Dick Warlock's Shape walk is actually a perfect representation of Castle's OG Shape walk...

[UL74]

The conversation of The Shape’s walk, and who mimics the original walk the best has been a topic of debate for years on this forum and outside of it, but in my constant rewatches of H78’ and HII, I have began to notice something I have not noticed many fans talk about…

Dick Warlock’s Shape was is an exact, or near exact copy to Castle’s, but not in the way you would expect.

First, we need to look at Castle’s portrayal of the Shape (I will most likely do a more in-depth post about the OG 78’ Shape walk at a future date, so bare the lack of detail here). First, Castle had two different walks for The Shape; the stalk, and the chase. For this post, we will be looking at the chase. We can first really get to see The Shapes walk directly after it attacks Laurie for the first time in the Wallaces when it walks around the stairway banister, and stops at the top of the stairs. (For reference from here on out, use this video: https://youtu.be/jwvrzpgi__U?t=84). We can see that Castle has a very powerful way of walking, sort of stepping outwards, and almost bobbing from side to side with each stride, bending his back forward slightly. Then going down the stairs, it’s again that swift powerful movement. Once Laurie managed to escape The Shape for the first time, and after trying to get help from the neighbors, she runs back across the street to the Doyle’s. This is our next good look at The Shapes walk. From far away, we can see its left arms are actually sticking outward a bit, with the right remaining close to its body, the “bobby” style walk I had referred to before is explicitly visible here. Upon getting closer, its right arm does move out a bit, but I digress. From there, Laurie enters the house, and then the whole knitting needle scene occurs. Laurie stabs The Shape in the neck with a knitting needle, hard enough and far enough in that it could stick in the neck without falling out while it bumps the wall, and then pulls it out. This is the first actual damage The Shape takes.

(From here, that video ends, so use this one to continue for a visual aid: https://youtu.be/mz10oYkVJWg?t=227) Laurie goes up the stairs to check on the kids, but The Shape follows. Immediately, the walk style has begun to change. No longer is Castle arching his back forward, and walking with swiftness, instead, it’s begun to slow down, and has became incredibly stiff. The very short shot of The Shape walking into the small connected hallway already looks identical to Warlock’s take, but there is more to cover. There, The Shape enters the bedroom, and begins to break through the closet. Laurie takes the clothing hanger, and stabs the Shape in the eye with it. The now second bit of physical damage The Shape has taken. And then finally stabs The Shape in the gut, putting it down for a second time. The is the third bit of damage the Shape has now taken, and it should have put anyone down for the night permanently. Laurie tells the kids to go to the McKenzie’s down the street and call for help. Then, The Shape sits up, and stands. As unfocused as it may be, watch the walk carefully over Lauries shoulder. The Shapes arms are down at its sides, and no longer are there the big, heavy steps, but instead replaced with small, stumble like steps. The Shape grabs Laurie, and begins its final attempt at killing her. Suddenly, The Shape is shot (unknown where, certainly not the face) by Loomis, and jumps back into the bedroom, where it is then shot five more times (A total of six times! He shot him six times!) and falls off the balcony, most likely flat against it’s back, putting The Shape down for the third time.

The Shape, having sustained a neck stab, an eye puncture, gut stab, and six gun shots, and falling off a second story balcony, gets up and walks off. Which is where Warlocks shape comes into play. We’ve all seen his portrayal of the Shape, stiff, slow moving, etc. And that all stems from the pain The Shape was no doubt feeling that entire time. A hurt neck, keeping the neck stiff looking, a stiff lower back and hurt gut, from getting stabbed and falling off the balcony, to the slow movement added from the prior two and then all six gunshots. I feel not enough credit is given to this version of the shape, as I’ve seen countless people say “Warlock was too slow! Look at the elevator scene!”. I think, that Dick Warlock’s interpretation and portrayal of the Shape was downright an exact copy of how we see Nick Castle walking in the last five minutes of Halloween!

Sorry for the lengthy essay of a post! I hope you all did enjoy my analysis of the conversion from the Castle to Warlock walk being completely realistic and fantastic portrayal of the character! Let me know your thoughts and opinions on this, and whether I should give a shot at dissecting the OG 78’ shape walk, as a way to help contribute and add to the ongoing study and debate of the walks!

