Halloween ’63 is more than just a prelude to the iconic events of the 1978 classic; it’s a homage to the roots of terror and a tale that carves its own identity within the horror genre. In a brisk 10-minute runtime, this short film delves into the chilling lead-up to the infamous Halloween night, capturing the essence of both homage and innovation.

On that fateful Halloween night in 1963, amidst the laughter and joy of trick-or-treaters, a chilling incident unfolded. Eleven-year-old Michael Myers (Holdyn Humphries), a seemingly ordinary boy with an unsettling gaze, committed an act so heinous that it would haunt the town for decades to come. In a moment shrouded in darkness, he mercilessly took the life of his own sister, Judith Myers (Mari Blake), sending shockwaves of terror through the community.

To say that the original Halloween changed the landscape of horror would be an understatement. It’s over thirty years old and still tops many lists of horror. With that said, it could be too big of a legacy to tackle but luckily, the filmmakers were up to the task.

Some changes were made, such as the age of Michael, which was bumped up from 6 to 11. But those changes didn’t subtract from the talent and care put into this. The choice to have it in black and white was a change that I felt added to the idea that it was a prologue. All this added an almost alternative timeline feel to it.

Despite being a short film Halloween ’63 fits right in with the rest of the films. If you’re a fan of the franchise or just like the original, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Heck, there are worse ways to spend 10 minutes.

8 out of 10