What Makes Michael Myers so Scary?
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As the murderous brother from the Halloween movie series, Michael Myers remains one of the most frightening horror movie monsters there ever was.
What is it about "The Shape" that makes him so scary? Read on for a theory...
Written by The Horror Czar, Don Sumner
Monster: Michael Myers
Hero: Laurie Strode
Movies: Halloween, Halloween 2, Halloween 4: The return, Halloween 5: The revenge, Halloween: The curse, Halloween H2O, Halloween: Resurrection, Rob Zombie's Halloween, Rob Zombie's Halloween II
Actor: Nick Castle, Dick Warlock, George Wilbur (twice), Donald Shanks, Chris Durand, Brad Loree
Late one night, while his parents were out, a quiet and timid little boy savagely killed his 17 year old sister with a butcher knife. Since that day, that "cute" little boy has been striking fear into the hearts of movie-goers everywhere, and terrorizing his poor little sister Laurie Strode.
If you're looking for a biography of this devilish derelict you're in luck - Wikipedia has written an ULTRA complete history and biography of maniacal Mikey in the free encyclopedia. I must say, however...I wonder where they came up with some of their facts. You be the judge! Click here for the Wikipedia bio of Michael Myers .
Aside from the obvious fact that Michael is a psychotic serial killer, what is it that makes him so scary? I think it's a function of the highly personal nature of his actions...and this rears it's ugly head in three primary ways:
• Michael Myers is someone that the primary target KNOWS!• Michael rarely kills anyone outside, but instead chooses to enter the home of his victim and do his dastardly deed while the victim is in comfortable and "safe" surroundings.
• Myers is very focused and single-minded when he has chosen to slash away at someone - not easilly distracted nor deterred.
There is a grand irony in the fact that Michael Myers stalks and kills those that he knows well, members of his own family. That is found in his constant hiding of his face. His primary victim, sister Laurie Strode, calls Michael by name - so she clearly knows the identity of her assailant, and yet Michael still wears his (William Shatner) mask to maintain a separation from his former identity of loving brother. The saga of Michael and Laurie brings to the surface the fact that we never really KNOW those around us, or at least suggests that this might be the case. Death could come from any front, familiar or not.
Michael Myers prefers to slash and dash - in your own house! Our homes are our "safe haven", and bad things don't happen there...they happen to other people, and in other places, and not in our own castles! Michael slashes that concept to shreds by entering our sacred havens and chasing us around with a knife.
Plus, as a side note, he doesn't just kill his victims, but makes them suffer horribly in the process. This further illustrates that nothing is sacred to this crazy critter.
Those bumps you hear in the night? The sound from outside that might be the wind? It's not. It's a lunatic hell-bent on drawing your blood.
Finally, when Michael Myers sets his sights on getting you, he's going to get you. He doesn't get
distracted. He doesn't give up if he can't find you. Michael Myers displays the determination of dementia.
The fact that it seems that nothing can stop him doesn't help. Not even death will prevent Michael from finding you hiding in that closet and slashing away, because it appears that he cannot die!
Let's face it, Michael Myers is one frightening freak. That's the reason that the dreadful image of Michael coming for you will remain in the imaginations of children and adults alike for years to come. I, for one, welcome his arrival in my living room...as long as it's the widescreen version DVD with the lights down low. Comments or questions about Michael Myers? Discuss him on The Ossuary Forums!
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