[SamLoomis78]

Dick Warlock has said that when he first watched H1, he couldn’t get an idea of how the walk should be, and your great analysis highlights the reason why…the variety of walking styles in H1. In the end, he just decided to go with the walking style of when Myers sneaks up behind Laurie and chokes her, very slow and almost robotic. I’ve always justified it by what little humanity was left within Myers was ultimately killed when Loomis shot him off the balcony, so in H2, he is essentially a dead body being driven by pure evil.

[NagandEmerald]

Personally, I can understand where people come from in regards to Dick Warlock’s walk as The Shape. But you do highlight a critical detail in that the Shape is Evil in human… well… Shape. It still feels pain in some regard, and it clearly was slowed by each of Laurie’s attempts to kill it. On a personal note, however, I would like to say that I actually prefer Castle’s movements over Warlock’s: both in stalking speed and chasing speed. Just overall, Castle’s performance had more life to it, even when The Shape was injured. Dick Warlock’s, on a personal level, didn’t strike an unnerving degree of fear into me in his movements, except in two particular instances: the Shape killing the nurse with the syringe, and the Shape’s walk to Haddonfield Memorial.

I would say that James Jude Courtney captures Nick Castle’s movements as The Shape better. It’s not as powerful as the '78 Shape in chase (except in short distance), but the '18 Shape, and the Kills Shape by extension, have a certain sense of direction to them that I don’t get from Warlock. They have agency. The way they turn their heads before stalking in a certain direction, or the way that the '18 Shape walks in the single-take scene are key examples that they’re channeling more of Castle’s energy and motivation behind those movements and blackened eyes. In other words, the Shape does have some sort of twisted motivation behind every movement he makes. You see it too in '78 when Castle tilts his head 3 times during the course of the film (first in the Speed Kills scene, second when he’s stalking Annie at the laundry room, and third with Bob Simms), how he turns his head and body on the whole to look at Tommy after scaring his bully at the schoolyard, even the way he goes behind the hedge (he doesn’t relent on keeping eye contact and body forwardness). There is distinct power in the “bobby-headed” walk because Castle’s Shape is in the chase.

[UL74]

Personally, I can understand where people come from in regards to Dick Warlock’s walk as The Shape. But you do highlight a critical detail in that the Shape is Evil in human… well… Shape. It still feels pain in some regard, and it clearly was slowed by each of Laurie’s attempts to kill it. On a personal note, however, I would like to say that I actually prefer Castle’s movements over Warlock’s: both in stalking speed and chasing speed. Just overall, Castle’s performance had more life to it, even when The Shape was injured. Dick Warlock’s, on a personal level, didn’t strike an unnerving degree of fear into me in his movements, except in two particular instances: the Shape killing the nurse with the syringe, and the Shape’s walk to Haddonfield Memorial.

I would say that James Jude Courtney captures Nick Castle’s movements as The Shape better. It’s not as powerful as the '78 Shape in chase (except in short distance), but the '18 Shape, and the Kills Shape by extension, have a certain sense of direction to them that I don’t get from Warlock. They have agency. The way they turn their heads before stalking in a certain direction, or the way that the '18 Shape walks in the single-take scene are key examples that they’re channeling more of Castle’s energy and motivation behind those movements and blackened eyes. In other words, the Shape does have some sort of twisted motivation behind every movement he makes. You see it too in '78 when Castle tilts his head 3 times during the course of the film (first in the Speed Kills scene, second when he’s stalking Annie at the laundry room, and third with Bob Simms), how he turns his head and body on the whole to look at Tommy after scaring his bully at the schoolyard, even the way he goes behind the hedge (he doesn’t relent on keeping eye contact and body forwardness). There is distinct power in the “bobby-headed” walk because Castle’s Shape is in the chase.

I 110% agree with you. JJC was just absolutely excellent in replicating the shape today. And as any time a character is played by an actor, you’re gonna miss some details, and Warlock wasn’t an exception. But i never said Warlock was Castle’s shape reincarnate, but a perfect continuation after the events that took place in the film prior. Again, you make the fantastic point that Warlock lacked the planning and fear that struck with Castle, but the fear of how The Shape kept going.

