The Motions of The Shape

[NagandEmerald]

So, a question I’ve been pondering for a while, but never really had an answer to, is one that has basis in three main films where we see it praised as one of the key points of Michael’s character: Halloween from 1978, Halloween 2 from 1981, and Halloween from 2018. All three of these films have something in common beyond the appraisal of Michael’s appearance: his walk, and the way that he stands: the Motions of the Shape, if you will.

So, I wanted to do a dive into the walk and presence of The Shape, and more accurately, what would be the best way to describe how Michael moves and carries himself, and how can someone replicate it? This is more of a question of curiosity than a question of learning how to replicate it, as I’ve prided myself on learning the walk myself, but I want to see what others have to say on it beyond myself.

For those who are interested, this is how I’d describe it. For me, walking as the Shape is less-so about looking stiff, or something inhuman trying to replicate the movements of a human, like how Dick Warlock moves, but relaxed and just going where the wind takes you next. It’s a matter of acting like an apex predator on the prowl, but one that is stalking its prey in a manner calm, collected, and otherwise detached from the rest of the world. There is nothing else but you and your focus. Sometimes, there’s nothing to focus on, and thusly you just walk aimlessly, blankly staring ahead as though you have a purpose. There is also a certain cadence to keep. You’re in no hurry, nor are you enjoying the slow creeping crawl of death. You are simply… walking.

This is aptly demonstrated in two key scenes that I personally recall. Michael walking across the street in 1978, and Michael’s return to Haddonfield after 40 years of captivity. You also see it somewhat in the scene where Michael finds himself at the gas station in 2018:

The Shape Stalks, 1978
The Shape Returns, 2018

These are good examples of how the Shape carries himself in movement. But what about the Shape standing there? How does he carry himself then? How are his mannerisms distinct to him when he is not walking, but stalking? Again, I turn to Halloween 1978 for answers, as that is where we see the Shape being far more menacing in the background, or directly in the foreground.





In much the same ways as The Shape just walks with direction and purpose without being in a hurry, The Shape stands very much in the same way. In states of catatonia, he doesn’t lift his head. He is at his most relaxed. In states of stalking, he just stands there, arms relaxed to the sides, legs spread apart. In moments of stalking for the kill, such as at the top of the stairs at both the Doyle and Wallace residences, he stands there with the knife out, but his whole body generally relaxed.

This is something similar we see in Halloween 2, but not entirely replicated. Warlock’s performance is stiff, unnervingly mechanical, completely inhuman. While it’s highly praised for this, I do think it loses out the more uncanny aspects of Michael that we know from the first and 2018 films: Hawkins put it best in Halloween Kills: he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal.

Now, I want to know your thoughts, and how best to replicate it. What are the Shape’s mannerisms and movements to you? Because, while I’ve explained how it looks… I’m afraid I’d personally be repeating myself if I told you how to replicate the Shape’s mannerisms.

[The_Demon_Bishop]

Far to much to read for me

[Speedkills]

So, a question I’ve been pondering for a while, but never really had an answer to, is one that has basis in three main films where we see it praised as one of the key points of Michael’s character: Halloween from 1978, Halloween 2 from 1981, and Halloween from 2018. All three of these films have something in common beyond the appraisal of Michael’s appearance: his walk, and the way that he stands: the Motions of the Shape, if you will.

So, I wanted to do a dive into the walk and presence of The Shape, and more accurately, what would be the best way to describe how Michael moves and carries himself, and how can someone replicate it? This is more of a question of curiosity than a question of learning how to replicate it, as I’ve prided myself on learning the walk myself, but I want to see what others have to say on it beyond myself.

For those who are interested, this is how I’d describe it. For me, walking as the Shape is less-so about looking stiff, or something inhuman trying to replicate the movements of a human, like how Dick Warlock moves, but relaxed and just going where the wind takes you next. It’s a matter of acting like an apex predator on the prowl, but one that is stalking its prey in a manner calm, collected, and otherwise detached from the rest of the world. There is nothing else but you and your focus. Sometimes, there’s nothing to focus on, and thusly you just walk aimlessly, blankly staring ahead as though you have a purpose. There is also a certain cadence to keep. You’re in no hurry, nor are you enjoying the slow creeping crawl of death. You are simply… walking.

