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8 Best John Carpenter Films
There is no denying that John Carpenter is one of the true living masters of horror. His contributions to the world of film have been enormousĀ and have completely changed the game. Since I’ve already profiled the late Wes Craven, I’ve decided to go and showcase some other of the greats. Use these lists as a tool to either walk down memory lane and revisit some great films that you haven’t seen in a while, or check out some that you have missed and should consider watching!Ā So, here we go: The 8 Best John Carpenter Films.
Prince of Darkness (1987)Ā [youtube id=”PKI2kI6Flw0″ align=”right”]Ā A John Carpenter film that includes Donald Pleasance and Alice Cooper? Sign me up! While not the most successful of Carpenter’s films, this one has become a little-known cult classic thanks to home video prior to the film’s release. Donald Pleasance plays a character named “Father Loomis,” which comes from another little-known horror movie called Halloween. You can probably find that Halloween movie if you are lucky in a thrift store somewhere in Ohio; besides that, I’m not sure there is any way to watch such a forgotten film.
In The Mouth of Madness (1994)Ā [youtube id=”fitU66jq6GQ” align=”right”]Ā This is the final movie in what Carpenter calls his “Apocalypse Trilogy.” In order, the films contained in this trilogy are The Thing, Prince of Darkness,Ā and finallyĀ In The Mouth of Madness. The film borrows many influences from classic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, focusing on insanity, which is a recurring theme in much of Lovecraft’s work. There are references to other works of the writer throughout the film; I won’t give them away, though. You’ll have to watch it to find them! It’ll be more fun this way, trust me!
The Fog (1980)Ā [youtube id=”Y2o1-_E4PRA” align=”right”]Ā Carpenter has a habit of finding actors or actresses that he enjoys working with and keeping them around. Such is the case withĀ TheĀ Fog, starring Jamie Lee Curtis. She is also from that little-known Halloween movie we were talking about before, in case you didn’t know.Ā TheĀ Fog is a film that does not rely on gore and instead takes a more atmospheric approach to get you in a creepy mood. The movie is a pure classic, and I’ve watched it so many times that I’ve lost track, as with most films by Carpenter. However, stay away from theĀ remake!Ā The 2005 version is probably one of the worst movies that’s ever been made in my opinion. Ugh. Sometimes things are just better left alone!
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)Ā [youtube id=”592EiTD2Hgo” align=”right”]Ā Although not a horror film, this one is still definitely worth checking out. Kurt Russell plays an ass-kicking badass in a humorous action romp. Fans of the ultra-violent fighting gameĀ Mortal KombatĀ will get a kick out of this one; the character of Raiden was inspired from the film, straw hat and lightning God powers included. Carpenter has always done great so ith Carpenter, the film did not do so well at the box-office but has once again gone on to be a cult classic. The critics have just never understood the man. It’s a sin, really.
Escape from New York (1981)Ā [youtube id=”8-LDW7tWwAI” align=”right”]Ā Kurt Russell stars yet again in an action film by John Carpenter. Snake Plisskin is a take no prisoners kind of guy,Ā who is given the task of saving the president (Hey, is that Donald Pleasance? Yes it is!) in 22 hours from the prison that is New York City in 1997. This film was actually well-received by critics, unlike the other action film starring Kurt Russell and directed by John Carpenter that would be released five years later.
They Live (1988)[youtube id=”KLRafyWhzG4″ align=”right”]Ā “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum.” Man, what a movie. The late Roddy Piper absolutelyĀ killsĀ it in this one! They LiveĀ is a movie about fighting authority, and the fact that things may not always be as they seem. A pair of sunglasses gives the main character a view into the secret world of the aliens that live all around us, disguised as normal humans. I still put on sunglasses with apprehension because of this film. You never know who is an alien and who is not, these days.
The Thing (1982)[youtube id=”p35JDJLa9ec” align=”right”] This is one film on this list that is surefire nightmare fuel. A scientific expedition in the frigid arctic yields the discovery of an ancient alien race that is downright horrifying above anything else.Ā This film has been stated by John Carpenter himself as being his favorite of all the movies that he has done. Carpenter did not score this movie himself, which is an anomaly for his films; instead, it was done by Ennio Morricone. Rob Bottin’s incredible make-up work is what really pulls you into the movie. It’s gory, it’s scary, it’s great. When I’m done with this list, I actually think I’m going to pull it out of my VHS collection and pop it in.
