Michael Myers is the main antagonist of the Halloween franchise and the villain who has plagued Haddonfield for almost half a century. Over the years, he has built a brutal mythology that renders him as the inseparable face of his horror franchise and a being so despicable, many wonder if he's even human at all.
There are many factors distinguishing Myers from other iconic slasher antagonists, most particularly in the way he conducts himself within the franchise. Identifying them makes it easier to understand the silent killer's effectiveness and how he has helped to make horror movies themselves a mainstream phenomenon.
10 Myers Is An Original Villain
Although the concept of a "big man in a mask" is well-worn, Myers was one of its earliest progenitors. First appearing in 1978, he predates Jason Voorhees, the slasher he's most often compared to.
Additionally, Myers remained the face of his franchise throughout almost every movie barring Halloween III, whereas other franchises had to rely on ancillary antagonists to keep their stories fresh. Myers' ability to carry 40 years of cinema by himself distinguishes him even further from his murderous colleagues, especially since he doesn't rely on flashy effects or concepts.
9 Myers Has Two Main Enemies
Most horror villains would be lucky to have one consistent hero to deal with. Friday XIII's Tommy Jarvis and Child's Play's Andy Barclay are both prominent threats for their respective villains, having killed their monsters multiple times.
However, Michael Myers has two threats that he must consistently face, Laurie Strode and Doctor Samuel Loomis. Both present entirely different challenges for the boogeyman, with the former being an underdog survivor and the latter his relentless pursuer. Given Laurie's newfound familiarity with weapons, she's now become the one person who might end Myers' threat.
8 Myers Is A Balanced Killer
Some horror villains are so weak that they cannot be taken seriously, while others are so ridiculously powerful that it feels like virtually nothing can stop them. Myers gives viewers the best of both worlds, a force of nature who can still be deterred with the right tactics.
Although Myers can resist most blunt trauma and sharp weapons, bullets and explosives seem to be his weakness. This was seen in the endings of Halloween and Halloween IV respectively, the latter of which had him buried in a shallow grave.
7 Myers Has A Memorable Nickname
In the original Halloween script, Michael Myers was referred to as the Shape. This is for a number of reasons, all which contribute to why he is a frightening killer.
Being faceless helps make Myers seem less human. Perhaps more importantly, it allows viewers to associate him with the abstract concept of evil itself. Considering that Myers' identity is always concealed, whether behind his traditional mask or a bed sheet, it's easier to project whatever boogeyman viewers fear onto Myers' blank face.
6 Myers Has Never Broken His Mysterious Silence
Throughout the entire Halloween series, Michael Myers has never said a word or done more than grunt in pain. As mentioned above, this is to dehumanize him and raiaw further questions about who or what is actually behind his mask.
What makes Myers particularly compelling is that throughout almost every iteration, he has never broken his vow of silence. Even when losing his fingers, falling off a roof, or being burned alive, Myers has barely ever allowed a chink in his silent armor.
5 All Of Myers' Timelines Connect To 1978's Halloween
It's fairly typical for most horror franchises to have different versions of characters through reboots. This is in order to give the screenwriter and directors artistic freedom with their production, often at the expense of what made the villain compelling in the first place.
Although Myers has more alternate timelines than virtually any other slasher, what makes him compelling is that every re-imagination is tied to the original film from 1978. It adds meaning to the bloody night that occurred almost 45 years ago and makes sure his debut always remains relevant.
4 Myers' Impact Has Lasted Over 40 Years
In Halloween Kills, a group of party goers listened to Tommy Doyle as he recalled the horrors inflicted by Michael Myers. Despite the event occurring forty years ago, he managed to captivate his audience thanks to the villain's legacy of fear and murder.
Myers' impact on Laurie Strode has been even more pernicious, effectively traumatizing her for life. It made her unwilling to let her guard down for decades, and as a result, she almost lost her family. In the end, Strode's precautions were validated when Myers returned to wreak havoc on Haddonfield.
3 Myers Was The First Licensed Killer In Dead By Daylight
Dead By Daylight is the most popular horror game on the market. However, its success can be at least partially attributed to the many crossovers it has had over the years. Myers had the distinct honor of being the first, with his debut in the game introducing new concepts like a unique terror radius and the stalking mechanic.
What makes Myers special is that the game does his unstoppable nature justice. He is the only character who can kill a survivor seconds after finding them thanks to his "Tombstone Piece" and "Judith's Tombstone" add-ons.
2 Myers Dispatches His Victims Creatively
Despite his silence, Myers is certainly more intelligent than he lets on. In addition to attacking opponents when they least expect him, he employs artful brutality when arranging their corpses. For example, he strung up one of his first victims' bodies on a coat rack in the original film.
Myers also used a homeowner's corpse as a pincushion, casually stuffing his torso full of kitchen knives while his spouse could only watch helplessly. When returning to the Myers house, he ensured the cadavers of its current residents were lovely caressing one another when the police found them. Myers' creativity sets him apart from slashers like Jason Vorhees. He's not solely driven by rage but also by a malicious sense of humor.
1 Myers Defeated An Entire Mob By Himself
Most fans assume that when a horror villain is dragged out into the open, they're as good as dead. Although savagely beaten at the end of Halloween Kills, Michael Myers proved his resilience and the extent of his monstrous nature.
Ignoring his injuries and seizing his kitchen knife, he single-handedly slaughtered the armed mob that had gathered to dispatch him. Having overcome one of his greatest obstacles, Myers may feel less need for discretion in future killings now that he knows almost no one can stop him anyway.