witch (1982) (The Dumb Sequel) Halloween 4 The Return Of Michael Myers (1988) Halloween 5 The Revenge Of Michael Myers (1989) Halloween 6 The Curse Of Michael Myers (1995) Halloween 7 H20 20 Years Later (1998) And Halloween 8 Resurrection (2002) And It Stars Donald Pleasence John Carpenter Jamie Lee Curtis Debra Hill Moustapha Akkad Etc. And Of Course Also Stars Will Sandin Erik Preston A. Michael Lerner Brad Loree Chris Durand Don Shanks Dick Warlock Tony Moran Nick Castle And George P. Wilbur So Great Documentary A Must See And If You Miss It Well You Better Find A Way To Get It Because I Loved It From Brandon DeVore

Nice Look at the Series

[Michael_Elliott · 10 March 2012]

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror (2006)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

An all too short but still entertaining documentary that tries to take a look at the entire run of HALLOWEEN movies. Just about everyone you could hope for shows up in interviews but when you're trying to cram all of these films into 83-minutes obviously you're not going to be able to give each film a lot of respect or detail. The first eight movies are looked at with interviews from a wide range of people from the best known in the series to those who just played small parts. Some of those interviewed include Moustapha Akkad, John Carpenter, Dean Cundy, Bianca Kajlich, Nick Castle, Rob Zombie, Tom Atkins, Danielle Harris, Edgar Wright, Rick Rosenthal, Clive Barker, Nancy Loomis and many, many others. Again, covering so much ground in such a short time is impossible but I still think fans will enjoy this. While it doesn't go into any great detail I do think it offers up enough good interviews to make it worth viewing. It also doesn't hurt that so many cast members return for the interviews and we get some honest remarks by producer Akkad who admits to certain mistakes made in the series. This includes rushing HALLOWEEN 5 into theaters and there's also talk about the issues surrounding HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS and how things got so messed up. We even hear about the various problems with the mask on HALLOWEEN: H20 and why more than four were used. Some of the best moments deal with the fans of the series as we see some wild ones, weird ones and some that are just downright creepy. This here leads to a discussion with some of the actresses talk about being stalked by fans and there's talk about what impact horror films and violence has on the public. The documentary also does a very good job at explaining each film in its limited time so those that aren't familiar with it will be able to watch this and see what all the fuss is about.