This is aptly demonstrated in two key scenes that I personally recall. Michael walking across the street in 1978, and Michael’s return to Haddonfield after 40 years of captivity. You also see it somewhat in the scene where Michael finds himself at the gas station in 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIM-iZ4PNe8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy2kMtJa2q8

These are good examples of how the Shape carries himself in movement. But what about the Shape standing there? How does he carry himself then? How are his mannerisms distinct to him when he is not walking, but stalking? Again, I turn to Halloween 1978 for answers, as that is where we see the Shape being far more menacing in the background, or directly in the foreground.

Michael Stairwell 1.jpg
Michael Stairs 2.jpg
Michael Smith’s Grove.jpg
Michael School.jpg
Michael Hedge.jpg

In much the same ways as The Shape just walks with direction and purpose without being in a hurry, The Shape stands very much in the same way. In states of catatonia, he doesn’t lift his head. He is at his most relaxed. In states of stalking, he just stands there, arms relaxed to the sides, legs spread apart. In moments of stalking for the kill, such as at the top of the stairs at both the Doyle and Wallace residences, he stands there with the knife out, but his whole body generally relaxed.

This is something similar we see in Halloween 2, but not entirely replicated. Warlock’s performance is stiff, unnervingly mechanical, completely inhuman. While it’s highly praised for this, I do think it loses out the more uncanny aspects of Michael that we know from the first and 2018 films: Hawkins put it best in Halloween Kills: he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal.

Now, I want to know your thoughts, and how best to replicate it. What are the Shape’s mannerisms and movements to you? Because, while I’ve explained how it looks… I’m afraid I’d personally be repeating myself if I told you how to replicate the Shape’s mannerisms.

I couldn’t go wrong with all of this, by H2 I feel like Michael are been possessed by evil hence why he’s stiff. Exactly how I would describe it! Nice work man!

[NagandEmerald]

So, a question I’ve been pondering for a while, but never really had an answer to, is one that has basis in three main films where we see it praised as one of the key points of Michael’s character: Halloween from 1978, Halloween 2 from 1981, and Halloween from 2018. All three of these films have something in common beyond the appraisal of Michael’s appearance: his walk, and the way that he stands: the Motions of the Shape, if you will.

So, I wanted to do a dive into the walk and presence of The Shape, and more accurately, what would be the best way to describe how Michael moves and carries himself, and how can someone replicate it? This is more of a question of curiosity than a question of learning how to replicate it, as I’ve prided myself on learning the walk myself, but I want to see what others have to say on it beyond myself.

For those who are interested, this is how I’d describe it. For me, walking as the Shape is less-so about looking stiff, or something inhuman trying to replicate the movements of a human, like how Dick Warlock moves, but relaxed and just going where the wind takes you next. It’s a matter of acting like an apex predator on the prowl, but one that is stalking its prey in a manner calm, collected, and otherwise detached from the rest of the world. There is nothing else but you and your focus. Sometimes, there’s nothing to focus on, and thusly you just walk aimlessly, blankly staring ahead as though you have a purpose. There is also a certain cadence to keep. You’re in no hurry, nor are you enjoying the slow creeping crawl of death. You are simply… walking.

This is aptly demonstrated in two key scenes that I personally recall. Michael walking across the street in 1978, and Michael’s return to Haddonfield after 40 years of captivity. You also see it somewhat in the scene where Michael finds himself at the gas station in 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIM-iZ4PNe8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy2kMtJa2q8

These are good examples of how the Shape carries himself in movement. But what about the Shape standing there? How does he carry himself then? How are his mannerisms distinct to him when he is not walking, but stalking? Again, I turn to Halloween 1978 for answers, as that is where we see the Shape being far more menacing in the background, or directly in the foreground.

Michael Stairwell 1.jpg
Michael Stairs 2.jpg
Michael Smith’s Grove.jpg
Michael School.jpg
Michael Hedge.jpg

In much the same ways as The Shape just walks with direction and purpose without being in a hurry, The Shape stands very much in the same way. In states of catatonia, he doesn’t lift his head. He is at his most relaxed. In states of stalking, he just stands there, arms relaxed to the sides, legs spread apart. In moments of stalking for the kill, such as at the top of the stairs at both the Doyle and Wallace residences, he stands there with the knife out, but his whole body generally relaxed.

This is something similar we see in Halloween 2, but not entirely replicated. Warlock’s performance is stiff, unnervingly mechanical, completely inhuman. While it’s highly praised for this, I do think it loses out the more uncanny aspects of Michael that we know from the first and 2018 films: Hawkins put it best in Halloween Kills: he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal.