[UL74]

Personally, I can understand where people come from in regards to Dick Warlock’s walk as The Shape. But you do highlight a critical detail in that the Shape is Evil in human… well… Shape. It still feels pain in some regard, and it clearly was slowed by each of Laurie’s attempts to kill it. On a personal note, however, I would like to say that I actually prefer Castle’s movements over Warlock’s: both in stalking speed and chasing speed. Just overall, Castle’s performance had more life to it, even when The Shape was injured. Dick Warlock’s, on a personal level, didn’t strike an unnerving degree of fear into me in his movements, except in two particular instances: the Shape killing the nurse with the syringe, and the Shape’s walk to Haddonfield Memorial.

I would say that James Jude Courtney captures Nick Castle’s movements as The Shape better. It’s not as powerful as the '78 Shape in chase (except in short distance), but the '18 Shape, and the Kills Shape by extension, have a certain sense of direction to them that I don’t get from Warlock. They have agency. The way they turn their heads before stalking in a certain direction, or the way that the '18 Shape walks in the single-take scene are key examples that they’re channeling more of Castle’s energy and motivation behind those movements and blackened eyes. In other words, the Shape does have some sort of twisted motivation behind every movement he makes. You see it too in '78 when Castle tilts his head 3 times during the course of the film (first in the Speed Kills scene, second when he’s stalking Annie at the laundry room, and third with Bob Simms), how he turns his head and body on the whole to look at Tommy after scaring his bully at the schoolyard, even the way he goes behind the hedge (he doesn’t relent on keeping eye contact and body forwardness). There is distinct power in the “bobby-headed” walk because Castle’s Shape is in the chase.

[NagandEmerald]

Personally, I can understand where people come from in regards to Dick Warlock’s walk as The Shape. But you do highlight a critical detail in that the Shape is Evil in human… well… Shape. It still feels pain in some regard, and it clearly was slowed by each of Laurie’s attempts to kill it. On a personal note, however, I would like to say that I actually prefer Castle’s movements over Warlock’s: both in stalking speed and chasing speed. Just overall, Castle’s performance had more life to it, even when The Shape was injured. Dick Warlock’s, on a personal level, didn’t strike an unnerving degree of fear into me in his movements, except in two particular instances: the Shape killing the nurse with the syringe, and the Shape’s walk to Haddonfield Memorial.

I would say that James Jude Courtney captures Nick Castle’s movements as The Shape better. It’s not as powerful as the '78 Shape in chase (except in short distance), but the '18 Shape, and the Kills Shape by extension, have a certain sense of direction to them that I don’t get from Warlock. They have agency. The way they turn their heads before stalking in a certain direction, or the way that the '18 Shape walks in the single-take scene are key examples that they’re channeling more of Castle’s energy and motivation behind those movements and blackened eyes. In other words, the Shape does have some sort of twisted motivation behind every movement he makes. You see it too in '78 when Castle tilts his head 3 times during the course of the film (first in the Speed Kills scene, second when he’s stalking Annie at the laundry room, and third with Bob Simms), how he turns his head and body on the whole to look at Tommy after scaring his bully at the schoolyard, even the way he goes behind the hedge (he doesn’t relent on keeping eye contact and body forwardness). There is distinct power in the “bobby-headed” walk because Castle’s Shape is in the chase.

I 110% agree with you. JJC was just absolutely excellent in replicating the shape today. And as any time a character is played by an actor, you’re gonna miss some details, and Warlock wasn’t an exception. But i never said Warlock was Castle’s shape reincarnate, but a perfect continuation after the events that took place in the film prior. Again, you make the fantastic point that Warlock lacked the planning and fear that struck with Castle, but the fear of how The Shape kept going.

That is true. You never stated that Warlock was supposed to be the Shape reincarnate. But your point in that the fear of the Shape keeping going is present. Again. The walk to Haddonfield Memorial, and especially in the way he comes out from the shadows to kill that nurse, or the way he just hides in the Maternity Ward (which you can actually see him doing IN THE FILM!!!). It’s a perfect continuation of how Evil keeps going, still working, still doing what it does, still killing, even if whatever the Evil is using as a vessel isn’t… functioning properly.

