‘After a dark force renders unconscious the natives of Midwich for six hours, 10 pregnant women give birth to 10 identical kids who are uncommonly brainy, emotionless, telepathically linked and sinister.’ Carpenter’s remake of the 1960 classic. Of course, with this being a remake, certain critics were already crossing their arms and rolling their eyes …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 17- Village of the Damned (1995)
An insurance investigator is looking into the disappearance of horror writer, Sutter Cane just before the release of his next novel, In The Mouth of Madness. The deeper he goes, the more insanity envelopes him as he starts to lose his marbles. This is Carpenter’s love letter to Lovecraft and he does it very well. …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 16- In The Mouth of Madness (1994)
Horror anthology directed by Carpenter and Tobe Hooper. The three tales are ‘Unleaded’ (Halloween meets Intruder), ‘Hair’ (alien hair transplant) and ‘Baseball Man’ (serial killer possesses guy who is transplanted one of his eyes). All three are excellent. It’s a shame nothing came of this TV movie as it makes a great pilot for a …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 15- Body Bags (1993)
‘When a nuclear experiment goes awry, it renders an innocent bystander, Nick, invisible. However, he is pursued by a tyrannical CIA official and must try to lead a normal life with his new predicament.’ Great concept, great cast, great special effects but a leading man who I can’t tolerate except in the National Lampoon’s Vacation …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 14- Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
A nomadic drifter discovers a box of sunglasses which have the ability to expose the ruling class for who they really are- greedy, power-hungry aliens. He sets out to expose the truth to everyone else. Sometimes you realise how brilliant a movie is during your first viewing of it. This was what I got from …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 13- They Live (1988)
‘While cleaning the basement in his church, Father Loomis comes across a canister filled with a volatile green substance. With help from Professor Birack, he realises that the liquid is Satan's spirit.’ Just your average Satan as a green liquid movie. The concept of this movie is amazing. Carpenter expands the minds of his audience …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 12- Prince of Darkness (1987)
‘Jack Burton, a truck driver, gets dragged into the mysterious underworld beneath Chinatown where he faces an ancient sorcerer named Lo Pan.’ Big Trouble in Little China was one of my most rented videos in the late 80’s. I loved it. On rewatching it now it retains the charm, brilliant vision and amazing special effects …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 11- Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Wow. This film. I first saw this on BBC2 in the 80's when I was a kid and loved it. But would I still love it when watching it again today. The answer is a resounding YES! The emotional pull of this film is unlike any other John Carpenter film with it having one of …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 10- Starman (1984)
Stephen King's brilliant novel about a possessed Plymouth Fury named Christine, a nerdy teenager and how he changes after the car seemingly takes over his life. John Carpenter directs one of King's novels for the first time (he was due to direct Firestarter but lost the gig as The Thing had tanked at the box …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 9- Christine (1983)
In 1982, American audiences wanted only one alien. He wasn’t the shape-shifting evil alien in John Carpenter’s The Thing; he was the cute alien who wanted to ‘phone home’ in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. A dog who is being shot at by the crew of a helicopter flying overhead is taken in by an American compound …
Continue reading John Carpenter Reviewed- Day 8- The Thing (1982)
Meathook Cinema 