Now, I want to know your thoughts, and how best to replicate it. What are the Shape’s mannerisms and movements to you? Because, while I’ve explained how it looks… I’m afraid I’d personally be repeating myself if I told you how to replicate the Shape’s mannerisms.

I couldn’t go wrong with all of this, by H2 I feel like Michael are been possessed by evil hence why he’s stiff. Exactly how I would describe it! Nice work man!

This is something that I should note as well, as you do bring up a rather interesting point. Michael is possessed by evil long before the events of 2 though. Loomis described him as “purely, and simply, evil” in his monologue to Brackett, and made constant references to how “this isn’t a man” before Michael was shot in H1’s ending. So, in all, while I like Warlock’s interpretation, it doesn’t fit the Shape’s mannerisms or motions well. I suppose we see some of that mechanicalness after Michael sits back up in the Doyle Residence, but it’s not stiff like Warlock. It’s more… awkward. He was just stabbed in the gut with a knife, after all, and still looked mighty relaxed beyond his stiff-as-a-board sit-up.

[rodysti]

Really interesting thread and amazing analysis on his walk! Like you said, there’s something about his walk that seems off. To me, it’s like there’s a entity that’s controlling his movements.

[Space_Mage]

He glides around in H1, after falling off a balcony 2 stories high, a human would be paralyzed or dead, Michael just got spinal and head damage and yet he can still walk, just not as fast

[NagandEmerald]

You have a bit more of a point there Pilum. Never really considered that since he didn’t jump off the roof or anything.

[The_Demon_Bishop]

I’ve always said the reason why Myers was more stiff/robotic in H2 is because he was stabbed with a knife, stabbed with a knitting needle, shot 6 times, and fell of a balcony.

Also for the me the reason the mask looks a little more dirty is because he had been wearing it all day stalking Laurie, hiding behind bushes, people trying to touch the mask and even grabbed it of his head, so it makes sense it would look dirty later on in the evening after the whole day’s events. Just my opinion of course,

[HeCameHome383]

In my own personal mind, I came up with the idea that Michael is stiff and weird(er) in H2 because Loomis killed him at the end of H1. Michael in Halloween two is completely dead, but his body is still possessed to do the killing. I mean, at the end of H2, Loomis shoots him directly in the eyes which would’ve turned his brain into mashed potatoes. You can’t tell me that he was alive before all that either. He was shot and stabbed multiple times that night

[NagandEmerald]

You make excellent points in regards to that, but personally, turning him into a zombie possessed by evil makes Michael less frightening, far more akin to Jason in many senses. Further, I do think it takes away from the idea that Michael is “evil in human shape”. I love H2 with all my heart. But it is most certainly not The Shape as we see in H1 and 2018. But that wasn’t really the point of this discussion. This discussion was, in my mind, a way to explain the mannerisms of the Shape and why it’s so eerie, and how best to replicate those movements in your own Myers costume, regardless of appearance.

[Space_Mage]

You make excellent points in regards to that, but personally, turning him into a zombie possessed by evil makes Michael less frightening, far more akin to Jason in many senses. Further, I do think it takes away from the idea that Michael is “evil in human shape”. I love H2 with all my heart. But it is most certainly not The Shape as we see in H1 and 2018. But that wasn’t really the point of this discussion. This discussion was, in my mind, a way to explain the mannerisms of the Shape and why it’s so eerie, and how best to replicate those movements in your own Myers costume, regardless of appearance.

I mostly just walk and lose the popping look, to make it look more like I’m gliding, it’s second nature to me now

[NagandEmerald]

You make excellent points in regards to that, but personally, turning him into a zombie possessed by evil makes Michael less frightening, far more akin to Jason in many senses. Further, I do think it takes away from the idea that Michael is “evil in human shape”. I love H2 with all my heart. But it is most certainly not The Shape as we see in H1 and 2018. But that wasn’t really the point of this discussion. This discussion was, in my mind, a way to explain the mannerisms of the Shape and why it’s so eerie, and how best to replicate those movements in your own Myers costume, regardless of appearance.

I mostly just walk and lose the popping look, to make it look more like I’m gliding, it’s second nature to me now

How do you mean “gliding”? Do you mean completely smooth, steady movements? Also, I always found the pop was kind of a necessity to the proper Shape. It’s indicative to both Nick Castle’s and JJC’s portrayals.