[TheRealMichaelMyers1]

I disagree his walk is different. Similar in some cases but DW walks alot slower and nick castle took bigger swifter steps and was less robotic about it. Dick warlock walked very robotically and stiff

[UL74]

I disagree his walk is different. Similar in some cases but DW walks alot slower and nick castle took bigger swifter steps and was less robotic about it. Dick warlock walked very robotically and stiff

I didn’t go too far into the Warlock part of it in my post, so that’s my bad. Warlocks walk was everything you said it was; but it’s still 100% faithful and correct to Castle’s when you look at the events that occurred throughout the night. 100% The Shape will walk slower and more stiff like Warlock did in H2. I said in the post that after The Shape took that first hit to the neck, the walk style changed to something which was stiffer, especially the neck (for obvious reasons, XD) then getting stabbed in the eye, and add in the gut hit, then the obviously sore back that it would have received after falling what could only be interpreted as completely flatly onto it’s back from a second story window.

The post was highlighting how Castle’s walk changed in the last five-ten minutes of the film, and how Warlock perfectly captured, in my eyes, the walk castle had in those last moments against Laurie, and what walk Castle would have provided had he done H2.

[TheRealMichaelMyers1]

I disagree his walk is different. Similar in some cases but DW walks alot slower and nick castle took bigger swifter steps and was less robotic about it. Dick warlock walked very robotically and stiff

I didn’t go too far into the Warlock part of it in my post, so that’s my bad. Warlocks walk was everything you said it was; but it’s still 100% faithful and correct to Castle’s when you look at the events that occurred throughout the night. 100% The Shape will walk slower and more stiff like Warlock did in H2. I said in the post that after The Shape took that first hit to the neck, the walk style changed to something which was stiffer, especially the neck (for obvious reasons, XD) then getting stabbed in the eye, and add in the gut hit, then the obviously sore back that it would have received after falling what could only be interpreted as completely flatly onto it’s back from a second story window.

The post was highlighting how Castle’s walk changed in the last five-ten minutes of the film, and how Warlock perfectly captured, in my eyes, the walk castle had in those last moments against Laurie, and what walk Castle would have provided had he done H2.

Your absolutely right i didnt think about the injuries. Good post!

[Space_Mage]

The injuries alone are what make Warlock the perfect shape in the sequel, and that’s what I always tell people, try walking around after suffering from head trauma, you’re gonna be slow and robotically stiff, I speak from experience and have a bruised spine, and when that acts up, I am basically stiff walking the whole time and really slow

[UL74]

The injuries alone are what make Warlock the perfect shape in the sequel, and that’s what I always tell people, try walking around after suffering from head trauma, you’re gonna be slow and robotically stiff, I speak from experience and have a bruised spine, and when that acts up, I am basically stiff walking the whole time and really slow

My point exactly! Also, so sorry to hear!

[The_Demon_Bishop]

The injuries alone are what make Warlock the perfect shape in the sequel, and that’s what I always tell people, try walking around after suffering from head trauma, you’re gonna be slow and robotically stiff, I speak from experience and have a bruised spine, and when that acts up, I am basically stiff walking the whole time and really slow

Agreed. I’ve said for the past 30 years that IMO this why MM was kinda robotic and stiff H2. He got stabbed, shot 6 times, and then fell of a balcony.

[Space_Mage]

The injuries alone are what make Warlock the perfect shape in the sequel, and that’s what I always tell people, try walking around after suffering from head trauma, you’re gonna be slow and robotically stiff, I speak from experience and have a bruised spine, and when that acts up, I am basically stiff walking the whole time and really slow

Agreed. I’ve said for the past 30 years that IMO this why MM was kinda robotic and stiff H2. He got stabbed, shot 6 times, and then fell of a balcony.

Exactly, glad to see I’m not the only one, plus you fall off second story and land on your spine, you’re pretty much dead in that case or completely paralyzed

[Shaq]

I see your point. He’s injured, it’s visually similar to the climax of halloween. Let’s assume the injured interpretation is accurate. Does it make for an interesting or cool movie? I watched II for the first time in years recently. My opinion of warlock (and the movie in general) went way down. He is infuriatingly slow. It looks dumb. And it’s weird because he isn’t mind numbingly slow the entire time. In the backyard shots at the start and the walk to the hospital, he’s going at a decent pace (I’m pretty sure Carpenter directed those 2 scenes, maybe that’s why?). But when he’s chasing Laurie, where it really counts, he’s suddenly a snail. To me it just looks really forced and dumb.

