John Carpenter
An American film director, screenwriter, producer, editor, composer, and occasional actor. Although Carpenter has worked in numerous film genres in his four-decade career, his name is most commonly associated with horror and science fiction. Most films in Carpenter's career were initially commercial and critical failures, with the notable exceptions of Halloween (1978), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), and Starman (1984). However, many of Carpenter's films from the 1970s and the 1980s have come to be viewed as cult classics, and he has been acknowledged as an influential filmmaker. Cult classics that Carpenter directed include: Dark Star (1974), Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), The Thing (1982), Christine (1983), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Prince of Darkness (1987), They Live (1988) and In the Mouth of Madness (1995). His films are characterized by minimalist lighting and photography, static cameras, use of steadicam, and distinctive synthesized scores. Carpenter is also notable for having composed or co-composed most of the music of his films; some of them are now considered cult as well, with the main theme of Halloween being considered a part of popular culture. His music is generally synthesized with accompaniment from piano and atmospherics. He released his first studio album Lost Themes in 2015, and also won a Saturn Award for Best Music for Vampires (1998). Carpenter is an outspoken proponent of widescreen filming, and all of his theatrical movies (with the exception of Dark Star and The Ward) were filmed anamorphic with a 2.35:1 or greater aspect ratio. The Ward was shot in Super 35, the first time Carpenter has ever used that system. Carpenter has stated he feels that the 35mm Panavision anamorphic format is "the best movie system there is", preferring it over both digital and 3D film. Many of Carpenter's films have been re-released on DVD as special editions with numerous bonus features. Carpenter has been the subject of the documentary film John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies, and American Cinematheque's 2002 retrospective of his films. Moreover, in 2006, the United States Library of Congress deemed Halloween to be "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry. In 2010, writer and actor Mark Gatiss interviewed Carpenter about his career and films for his BBC documentary series A History of Horror. Carpenter appears in all three episodes of the series. He was also interviewed by Robert Rodriguez for his The Director's Chair series on El Rey Network. Many filmmakers have been influenced by Carpenter, including James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight was heavily influenced by The Thing), Guillermo del Toro, Robert Rodriguez, Edgar Wright, Danny Boyle, Nicolas Winding Refn, Bong Joon-ho, among others. The video game Dead Space 3 is said to be influenced by Carpenter's The Thing, The Fog and Halloween, and Carpenter has stated that he would be enthusiastic to adapt that series into a feature film.
Halloween
as Paul (voice) / Michael Myers (uncredited)Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a...
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In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station...
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Truck driver Jack Burton gets embroiled in a supernatural battle when his best friend Wang Chi's...
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Escape from New York
as Secret Service #2 / Helicopter Pilot / Violin PlayerIn a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled...
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They Live
as Voice That Says 'Sleep'A lone drifter stumbles upon a harrowing discovery -- a unique pair of sunglasses that reveals...
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Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its...
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Memoirs of an Invisible Man
as Helicopter PilotAfter a freak accident, an invisible yuppie runs for his life from a treacherous CIA official...
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The Silence of the Hams
as Trenchcoat Man / GimpThe federal agent Joe Dee Foster is currently investigating a serial killer, helped by doctor...
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Legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll...
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Village of the Damned
as Man at Gas Station PhoneAn American village is visited by some unknown life form which leaves the women of the village...
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Starman
as Man in Helicopter (uncredited)When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin...
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Assault on Precinct 13
as Gang Member (uncredited)The lone inhabitants of an abandoned police station are under attack by the overwhelming numbers...
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Body Bags
as CoronerA woman working the late shift at a gas station while a killer is on the loose; a man who can't...
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Dark Star
as Talby VoiceA group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their...
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The Boy Who Could Fly
as The Coupe de VillesMilly and Louis, and their recently-widowed mom, Charlene, move to a new neighborhood. Once...
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Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
as SelfThis historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with...
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The American Nightmare
as SelfAn examination into the nature of 1960's-70's horror films, the involved artists, and how they...
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In Search of Darkness
as SelfAn exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers...
