| John CarpenterBorn 16 January 1948 in Carthage, New Tork, USA
John Carpenter is actually not a pure horror director. During his long successful career has he made just as many movies in the science fiction and thriller/action genres. But horror is something he constantly returns to.
His first real feature film was "Dark Star" from 73. A science fiction comedy filled with dark humour, and made with practically no budget at all. "Dark Star" was no hit, but has later on become a cult classic, largely because of that itīs so incredible cheap. In 76 it started to happen things in earnest. On that occasion released Carpenter one of his absolutely best pictures, "Assault on Precinct 13". A remake of the western classic "Rio Bravo", but with the plot located of today, and with a youth gang who invest a police station. Carpenterīs version was completely different the original, and is to my mind much better in its brutality. "Assault on Precinct 13" got a mild reception in the states, but became great cult in Europe. Now had the public become alive to Carpenter.
Two years later came his real breakthrough, "Halloween". The film about a mentally ill murderer who kills baby sitters is the most profitable independent flick ever, and took only 21 days to produce. It brought back new life to the slumbering horror genre, and is Carpenterīs most famous. The same year he made the Hitchcock inspired thriller "Someoneīs Watching Me!", which is somewhat lame in comparison to his other films during this period. He changed his profession in 79 when he made a three-hour long TV-movie about Elvis Presley. "Elvis" was favourably reviewed by the critics, and was the beginning of a long co-operation with the leading actor Kurt Russell. In 1980 was he back on the right track again with "The Fog". A good ghost story about a ship full of pirates which sinks outside a coast. 100 years later theyīre return for vengeance shrouded in thick mist.
His next film was the suggestive "Escape from New York" (1981). A formidable box-office success and one of the biggest cult classics of all time. The plot take place in the future (1997), there Manhattan has been a big security prison surrounded by a high wall. The presidents plane crash landing in the middle of it, and the convict Snake Plissken must rescue him within 24 hours. Or else will his lungs explode because of the weird thing they injected in him. Carpenterīs next movie "The Thing" (1982) is his personal favorite, but nearly killed him. It was released at the same time as "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial", another film with science fiction content which all set their hearts on. "The Thing" was the exact opposite of "E.T.", and filled both critics and public with loathing for its repulsive effects. After this were no one in Hollywood willing to work with him for a long time. It wasnīt until several years later "The Thing" been revaluated and was ranked as a horror classic. It was Carpenterīs last masterpiece.
The rest of his production can be described as a downward spiral. "Christine" (1983) from a novel by Stephen King, failed to succeed but is one of my favorites. Itīs about an old car possessed by the devil, which drives by itself. "Starman" (1984), a science fiction love-story, was loved by the critics. They liked it so much that they forgave Carpenter for the horrible "The Thing". "Big Trouble in Little China" (1986) was a blend of all kind of genres such as comedy, kung fu, action, adventure and horror. It isnīt make sense at all but is very fun to watch. "Big Trouble in Little China" didnīt went home at the cinema, but became the more fortunate on video. "Prince of Darkness" (1987) was his scariest film next to "The Thing". It describes how Satan comes to earth and take over. While horror fans shouted with joy, wondering the critics why he ruined his career with such piece of garbage. "They Live" (1988) is about the world populated by evil aliens disguised as humans. It has a famous fistfighting scene that continues to infinity. All these five movies were good, if not his best.
The real low-water marks came in the nineties. The comedy "Memoirs of an Invisible Man" (1992), was a remake of Claude Raineīs classic from 1933. With bigger budget had it great special effects, but was suffered from bad acting. "Village of the Damned" (1995) was another remake of an old film. An extremely poor and uninspired flick which to my mind is Carpenterīs worst. When I watch it was I all the time recall myself thinking, -Itīs not Carpenter, itīs not Carpenter. The same year he also made "In the Mouth of Madness", about a famous horror author who disappear into his own world of grisly tales. According to critics was it his best for a long time, and certainly is it Carpenterīs best in the nineties. In 96 came the next fiasco, "Escape from L.A.". A very tired follow-up to "Escape from New York". A little shake-up was however the gory "Vampires" (1998), which deal with some vampire killers who hunting a vampire master. But it failed at the theater.
John Carpenter has made a whole row of good movies during the years, but when his career later on will sum up are there four films which stands out over the others. "Assault on Precinct 13", "Halloween", "Escape from New York" and "The Thing".
Written by Kent Palmgren. Filmography:Warrior and the Demon (1969)Dark Star (1973)Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)Halloween (1978)Someoneīs Watching Me! (1978) (TV)Elvis (1979) (TV)The Fog (1980)Escape from New York (1981)The Thing (1982)Christine (1983)Starman (1984)Big Trouble in Little China (1986)Prince of Darkness (1987)They Live (1988)Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)Body Bags (1993) (TV)Village of the Damned (1995)In the Mouth of Madness (1995)Escape from L.A. (1996)Vampires (1998)Back to Directorīs of Death |