[Space_Mage]

You make excellent points in regards to that, but personally, turning him into a zombie possessed by evil makes Michael less frightening, far more akin to Jason in many senses. Further, I do think it takes away from the idea that Michael is “evil in human shape”. I love H2 with all my heart. But it is most certainly not The Shape as we see in H1 and 2018. But that wasn’t really the point of this discussion. This discussion was, in my mind, a way to explain the mannerisms of the Shape and why it’s so eerie, and how best to replicate those movements in your own Myers costume, regardless of appearance.

I mostly just walk and lose the popping look, to make it look more like I’m gliding, it’s second nature to me now

How do you mean “gliding”? Do you mean completely smooth, steady movements? Also, I always found the pop was kind of a necessity to the proper Shape. It’s indicative to both Nick Castle’s and JJC’s portrayals.

Yeah, that’s pretty much how a ghost would move around if it were legless, if you see just the mask gliding along, it is far more creepy

[SamLoomis78]

Great post here. In reality, this all boils down to Nick Castle having a background in dancing, hence his uniquely smooth, gliding movements. He famously asked John Carpenter how he should walk, and Carpenter simply told him, “Nick, just walk” because they just liked the way he naturally walked without thinking about it. Therefore, cosplayers can either try to imitate Nick Castle’s distinctive walk, or they can walk in their own natural way, just as he did. I once heard someone describe Nick Castle’s performance in H1 this way…he seems like a relatively average guy who’s just “off” somehow, like an outcast.
As for H2, my thinking about Myers’ sudden change in movements was due to Loomis ultimately killing what little humanity Myers had left, so that after being shot off the balcony, Myers is essentially a dead body being driven by pure evil. H2 director Rick Rosenthal described Warlock as having a glide to his walk, for what it’s worth. Interestingly enough, it seems that Warlock’s way of walking has become the go-to style for most casual cosplayers, likely because H4 and H5 had Myers walking in a slow, stiff, robotic way as well, but who truly knows. The way I approach any character I’m cosplaying as is to not only get the outfit as accurate as possible, but also the way that particular version of the character walked/moved in their film…for example, when I’m Ghostface, I move around more quickly…when I’m H1 Myers I try to mimic Nick Castle, and when I’m H4 Myers I move more slow and robotically, etc.

[TheShape96]

“he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” I didn’t like this quote from Halloween kills, it sounds like he’s talking about Jason rather than the Michael we saw in the first movie, I’ve made a comment like this before but in the first movie Michael was smarter and more calculating, he could drive a car, he set traps like waiting for Annie in the car when he knew she was about to drive it, he put a rake against the backdoor so Laurie couldn’t escape, he disguised himself as Bob, at one point he seems to have cut the phone lines so Laurie couldn’t call for help, and he only ever attacks when someone is alone until Laurie gets away, does any of this behaviour seem like the quote?

[NagandEmerald]

Great post here. In reality, this all boils down to Nick Castle having a background in dancing, hence his uniquely smooth, gliding movements. He famously asked John Carpenter how he should walk, and Carpenter simply told him, “Nick, just walk” because they just liked the way he naturally walked without thinking about it. Therefore, cosplayers can either try to imitate Nick Castle’s distinctive walk, or they can walk in their own natural way, just as he did. I once heard someone describe Nick Castle’s performance in H1 this way…he seems like a relatively average guy who’s just “off” somehow, like an outcast.
As for H2, my thinking about Myers’ sudden change in movements was due to Loomis ultimately killing what little humanity Myers had left, so that after being shot off the balcony, Myers is essentially a dead body being driven by pure evil. H2 director Rick Rosenthal described Warlock as having a glide to his walk, for what it’s worth. Interestingly enough, it seems that Warlock’s way of walking has become the go-to style for most casual cosplayers, likely because H4 and H5 had Myers walking in a slow, stiff, robotic way as well, but who truly knows. The way I approach any character I’m cosplaying as is to not only get the outfit as accurate as possible, but also the way that particular version of the character walked/moved in their film…for example, when I’m Ghostface, I move around more quickly…when I’m H1 Myers I try to mimic Nick Castle, and when I’m H4 Myers I move more slow and robotically, etc.

