Top 10 John Carpenter Films

Since I've started my film blog, I've realised I have only reviewed films. So from now on I will do a list of Top Ten things to do with films. My first top ten will be John Carpenter films. He his one of my favourite directors and has made films in a number of differing genres ranging from sci-fi, comedy and to of course, horror.


Here's my list of the best John Carpenter films

1. The Thing (1982)

A remake or a reworking of a classic? Matters not when you watch the film you will forget there ever was an original. The Thing brings together suspense with out and out gore from Rob Bottin's dazzling special fx and a wonderful script and brilliant acted by an all male cast, it's not short of a classic that was never given it's recognition on it's initial release. Still watchable and still jaw dropping. 

2. Halloween (1978)

The birth of the slasher film. It's not an easy burden to bear but in John Carpenter's hands you'll be in for a pure scarefest. Starting the film with the bravado steadicam we come into the film from the killers point of view, we the audience are implemented in the act of murder. A massive success which has gone on to spawn countless of pale imitations but this is only one that truly needs to be seen. A masterful work of suspense with barley a drop of blood or gore, it's given us the cold silent killer in a mask and provide a spine tingling soundtrack.

3. Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)

A modern remake of Howard Hawks "Rio Bravo". John Carpenter has always been heavy influenced by Hawks and this is his homage to the great director. A  siege film with a simplistic plot yet highly effective thriller. A mass of hundreds against a handful of men and women, held up in an abandon police station all caught up in a spat of mindless violence. The action is tightly edited and the pace is spot on. A low budget classic that deserves viewing (This remake has also in turn been remade into a less successful vehicle staring Ethan Hawke and Laurence Fishburne).

4. Escape From New York (1981)

Set in an alternative future (1997), New York has become a maximum security prison and the president has been taken captive and the government enlist the help of a criminal Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) to retrieve him. A classic sci-fi adventure action flick which stars the iconic Snake Plissken as an anti-hero forced into rescuing a president he cares nothing about. A film full of ideas and another great soundtrack it as a crying shame that this movie had a disappointing follow up. Forget the sequel and watch this cult classic.

5. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

The last great Carpenter film which is a cry shame as this film is brilliantly wonderful at times even if the plotting can get a bit confusing but stick with it as it can be really entertaining. It tries to be overly intelligent with it's reality clashing with fiction, though the film has fun in doing so. Sam Neill stars as an insurance investigate trying to find the whereabouts of a missing horror novelist. A film seeped in Lovecraftian and Stephen King references, it's fully of little winks and nods that you may miss on first viewing. It's a fitting end to Carpenter self proclaimed Apocalypse trilogy.


6. Starman (1984)

A romantic sci-fi drama which is Carpenter's most human and touching film. An alien crash lands onto Earth and takes the form of a widows dead husband and kidnaps her so he can meet a deadline to return home. Jeff Bridges stars as the Alien and provides an emotional performance as a being trying to learn why we do what we do and to understand what it is to be a human. It's a great testament to Carpenter who handles the story and characters very capably but like many of Carpenters big budget movies it wasn't a big hit, so there wasn't many more opportunities for Carpenter take on more mature themes and serious dramas.

7. The Fog (1982)

A wonderful effective tale about a group of zombie like ghost who come back to a coastal town in California to take their revenge. When the town begins it's 100 year celebrations, a fog bank starts to roll in, but this isn't any normal fog, there is something within the fog. A film that is fully of creepy atmosphere and a great sense of impending doom. The film isn't perfect by any means but what the film lacks in character development, it makes up for in suspense and tone.

8. Prince of Darkness (1987)

An Apocalyptical horror story about the arrival of a being who will bring the end to the world. An interesting ideas film about Satan's attempt at bringing his "father" to our dimension. The power of the film relies heavy on the viewers imagination as the film is more heavy on the dialogue than in action. A well crafted slow burner. Will you be able to look at mirrors in the same way after this..... The middle segment of John Carpenters Apocalypes trilogy, starting with The Thing, then The Prince of Darkness and ending with In the Mouth of Madness. 

9. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

Yet again, another flop but a film that shouldn't be taken seriously as the film clearly has it's tongue in it's cheek. A film that confused audiences on it's initial release, this film mixes western action with eastern martial arts and mythology . Starring Carpenter's regular Kurt Russell who accidently gets caught up in a mystical battle between good and evil in San Francisco's Chinatown. A fusion of genres which is fun and funny. A comedy as well as an action film it has a hero who isn't the most heroic and a villian who isn't completely human. A film definitely for those who would like a good laugh with no thinking required. 

10. They Live (1988)

Starring wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper as a drifter who stumbles across some  special  sunglasses that reveal a secret alien invasion plot taking place. The glasses allow him to see the world as it really is. Subliminal messages and aliens posing as humans are revealed and only he can stop them. A wildly imaginative piece of storytelling, which returns to Carpenters roots of low budget and effective narrative.




With so many of his films being remade or re-worked, you wonder why Hollywood doesn't let Carpenter free rein to work on new material. The latest film of his in the works is Escape from New York, you only have to watch one of his films to see what a talented director Carpenter is. Pretty much most of his back catalogue has been remade, The Fog, Halloween, The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13, if his films weren't any good at all why would they be remade? Watch and enjoy.

The Thing (1982) with Trailer

A delightful and charming story about a visitor from another world who lands on Earth and comes in contact with several humans whilst trying to find a way home....And this, is another film where an alien being, comes down and takes the form of several humans (and dogs) trying to disguise itself and avoid being found to then return home. How similar are ET and The Thing? Both are made in 1982, both are about alien visitors and both films show the obstacles faced in their plight to return home. Well, I suppose one film is more sickening than the other (I mean how much mush, sentimentality and sweetly sick story can one person take?) But enough about E.T, The Thing has become something of an underground classic during the heydays of VCR rentals, where it's outstanding scenes can be paused and rewound to be watched over and over again. Some of the scenes within the film are jaw-dropping and it's all done pre-CGI. It's amazing what could be done in those early days of creature animatronics.

The Thing is directed by John Carpenter and is probably one of his best, but unfortunately it was not a hit. A remake of sorts (John Carpenter was hugely influenced by Howard Hawks) however this is an altogether different beast. Set in Antartica, an American expedition group are interrupted one day by gunshots from a far. A couple of Norwegians are firing at a husky from a helicopter. With sporadic gunfire, one of the American scientists takes a shot in the leg. Shots are fired in response and as a result the Norwegians are killed. The dog is taken in and held with the other dogs in the camp. Unbeknown to the American group, the Husky is not what he seems. Eventually the team set out to discover why the pair of Norwegian were shooting at the dog and what they find out is beyond their darkest nightmares.

The plot isn't anything original as the group is picked off one by one until there is one man standing (or in this case two), with it's remote location it's very similar to another classic sci-fi horror that is Alien....but where Alien only really has one complete genuine gross out moment, The Thing has so many that it's a wonder when you see the first gruesome transformation how they can top it... but they do. The whizkid at the time (Rob Bottin) deserves so much praise as his effects beat anything that modern special effects can bring to our screens. He was also only 21!

The central themes on what makes us human and the loss of identity is dealt with in vivid detail. As men in joining the tribe we gain a sense of belonging but as a result we lose personal identity. Paranoia and trust are tested to the limit. Characters start turning on each other, they begin shooting and eventually resort to tying up one another. In one of the films more lighter moments, they devise a test to see who is human and who is not, from this comes one of the most memorable and perfectly delivered lines. There is relief amongst all the bodily gore.

The technical achievements in this film is what makes it so watchable. The score by Ennio Morricone is a haunting yet deliberate heartbeat which is minimalistic yet menacing. One of the only films where Carpenter hasn't had an input on the scoring, but nevertheless Morricone's approach is very suited and matches and enhances the films eerie atmosphere.

There is a lack of character development within the film (that is the only flaw I can say), and it seems that Kurt Russell's character (MacReady) is the only one who is given enough personality for us to root for. The majority are unfortunately given the basic stock character traits, though the acting by all is well above average, there isn't enough depth to them.

With a tight a script, direction and amazing effects work by Rob Bottin's crew (never has intestinal and flesh mesh been so beautifully realised), it has still stood the test of time and is always a joy to watch. One of my all time favourite films. 

5/5 Technical Merit

4/5 Narrative

4/5 Acting

5/5 Entertainment

18/20