Halloween (1978)[youtube id=”xHuOtLTQ_1I” align=”right”]Ā Ah, that little tiny silly movie we were discussing before! All joking aside, Halloween is one of the greatest horror films of all time. It has spawned Ā an incredibly successful franchise and was able to put horror into pop culture forever, along with Michael Myer’s killer brethren Jason and Freddy. What is there to say about this movie that has already not been said? Truthfully, not much. There have been many imitators, but there is ony one original. The score is perfect. The villain is perfect. An undisputed classic. John Carpenter, Donald Pleasance, Jamie Lee Curtis, and also writer Debra Hill make an unstoppable team.
John Carpenter has become disillusioned with big budget films and Hollywood in recent times, and it’s a damn shame because we could use more Carpenter films. His movies have always been awesome in my book, and his soundtracks have been as well, which made me incredibly happy when I found out that he had released an album of original music called Lost Themes in 2014. Long live John Carpenter, and long live Michael Myers!
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Movies
‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt
Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.
In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.
This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.
Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.
“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”
The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”
The Strangers: Chapter 1 opens in theaters on May 17.
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Movies
‘Alien’ Returning to Theaters For a Limited Time
It’s been 45 years since Ridley Scott’s Alien hit theaters and in celebration of that milestone, it is headed back to the big screen for a limited time. And what better day to do that than Alien Day on April 26?
It also works as a primer for the upcoming Fede Alvarez sequel Alien: Romulus opening on August 16. A special feature in which both Alvarez and Scott discuss the original sci-fi classic will be shown as a part of your theater admission. Take a look at the preview of that conversation below.
Back in 1979, the original trailer for Alien was kind of terrifying. Imagine sitting in front of a CRT TV (Cathode Ray Tube) at night and suddenly Jerry Goldsmith’s haunting score begins to play as a giant chicken egg starts to crack with beams of light bursting through the shell and the word “Alien” slowly forms in slanted all caps across the screen. To a twelve-year-old, it was a scary pre-bedtime experience, especially Goldsmith’s screaming electronic musical flourishes playing over scenes of the actual movie. Let the “Is it horror or sci-fi?” debate begin.
Alien became a pop culture phenomenon, complete with kid’s toys, a graphic novel, and an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It also inspired dioramas in wax museums and even a frightening setpiece at Walt Disney World in the now-defunct Great Movie Ride attraction.
The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, and John Hurt. It tells the tale of a futuristic crew of blue-collar workers suddenly awakened out of stasis to investigate an undecipherable distress signal coming from a nearby moon. They investigate the source of the signal and discover it’s a warning and not a cry for help. Unbeknownst to the crew, they have brought a giant space creature back on board which they find out in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history.
It is said that Alvarez’s sequel will pay homage to the original film’s storytelling and set design.
The Alien theatrical re-release will take place on April 26. Pre-order your tickets and find out where Alien will screen at a theater near you.
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News
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween
Halloween is the greatest holiday of them all. However, every great holiday needs amazing props to go with it. Luckily for you, there are two new amazing props that have been released, which are sure to impress your neighbors and frighten any neighborhood children who are unfortunate enough to wander past your yard.
The first entry is the return of the Home Depot 12-foot skeleton prop. Home Depot has outdone themselves in the past. But this year the company is bringing bigger and better things to their Halloween prop lineup.
This year, the company unveiled its new and improved Skelly. But what is a giant skeleton without a loyal friend? Home Depot has also announced that they will release a five-foot tall skeleton dog prop to eternally keep Skelly company as he haunts your yard this spooky season.
This bony pooch will be five feet tall and seven feet long. The prop will also feature a posable mouth and LCD eyes with eight variable settings. Lance Allen, Home Depot’s merchant of decorative Holliday gear, had the following to say about this year’s lineup.
āThis year we increased our realism within the animatronics category, created some impressive, licensed characters and even brought back some fan favorites. Overall, we are most proud of the quality and value we are able to bring to our customers with these pieces so they can continue to grow their collections.ā
But what if giant skeletons just aren’t your thing? Well, Spirit Halloween has you covered with their giant life size Terror Dog replica. This massive prop has been ripped out of your nightmares to appear frighteningly on your lawn.
This prop weighs in at almost fifty pounds and features glowing red eyes that are sure to keep your yard safe from any toilet paper throwing hooligans. This iconic Ghostbusters nightmare is a must have for any fan of 80s horror. Or, anyone who loves all things spooky.
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