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October is the perfect month to revisit some of this directorial genius’ best films. As the Fall weather starts to settle in, and the nights get a bit longer, many people begin to slip into the Halloween mentality. To help the spookiest month of the year get off to a great start, film fans should consider binging some of these fantastic Horror movies from John Carpenter.
7 Halloween
Halloween is perhaps one of the most iconic slasher films ever made and definitely a must-watch for those that want to get into the spooky Halloween spirit, since the film takes place on the ghoulish night. John Carpenter helped to reshape and set the bar for Horror films after this release, thanks to amazing acting by Jamie Lee Curtis and a killer soundtrack that features one of the most chilling and well-known musical ques in the genre.
Michael Myers has become such a well-known and beloved antagonist that he’s featured in video games and his creepy mask is one of the most easily recognized Horror symbols that came from the late 70s and early 80s.
6 The Fog
John Carpenter is a true master craftsman when it comes to Horror elements and ghost stories. This is very evident with his 1980 release, The Fog. Sliding into the supernatural realm, the story follows the residents of a small coastal Californian town as an eerie fog descends upon the area. It’s the perfect release for those that are craving a classic ghost story.
Although the film itself wasn’t well-received by some of the critics out there, it was beloved by movie-goers. In fact, it was so popular that it inspired a remake in 2005. Those craving Horror should watch both films but it’s definitely best to start with Carpenter’s original.
5 Christine
When it comes to literary Horror, it’s hard not to immediately think of Stephen King. If there was a council of Horror, King would definitely be a pivotal part of it, if not its leader. The writer has been cranking out incredibly unsettling tales for decades and has produced some of the most iconic works to ever hit the Horror space. Thankfully for fans, John Carpenter got the chance to direct one of King’s most iconic stories.
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He didn’t disappoint. Christine is one of the most engaging and entertaining films of the 80s. Some may not compare it to his earlier, more chilling works, but it’s honestly a lot of fun. It’s campy, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is one of the best films about animate objects coming to life that has hit the genre.
4 Prince Of Darkness
John Carpenter has produced a lot of great films over the years but many look towards his original films and his works in the 70s and early 80s as his “best work.” From a critical standpoint, people began to question if the director was losing his edge as time went on. But for the general public, most of his films have generated a cult following, and are regarded by Horror fanatics as some of their favorite titles.
Prince of Darkness is a great example of this. It holds middling reviews on many outlets but seems to have generated a dedicated fanbase since its inception in the late 80s. Many regard its camera angles as some of the best in Carpenter’s work and it features a “dream sequence” with narration is still sampled by some filmmakers in the modern age.
3 Village Of The Damned
John Carpenter came up with some interesting and frightening concepts over the years but he also directed and remade some iconic stories and films from the past. A great example is his 1995 remake of Village of the Damned, which was based on the film from the 1960s. The premise follows the idea of a town stricken by a series of surprise pregnancies and the supernatural chaos that followed.
John Carpenter’s remake features a great cast of actors, some supremely creepy scenes, and some great practical effects with the pale children and their immense powers.
2 They Live
Roddy Piper was best known for his rampage through the WWF back in the day but he found time to work on a fantastic Horror film crafted by the master himself. It’s hard to imagine Roddy in such a semi-serious role but he managed to do a fantastic job, helping cement They Live as an instant cult classic that’s still talked about in the modern age.
The premise follows a man who finds a specialized pair of glasses that allow him to see the “world for how it really is,” unraveling a secret plan by some strange creatures bent on controlling the population. It’s a wild ride and a pretty gripping look at how the media may influence the general public.
1 The Thing
If there’s one John Carpenter film that fans should watch this year, it’s definitely The Thing. This is one of the quintessential Sci-Fi Horror films, easily one of the best ever produced in the genre, and perhaps Carpenter’s best film to date. So many films reference this masterpiece and there are swaths of dedicated Horror fans that watch this film at least once a year.
The Thing is a masterclass of Horror, compiling elements of body morphing, tension, Sci-Fi elements, isolation, and so many other “primal fears” that prey on the minds of audiences. This film should be firmly at the top of everyone’s watch list, especially those that have yet to experience it.
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