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Stephen King's World of Horror
as SelfThis horror documentary is not the same as the 1986 TV special Stephen King's World of Horror...
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Tales from the Script
as SelfShane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank...
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In Search of Darkness: Part II
as SelfThe ultimate ‘80s Horror retrospective just got BIGGER. In Search of Darkness: Part II is a...
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Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown
as SelfA chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.
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Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
as SelfAn exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the...
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Halloween: 25 Years of Terror
as SelfFollow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why...
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In Search of Darkness: Part III
as SelfThe conclusion to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ '80s trilogy. In this epic final chapter, our...
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The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
as SelfAn in-depth look at the making of John Carpenter's cult classic sci-fi horror The Thing, telling...
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The History of Metal and Horror
as SelfA documentary that explores the history of heavy metal music, horror films, and how the two...
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Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper
as SelfFocuses on "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who is universally considered one of WWE's greatest villains....
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In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994
as Self - IntervieweeFilm icons and genre experts share observations, experiences, and analysis to help reframe,...
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The Rise of the Synths
as Narrator (voice)A documentary about the Synthwave scene, nostalgia and the universe of creating sounds. A love...
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Halloween: The Inside Story
as SelfThis feature-length documentary takes a look at one of the most successful film franchises of...
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Nightmare Factory
as SelfThe story of how one Pittsburgh boy’s fascination with monsters drove him to the very top of the...
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In Search of Tomorrow
as Self - IntervieweeA nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told...
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Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars
as SelfDocumentary about the making of John Carpenter's sci-fi horror movie, Ghosts of Mars.
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Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror
as SelfDocumentary that explores Argento's film career.
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Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties
as SelfThis documentary was broadcast on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cable channel to kick off the...
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The Reality Trip
as selfDocumentary celebrating the centenary of cinema which looks at how technological innovations -...
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Henchman: The Al Leong Story
as SelfStory of Al Leong, the greatest henchman in film history.
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Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
as Self - FilmmakerThe greatness, fall and renaissance of Hammer, the flagship company of British popular cinema,...
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Stephen King's World of Horror
as SelfA documentary about the works of novelist Stephen King and his influence on popular culture and...
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Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge
as Self/HostThe cast of MTV's 'Teen Wolf' teams up with Funny or Die and gives Charlie Brown a spooky twist.
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Halloween in Hollywood
as SelfChris Hardwick hosts this epic night celebrating all things Halloween, including interviews with...
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Scoring Resident Evil
as Self (archive footage)Resident Evil featurette.
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In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
as SelfFilms beget films. Filmmakers influence other filmmakers constantly. But the most influential...
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John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies
as SelfChronicles the work of cult director John Carpenter through interviews with him and his...
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Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
as SelfA short documentary about Robby the Robot.
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The Thing Expanded
as SelfThe ultimate companion to John Carpenter’s "The Thing", digging deep into the proverbial iceberg...
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Christine: Ignition
as SelfA look at the making of "Christine" (1983).
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Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'
as SelfShort documentary. Interviews with the cast & crew of 'The Fog'
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Fear in the Dark
as SelfA short documentary on the history of the horror film narrated by Christopher Lee.
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The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style
as SelfDocumentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence,...
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Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
as SelfDocumentary focused on the creation of movie and television special effects, hosted by Roy...
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Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
as SelfThis documentary delves into the art of make-up effects with industry legends Dick Smith, Rob...
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Masters of Horror
as SelfDocumentary showcasing the work of prominent film directors in the horror genre. Featuring...
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An Opera of Violence
as Self - FilmmakerFirst part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West,...
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Monsterland
as SelfA journey through time and history of diverse monster types, from the latex monster in...
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Why Horror?
as SelfHorror fan Tal Zimerman examines the psychology of horror around the world to find out why...
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Halloween: Unmasked
as SelfA retrospective documentary on the making of the movie "Halloween," featuring exclusive...
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The Wages of Sin
as Self - FilmmakerSecond part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West,...
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First Works
as SelfIt's a mixed bag in the age of illuminating DVD supplements, but First Works effectively...
