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Director John Carpenter, at right, with Kurt Russell who appeared in a number of Carpenter's films. Source: https://www.studioremarkable.com/reviews/the-state-of-john-carpenter/4206/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Now, I am not much of a horror movie follower, that is my spouse’s domain. However, when I heard director John Carpenter has a new six-part series coming out, it did take me back to the 1980s when he did, on occasion, scare the pants off me.
Beyond that, he made a lot of movies that weren’t horror, that I hold dear to my heart, and I have actually written about on this blog.
The years before
John Carpenter got his start directing films in 1969 with “Captain Voyeur” then did “Dark Star” in 1974 and “Assault on Precinct 13” in 1976.
John Carpenter got his start directing films in 1969 with “Captain Voyeur” then did “Dark Star” in 1974 and “Assault on Precinct 13” in 1976.
He hit it big with his cult classic “Halloween” in 1978, and followed that up with “The Fog” in 1980.
Dawn of the decade
That was just the start of a directing career that got rolling in the 1980s. John Carpenter would become best known for his horror movies, but in the 1980s he did a lot of mainstream work as well.
That was just the start of a directing career that got rolling in the 1980s. John Carpenter would become best known for his horror movies, but in the 1980s he did a lot of mainstream work as well.
Escape from New York
Carpenter started the decade with the dystopic “Escape from New York” in 1981, set in a future where Manhattan has become a walled prison. Kurt Russell plays Snake Plisskin, who is going to New York as a prisoner. However, he is offered the chance of a pardon if he rescues the president of the United States whose plane has crashed in New York.
Carpenter started the decade with the dystopic “Escape from New York” in 1981, set in a future where Manhattan has become a walled prison. Kurt Russell plays Snake Plisskin, who is going to New York as a prisoner. However, he is offered the chance of a pardon if he rescues the president of the United States whose plane has crashed in New York.
I was just a kid when “Escape from New York” came out. However, I was home sick one day and watched a review of “Escape from New York” on “Canada AM” on Channel 13 of the peasant vision dial. I recall host Norm Perry interviewing the reviewer whose name escapes me.
I think it was maybe in university in the summer of 1989 that I finally saw “Escape from New York”.
The Thing
Carpenter was back in 1982 with “The Thing”, a movie that is horror but also suspense. A group is trapped at an Arctic outpost. They soon discover an alien entity that begins to hunt them down and kill them. It also starred Kurt Russell.
Carpenter was back in 1982 with “The Thing”, a movie that is horror but also suspense. A group is trapped at an Arctic outpost. They soon discover an alien entity that begins to hunt them down and kill them. It also starred Kurt Russell.
My outstanding memory is seeing “The Thing” at my friend Mat’s birthday party.
Christine
There was no name more synonymous with horror in the decade than Stephen King, so it was no surprise he teamed up with John Carpenter on “Christine” in 1983. I did not see the entire movie, just the few minutes that involved a high school football game.
There was no name more synonymous with horror in the decade than Stephen King, so it was no surprise he teamed up with John Carpenter on “Christine” in 1983. I did not see the entire movie, just the few minutes that involved a high school football game.
The movie is about a haunted or possessed vehicle. I do recall seeing the car just start on its own in the movie.
When remote starters became more common a few years later, I recall walking past a car in Edmonton.
Suddenly, it just started. I was the only one around.
“It’s Christine,” I thought.
Starman
There could be no bigger departure from horror than the sweet, sentimental movie “Starman” in 1984. Jeff Bridges plays an alien who crashes on Earth. He then assumes the shape of the dead husband of a woman played by Karen Allen. They too fall in love as he desperately tries to get to a rendezvous point for a ship to take him home.
There could be no bigger departure from horror than the sweet, sentimental movie “Starman” in 1984. Jeff Bridges plays an alien who crashes on Earth. He then assumes the shape of the dead husband of a woman played by Karen Allen. They too fall in love as he desperately tries to get to a rendezvous point for a ship to take him home.
It is such a poignant moment, highlighted for me by a moment when the two sing “All I Have to do is Dream” by the Everly Brothers.
It is a touching story. Some compare it to “E.T.” but I think they are very different movies.
Big Trouble in Little China
For a third time, actor Kurt Russell teamed up with John Carpenter, this time for the 1986 film “Big Trouble in Little China”.
For a third time, actor Kurt Russell teamed up with John Carpenter, this time for the 1986 film “Big Trouble in Little China”.
I never did see this film. Russell plays a truck driver who gets caught up in some intrigue in San Francisco's Chinatown and the secret world underneath it.
My biggest memory is using “Big Trouble in Little China”, as slang when you were deep into something bad.
The rest of the decade and beyond
John Carpenter closed out the 1980s with two more horror films – “Prince of Darkness” in 1987 and “They Live” in 1988 – but I never saw either of them.
John Carpenter closed out the 1980s with two more horror films – “Prince of Darkness” in 1987 and “They Live” in 1988 – but I never saw either of them.
He would keep on making movies including “Memoirs of an Invisible Man”, “Village of the Damned” in 1995, and “Escape from L.A.”, a sequel to “Escape from New York” in 1996.
He keeps working to this day.
Parting thoughts
John Carpenter’ s finger prints are all over this blog, whether it is “Starman”, “The Thing” or “Big Trouble in Little China”.
John Carpenter’ s finger prints are all over this blog, whether it is “Starman”, “The Thing” or “Big Trouble in Little China”.
It is funny that I never made the connection until I did research for this post, but John Carpenter played a bigger part in my pop culture experience than I realized.
That is due in large part to the fact I always thought he was just a director of horror films.
He was so much more.
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