Personally, the way I always saw the walk in H1 was contextual. In the main chase scene, Castle is hauling ass (for myers standards). Why? Because there’s a very real chance his target could escape. She ran outside. She could go anywhere. It would be hard to find her. There’s a sense of urgency and determination to it. Then, as you mention, in the house after the injuries, he’s alot slower (but even then I don’t think he’s ever as slow as warlock). I never saw it as having anything to do with his injuries. They’re back in the house, AND Laurie is upstairs. He’s got her trapped. There’s no real need to haul ass anymore. He can play his little game in comfort now. In the climax after he sits up, he’s being sneaky. It’s deliberate. Slow and calculated so as not to alert her. Then once he’s close enough you notice he actually begin to RUN towards Laurie and lunge to attack her. In the hospital in II, they’re not in a tiny house anymore, he should be hauling ass during the chase scene, ESPECIALLY when the elevator door opens. Also why didn’t he make any attempt to open the elevator door? He just stuck his hand in, let the door close on it and made no attempt to move it at all, then pulled it out so the door could close. All in a very low energy manner. Looked limp wristed. Wtf? Remember in H1 where he punches through a door and frantically reaches for the knob to unlock it? Or later in II (THE SAME MOVIE) where he breaks through 2 more doors in a somehow more casual yet more violent manner?

H2 and warlock really aren’t that good. They have a couple cool moments sure but as a whole it’s just bad.

[Shapeless86]

Warlock was a rubbish Shape. That’s why he walks like he does.

[Caleb_Croft]

I love the job Warlock did. Second only to Castle imo

[SamLoomis78]

I love the job Warlock did. Second only to Castle imo

Agreed

[The_Demon_Bishop]

I love the job Warlock did. Second only to Castle imo

Same, both these movies go perfectly together when watched back-to-back imo.

[Plokoone]

I’ve always liked Dick Warlock’s portrayal and I like the damaged body theory. Having said that, his walk to the elevator is really slow and removes any tension from that scene. I’m willing to bet if Rick Rosenthal or Debra Hill asked Dick to walk faster he would have. Also I believe the scenes of him walking from the Elrod house and walking to Haddonfield Memorial were both reshoots directed by John Carpenter. Maybe Carpenter directed Dick to walk faster but by then the rest of the movie had already been filmed. I liked Dick Warlock’s pace throughout the hospital while he was creeping around and searching for Laurie. I just wish he had a little hustle in that step after he found her.

[UL74]

I’ve always liked Dick Warlock’s portrayal and I like the damaged body theory. Having said that, his walk to the elevator is really slow and removes any tension from that scene. I’m willing to bet if Rick Rosenthal or Debra Hill asked Dick to walk faster he would have. Also I believe the scenes of him walking from the Elrod house and walking to Haddonfield Memorial were both reshoots directed by John Carpenter. Maybe Carpenter directed Dick to walk faster but by then the rest of the movie had already been filmed. I liked Dick Warlock’s pace throughout the hospital while he was creeping around and searching for Laurie. I just wish he had a little hustle in that step after he found her.

That’s something I’ve seen a lot of people saying in response to this post, and I 100% agree. The elevator walk really puts a damper on it all, and the walk to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital is that same quick pace we saw before. I’m personally gonna chalk that up to The Shape trying to get to Laurie before she could recover in any bit, and once it got there, it lowered it’a guard and rush (the same way we saw in the house in H78) because it knew Laurie couldn’t leave the hospital, and if she did, she wouldn’t get far due to the injuries she sustained.

Actually, this is how I picture it playing in the Shapes head; The Shape is in immense pain and damage following the events of H1 leading into H2, it’s moving quickly as to not get caught by the cops and Loomis. If the Shape is located near the Doyle’s, there are dozens of cops in the area ready to move in on it at a moments notice (why it hurried away), upon realizing Laurie is at Haddonfield Memorial, The Shape then picks up the pace again to get to her before A) The Shape succumbs to it’s injuries, B) Laurie heals enough to live through the night or C) they send cops or others to watch over Laurie. The Shape is slow in the hospital to remain silent and careful, and because it’s pain is starting to catch up to it. It also realizes Laurie has no where to run or go this time due to her injured leg, so it decides to move slowly to continue playing with her (the same way the pace changed inside the Doyle residence).

That’s just my thought, given everyone else’s input, let me know what you all think?