Top 10 John Carpenter Movies

[Christian Sellers]

A once great filmmaker reduced to has-been, desperately trying to reclaim his former glories.  And what glories they were as well.  Here's some of the highlights...


10. THE FOG (1979)




9. DARK STAR (1974)




8. PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987)




7. IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (1995)




6. ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976)




5. THEY LIVE (1988)




4. ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981)




3. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)




2. HALLOWEEN (1978)




1. THE THING (1982)




And honourable mentions go to -
SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME (1978)
CHRISTINE (1983)
STARMAN (1984)
BODY BAGS (1993)

[Sheridan Passell]

Probably my favourite living filmmaker. I think you've got the order nailed, the only thing I would change is to put The Fog in the top 5, it's a highly original and effective horror movie on many levels, and a shame more people don't appreciate it.

[Christian Sellers]

My problem with the Fog is that the first half is really creepy and effective, but once it edges towards slasher territory and the ghosts start to move centre stage the effect is lost and the pay off doesn't quite match the build up.  It's a good film, a classic, I just prefer some of his other work over it.  Still runs circles around most other horrors though!

[dalmatianjaws]

Looking at this list made me realize how incomplete my Carpenter education really is! That sucks. It also made me realize just how brilliant he was at his peak.


10. THE FOG (1979) - Never seen it, very sad I know.

9. DARK STAR (1974) - Again, never seen it.

8. PRINCE OF DARKNESS (1987) Never seen it ... SHIT

7. IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS (1995) - not perfect, but so glad it's on the list. first carpenter movie I ever saw, SO creepy. Very Lovecraftian and mind blowing ending.

6. ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (1976) - only seen the remake with the spurting CGI blood. I hope this one is better!

5. THEY LIVE (1988) - saw this years ago and just rewatched last week --- absolutely brilliant. best one liners, best fist fight, just all around joyful, fun filmmaking. Such a blast.

4. ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981) - need to rewatch. bored me to tears the first time around about a decade ago.

3. BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) - one of the best comedies ever made.

2. HALLOWEEN (1978) - never liked it, don't know why. but it's growing on my due to this forum.

1. THE THING (1982) - might be a perfect film, if there is such a thing.

[Christian Sellers]

I agree, The Thing is as good as a movie can be.  As for the others -

- Dark Star was a student movie so the FX are laughable and the pace is slow, but there's akind of hippy charm with its 2001 satire
- Assault on Precinct 13 was a loose urban reworking of the Howard Hawks classic Rio Brava, and Carpenter has reused this 'siege' concept in much of his work (the remake is the only movie I ever saw at the cinema where I actually slept through it... on purpose)
- Prince of Darkness is a slow burner, but there's something about the ending and the recurring dream (sampled in the Marilyn Manson song Down in the Park) that is eerie
- The Fog is an old fashioned ghost story mixed with slasher, flawed but creepy

In fact, here's an easier option... avoid these movies and watch everything else he made -

Memories of an Invisible Man
Village of the Damned
Escape From LA
Vampires

[Sheridan Passell]

Everyone keeps telling me The Fog is flawed, but I really don't see it. For me the tension builds throughout and the payoff is excellent. The structure is refreshingly different, and it's a really interesting ensemble. I guess it's one of those I'll always be scratching my head about. Maybe the next civilisation after humans will appreciate it.

[Christian Sellers]

I think the most effective part is the opening credits.  And that's not to belittle the rest of the movie, but there's something about it that really sets up an eerie atmosphere

[dalmatianjaws]

I'm definately going to watch these.

Unfortunately, I've already seen Escape from La. But inlike most carpenter fans, I dislike both Escape flicks, so it really didn't bother me. I loved some of the humor from Escape from LA, but other stuff sucked ass, like the surfing scene.

doesn't memoirs of an invisible man have Checy Chase in it? How bizarre.

[Tyler Lovemark]

I love Escape From New York.  I'm already a sucker for post-apocalyptic/dystopian crap, so that combined with Kurt Russel kicking ass, it was impossible for me to resist.  And the music is awesome.

[T.ROSS]

Nice topic Mr. Sellers! 4sure! I love Carpetner's films! But I would rate my top ten a lil Different, though I have never seen Darkstar or Assault on Precinct 13 or Escape from New York, but with the remaining 7 I would put them in this order (no disrespect to your pics)

#7- They Live, I like this movie alot, I own it as well. This movie is just fun to watch, from the bad acting and cheesy lines I love it. Love the story though!




#6-Prince of Darkness, I love this movie too, everthing from the brilliant Dondald Pleasence to the Alice Cooper cameo, they story is funny, and I like the ending.




#5- In the Mouth of Madness, this movie really had an impact on me when I was younger, I loved the story alot!




#4- Big Trouble in Little China, this movie is so awesome for so many reasons, I watched this movie so many times as a child, this film is so much fun!




#3- The Fog, Man I love this movie so much, it is super awesome, I dont understand why people dont like it, it is one of John Carpetner's best and films! They erie creepiness to the movie totally sets it off! jamie Lee Curtis defintley delivered another great Carpetner flick!




#2- The Thing, this movie is one of the best horror/scifi movies of all time, the story was great, location great, actors great, it was super badass!!!




#1- Halloween, I dont even have to really descirbe why this movie is so great, because everyone pretty much already knows! Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis and John Carpetner at there best!





Well there are my top John Carpetner pics, and just to mention I think Vampires and Village of the Dammend are pretty good!


-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[dalmatianjaws]

Just looking over this list again, and how amazing is it, despite his failed efforts, that folks can compile a list of TEN great films from a single director. That really is quite something.

[Christian Sellers]

Everybody should own all of his movies up to 1988 (even Starman had its moments).  And perhaps 1995's In the Mouth of Madness too

[T.ROSS]

Ok I saw the trailer for Dark Star, dont know if I could do this one. Is it as slow as it looks?






Please tell me your comments on this film. i am curious to know if I should watch it.

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Christian Sellers]

Yes it is slow, it was a student film and kind of a hippy homage to 2001, but it is amusing, not his best though.

[T.ROSS]

Thanks or the input!

[T.ROSS]

So I watched Christine last night, I think that movie was so awesome1 I think it defintley deserves a spot in the top 10 Carpetner flicks! I would rate it num 4 in my list!!!!!





Carpetner did such a good directing job on this film! I love 80s carpetner films, they're the best. He always manages to have that erie vibe to his earlier horror films, the music he composes really sets his films off! his films is one of my favorite out of all his movies! I advise all Carpetner and Stephen King fans to watch this movie as soon as you can get your hands on it!

-T.ROSS PRODUCTIONS

[Sheridan Passell]

The speech he gives about love toward the end in the car is so true. Great cynical writing.

[Christian Sellers]

I like it, I really do, I just find Carpenter and King clash a little too much.  Good film though from his golden era

[T.ROSS]

From is golden era, yes!

The end speech about his car was beatiful, after I watched the film it made me want to read the book, I own the book but havent read it yet, I think I might soon, I am currently reading Stephen King's Salem's Lot.

[Christian Sellers]

Never been a bg fan of his writing but there have been some cool films made from his writing (Cujo, Cat's Eye, Stand By Me, Pet Semetary, IT, Shawshank Redemption)