The Shape Gazes Back (Chapter 1- The Evil Within)

Welcome everyone to my character analysis of the infamous Michael Myers, A.K.A. The Shape. In this chapter, I will analyze its behaviors, environment, and development. The Shape’s story begins on Halloween night at the Myers residence, where the very first action we see is of a 6-year-old Michael gazing at his sister from afar, shrouded in secrecy outside the house. After his sister engages in a sexual act with a man, Michael stabs his sister repeatedly in the chest killing her. Symbolically, one of the most definitive acts of evil that one can commit would be to kill their own sibling. The age of 6 is also of particular interest since at this age gender roles begin to become much more important as children begin to become socialized (essentially raised) by one another. Based on future installments of the franchise, we know that it was quiet and mostly isolated despite living in what appears to be an upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood. Most children who murder have been subjected to turmoil in their household, extreme levels of abuse, poor schooling systems, and the presence of drugs and/or mental illness, but for the Shape none of these elements are present. 

I am sure that many people are wondering… “But why does the Shape kill?” “What mental illness does he have?” Of course, painting Michael as a mentally ill boy out of control is a desirable reality. The cognitive dissonance created from seeing a white child from a strong two-parent household in a cozy small town become such a thug. I intend to answer these questions in the next chapter, but for now, let's continue to delve into the Shape’s character development.

Michael surrenders to his parents and appears to become catatonic before being taken to a psychiatric institute for the next 15 years. Dr. Sam Loomis spends 8 of those 15 years attempting to rehabilitate the boy before concluding that he had no conscience or any sense of morality. Keep in mind that this was therapy in the 1960s and one that took place in a small town that likely did not have the most illustrious facility. Further literature even suggests that the experience of hearing constant screams only contributed to Michael's growing anger and sadism, ultimately leading to the night he came home. 

Michael at 21 years old is almost a completely different person, clearly showing intelligence, driving skills, an interest in art and humor, and even various forms of communication. In 1978 Michael can successfully escape Smiths Grove and murders 5 more people AND a dog. The first two of these kills (that being a mechanic and a dog) were done out of necessity and were not premeditated but, the next 4 kills were all an elaborate plan to divide and conquer the final girl Laurie Strode. All of these next 4 victims were friends of Laurie, 3 of which being females who were strangled (usually a more intimate and personal way of killing) the only male friend was stabbed and pinned against a wall which noticeably piqued the Shape’s interest. After this, The Shape becomes a house decorator of sorts as he begins to plant bodies, mutilate corpses, and add unique props such as his sister Judith's tombstone that was stolen earlier in the film. The Shape then sets a trap for his ultimate target Laurie Strode as he seemingly attempts to recreate the fantasy of murdering his sister when attacking Strode with a knife before eventually failing to strangle her as Dr. Loomis shoots The Shape six times, leading to his arrest.

40 years later, The Shape is broken out of captivity by a delusional psychiatrist hell-bent on finding out what makes The Shape tic. The problem is that the Shape is no longer a boy or adolescent, it is now well… something else. Dr. Sartain is built up to be the “New Dr. Loomis” but in reality, he is simply a self-insert of the audience, in other words, he knows nothing about how The Shape works. Sartain foolishly assumes that The Shape will once again target Laurie Strode, instead the voyeuristic and sadistic Myers spends the entire day randomly murdering as many people as he can get his hands on, while actively and intentionally ignoring Laurie to the best of his abilities. Myers is simply finding the most vulnerable people that he can inflict harm upon and even his methods have gone from a more personal and at times sexually charged stalking and strangling (although in a few rare moments this is still the case) to a much more impartial and almost assassin like stabbings and bludgeoning. Even The Shape’s demeanor is more cat-like; he walks with almost a strut, his head constantly swiveling looking around for targets. Back in the 1978 film, we see the Shape get bumped into by a few random children who are immediately horrified by the eyes of “The Boogeyman”. Eyes that are compared to plastic dolls due to them being an unfocused, hypnotic, cold gaze. The Shape extends his arms and gently moves the children out of the way so that it can get back to stalking Tommy, a child that Laurie would babysit, and who unfortunately was present when Michael first laid eyes on Laurie Strode, making him a possible target. In 2018 upon being bumped into, Myers stands stiff as a board, failing to even acknowledge the mere presence of the children. Instead, it just darts around before murdering several people in their homes without justification. Justification is for those with a conscience… Myers has none. The Shapes’ rampage reaches its apex when a mob tries and fails to take him out. Michael kills at least 45 people in a single night, showcasing just a fraction of the Evil that lurks within. People always ask, “why does Michael Myers kill?” Tune into the next episode and find out.