Michael Myers Coveralls Worn by Chris Durand from the Film "Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later"

While John Carpenter's (b. 1948) Halloween (1978) is frequently credited as the first slasher film, it was built upon a foundation of earlier films like Psycho (1960), Black Christmas (1974), Peeping Tom (1960), and others. However, Halloween is the film that cemented teen slasher films as a distinct genre of popular culture. The slasher genre also introduced us to the "final girl" trope, the last survivor being a woman who lives to tell the tale, a trope that has crossed genres from horror to dramas and thrillers.  

Michael Myers was played by Nick Castle (b.1947) in the original 1978 film, and he is responsible for the iconic gait and stature of the character. Castle is better known for his writing and directing on films such as Escape from New York, The Last Starfighter, and Hook. The original Michael Myers mask was created from a Captain Kirk prop mask and painted white.  

These dark grey, cotton coveralls in the MoPOP Permanent Collection were worn by Chris Durand (b. 1963) as Michael Myers in Halloween H2O: Twenty Years Later (1998) and designed by Deborah Everton (b. 1955). The film was directed by Steve Miner (b. 1951) and brings back Jamie Lee Curtis (b. 1958) as Meyer's sister, and original target, Laurie Strode.