Book Review: Taking Shape: Developing Halloween From Script to Scream

Reading is a big part of my daily routine during this COVID-19 business, and I'm tearing through a book a week at the moment. So I figured it was high time to dust off the weekly Book Review, and provide like-minded peeps with some possible reading material.

Being a huge fan of the Halloween franchise, I was stoked to get my mitts on a copy of Dustin McNeill and Travis Mullins Taking Shape: Developing Halloween From Script to Scream. It traces each film's journey from script to screen, and includes interviews with the directors, writers, producers, cinematographers and even the authors who penned the novelizations.

As you can tell, this is a pretty in-depth read. You learn everything you'd ever want to know about the franchise, including all the behind-the-scenes shenanigans that resulted in some of the best -- and worst -- movies. To be honest, it's a miracle some of these films were ever made.

As a fan, this is a fascinating read. I enjoyed the stories behind the movies, and found an interview with Halloween: The Curse of Michael Meyers screenwriter Daniel Farrands of particular interest. That entry gets a lot of flack, but Farrands was on the right track with his script. The level of studio incompetence and interference, though, was staggering. No wonder so many of Dimension's films sucked.

Personally, I'd like to have seen what director Fred Walton (When A Stranger Calls) would have done with that film...

Anyway, this is a solid read for film and Halloween fans. I'm giving it a Good, and highly recommend it.

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