Personally, I try to go more for a combination of Nick Castle’s and JJC’s mannerisms. JJC for the more predatory behaviors, such as turning my head and then walking in that direction, Castle for general stalking, and a combination of the two with the slight bounce to his step for general walking. It’s a style that ultimately lends itself to a very eerie performance imo, especially if I want to cover short distances quickly, such as bursting out of a closet or from out of the shadows.

But I always follow the general rules I personally laid out in the OP: just walk, stay relaxed, keep focused. For head-tilting, I try to imitate Castle more than JJC. Love his head-tilt, but it’s very distinct to H40 Myers.

[NagandEmerald]

“he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” I didn’t like this quote from Halloween kills, it sounds like he’s talking about Jason rather than the Michael we saw in the first movie, I’ve made a comment like this before but in the first movie Michael was smarter and more calculating, he could drive a car, he set traps like waiting for Annie in the car when he knew she was about to drive it, he put a rake against the backdoor so Laurie couldn’t escape, he disguised himself as Bob, at one point he seems to have cut the phone lines so Laurie couldn’t call for help, and he only ever attacks when someone is alone until Laurie gets away, does any of this behaviour seem like the quote?

No. It isn’t. However, I meant the quote more in how he moves and stands, not in Michael’s modus-operandi. Michael is cunningly intelligent, even in the 2018 film where we see him fool Laurie to his location in the house. I would not say that Michael is a “6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” under any other circumstance, because it is patently false to the Shape’s modus operandi.

[TheShape96]

“he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” I didn’t like this quote from Halloween kills, it sounds like he’s talking about Jason rather than the Michael we saw in the first movie, I’ve made a comment like this before but in the first movie Michael was smarter and more calculating, he could drive a car, he set traps like waiting for Annie in the car when he knew she was about to drive it, he put a rake against the backdoor so Laurie couldn’t escape, he disguised himself as Bob, at one point he seems to have cut the phone lines so Laurie couldn’t call for help, and he only ever attacks when someone is alone until Laurie gets away, does any of this behaviour seem like the quote?

No. It isn’t. However, I meant the quote more in how he moves and stands, not in Michael’s modus-operandi. Michael is cunningly intelligent, even in the 2018 film where we see him fool Laurie to his location in the house. I would not say that Michael is a “6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” under any other circumstance, because it is patently false to the Shape’s modus operandi.

I agree, I think JJC does do an amazing job as Michael though, his movements are the closest to the original in my opinion, like in 2018 when he’s walking to Oscar and switches his grip on the knife, my only gripe is the way he’s written and directed sometimes in 2018 and kills, it feels like they are making him less cunning and more like Jason.

[NagandEmerald]

“he’s a 6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” I didn’t like this quote from Halloween kills, it sounds like he’s talking about Jason rather than the Michael we saw in the first movie, I’ve made a comment like this before but in the first movie Michael was smarter and more calculating, he could drive a car, he set traps like waiting for Annie in the car when he knew she was about to drive it, he put a rake against the backdoor so Laurie couldn’t escape, he disguised himself as Bob, at one point he seems to have cut the phone lines so Laurie couldn’t call for help, and he only ever attacks when someone is alone until Laurie gets away, does any of this behaviour seem like the quote?

No. It isn’t. However, I meant the quote more in how he moves and stands, not in Michael’s modus-operandi. Michael is cunningly intelligent, even in the 2018 film where we see him fool Laurie to his location in the house. I would not say that Michael is a “6 year old boy with the strength of a man and the mind of an animal” under any other circumstance, because it is patently false to the Shape’s modus operandi.

I agree, I think JJC does do an amazing job as Michael though, his movements are the closest to the original in my opinion, like in 2018 when he’s walking to Oscar and switches his grip on the knife, my only gripe is the way he’s written and directed sometimes in 2018 and kills, it feels like they are making him less cunning and more like Jason.

I will say that Kills Michael feels more like Jason than 2018 Michael. We see Michael act cunning, as well as intelligently. We see how he lures people into a false sense of security in the 2018 film (the closet scene, the police car pullup to Laurie’s house, etc.). He’s just less patient than he used to be. He’s old. He’s in his 60s, been in captivity for 55 years total, only knows how to eat, breathe, move, and kill, and that’s his first breath of fresh air. I’d be itching to get bloody too if I was the Shape.

[NagandEmerald]

Bump to the original post. Just wanted to see if anyone else had a different approach or way of thinking regarding the mannerisms and movements of the Shape.