Probably a few posts similar to this, but I’ve always been quite curious on what people consider to be the best kind of movement for Michael in general. Nick Castle was the groundwork, a cat-like eerieness while moving freely, while Dick Warlock brought a haunting, stiff, almost robotic trait into his movement. Unfortunately, due to my kind of poor memory (and not really watching 4 through Resurrection as much as the original 2), I do not exactly remember the other actors and how they moved.
What is, in your opinion, the best kind of way for Michael Myers to move? Not asking for the best actor, but the best movement and physical traits that make you say, “Fuck, that’s really unnerving.”
I like how nonchalant he is. He seems to be completely carefree. He’s not in any hurry. Probably best showcased in the kills flash back when he completely ignores the cops’ orders, and when he walks down the stairs after strangling the 2nd cop. He doesn’t care if he gets caught. Or perhaps he doesn’t even comprehend the consequences if he does? Halloween II showcases this a few times too, like when he’s walking down the street and through back yards. I do like Warlock, but sometimes he was a little too slow. Especially in the hospital during the chase scenes. He got it right in those other scenes I mentioned. Overall I do like his stiff robotic take. Castle, Warlock, and JJC are really the only portrayals I care about and I like them all about the same. Castle maybe the least by a hair, he’s kinda too normal. I like Michael having kind of a slightly awkward stiff walk like Warlock and JJC. Just slightly more characteristic of someone that’s not all there.
As far as Michael Myers’ body language goes, it’s an extremely important part of his character to get right. Ask me on a different day, I’ll say JJC or Nick Castle have the best body language of the Shape: ghostly, smooth and determined stride, not too fast or slow, etc. But in having practiced with Warlock’s and Castle’s/JJC’s movements, I will say that the best way one can emulate Myers’ movements and body language is to think like a predator, or think in the most basic of terms with the mask on (in the words of Nick Castle, he was just told to walk from point A to point B. Nothing really special). Turn your head before you walk in a new direction. Walk normally, but keep your stride smooth and your arms from swinging much, work especially on how you hold your arms as well. Hold them too stiffly, you get Dick Warlock’s stiff, robotic motion. There should always be some give, but enough to where it’s not quite there.
A trait that I could use to describe it is that there is a stiffness, something like being used to moving in a restrained manner (because he was locked up 55 years). It’s “normal”, but “offset”, if that makes sense. That’s the ideal way the Shape moves: normal, but offset, focused and smooth. The chase across the street in the original, Michael’s enthusiastic walk in '18, the way he stalks Tommy at school in the original? All equally good ways to look at how The Shape moves.
Tommy Lee Wallace describes Nicks movements as "gliding"if you have to go for a different Myers, reference Brad Loree, he studied Nicks movements and actually does a fantastic job in nailing it, he’s completely overlooked even shown off better here too https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a8rKzJalRw
Castle is my favorite. The way he walks is more like a real person. He’s not fast, but at least he acts like he’s got some life in him. He has some sense of urgency. Warlock is cool, but some scenes he’s just too slow like chasing Laurie to the elevator.
This. Right here. Brad Loree is underrated because, excluding JJC, he’s the closest to capturing the essence of the Shape’s body language. Shame about the mask and the eyes being so visible.
I feel like, at least in that H4 scene, Wilbur’s walk seemed really similar to Dick Warlock’s, which in my mind is good continuity considering H4 is a sequel to H2 after all.
Chris got given bad masks and an even worse set to work with, I reckon he would have done amazing, hell look at him in this featurette https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a8rKzJalRw