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Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film
as SelfDocumentary tracing the rise of the 'slasher' movie.
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Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters
as SelfA look at Hammer’s progression from a back off in London’s Regent Street to its iconic status...
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Something to Do with Death
as Self - FilmmakerThird part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West,...
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Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
as SelfTracing the amazing journey of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, whose intense rivalry with Hulk Hogan...
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Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
as SelfA documentary about the making of, and legacy of, the Forbidden Planet movie.
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Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock
as SelfAlfred Hitchcock often referred to his style of film making as "pure cinema" — using camera...
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The Puppet Man
as The Taxi DriverA supernatural killer stalks a young woman and her friends in a seedy, neon-lit dive bar.
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Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
as SelfUsing original interviews with director John Carpenter, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and P.J. Soles,...
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Christine: Fast and Furious
as SelfA look at the making of "Christine" (1983).
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Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
as SelfDirector Garry S. Grant’s insightful documentary celebrates the work and legacy of auteur...
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It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned
as SelfFeaturing interviews with Director John Carpenter, Producer Sandy King, Actors Michael Paré,...
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Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music
as SelfJean-Michel Jarre is one of the pioneers of electronic music. He is a composer, performer,...
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Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'
as SelfRetrospective documentary on the making of the 1980 horror film "The Fog."
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AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
as SelfUnleashed from the video vaults of the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA), AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE...
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Christine: Finish Line
as SelfA look at the making of "Christine" (1983).
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Horror Cafe
as SelfApril 1990 - Six horror icons gather at the horror cafe to create the ultimate horror movie for...
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Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'
as SelfA documentary about 'The Magnificent Seven'.
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Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures
as SelfElvira hosts this humorous look at movie monsters and facts about the real animals on which...
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Working with a Master: John Carpenter
as Self (archive footage)Documentary by Frank H. Woodward.
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Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro
as SelfNo director-composer collaboration has been more seminal to motion pictures than the partnership...
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Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'
as SelfAn appreciation of Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo" (1959) by filmmakers and historians.
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1982: Hollywood Summer
as SelfIn the 1980s, Hollywood cinema was revolutionized. Especially the summer of 1982 changed the...
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John Carpenter: Live Retrospective
as SelfJohn Carpenter performs tracks from his movies and from his Lost Themes album. Recorded in...
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Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star
as Himself (voice)Exploring the controversial story behind John Carpenter (Halloween & The Thing) and writer...
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After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater
as SelfA video documentary/road trip that celebrates the drive-in movie theater's impact on the United...
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Take One: Fear on Film
as SelfMick Garris hosts this look at horror films with John Carpenter, John Landis and David...
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Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?
as Self (voice)Whatever happened to this promising young actress from Hollywood? A search for "the woman in the...
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The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
as SelfThis documentary short explores the origins of the monster movie and how Alfred Hitchcock's "The...
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The Original Monster Mash
as SelfThe Monster Mash was originally too hardcore for some to handle.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
as SelfStephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,...
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The Rifleman
as uncreditedThe Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas...
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The Movies That Made Us
as Self (Archival Footage)These blockbusters brought us together and gave us the time of our lives. Meet the actors,...
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Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as SelfA television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.
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Through the Night with...
as SelfDurch die Nacht mit … is a German documentary film television series produced by ZDF for...
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John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.
as SelfIn six live installments, John Mulaney explores Los Angeles during a week when pretty much every...
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100 Scariest Movie Moments
as SelfFeaturing interviews, film clips, and production stills, this miniseries explores what went into...
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The Real History of Science Fiction
as SelfThe series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television...
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Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow
as uncreditedJoin trailblazing producer, director, best-selling author and B-movie mogul Charles Band as he...
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Amityville: An Origin Story
as SelfThe story behind the world's most infamous haunted house tale: the Amityville murders. This is...
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The Director's Chair
as SelfRobert Rodriguez sits down with the industry's most iconic directors and engages in a revealing...
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A History of Horror
as SelfMark Gatiss examines the history of the horror film, from classic Hollywood monsters to Hammer's...
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