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John Carpenter‌

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1948-01-16

Popularity

star17.0

John Carpenter

Carthage, New York, USA

John Carpenter

Carthage, New York, USA

Gender

Male

Birthday

calendar1948-01-16

Popularity

star17.0

Biography

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.

Movie Credits

Halloween

Halloween‌
star7.6
calendar 1978

The Silence of the Hams

The Silence of the Hams‌
star4.9
calendar 1994

The Perfect Scary Movie

The Perfect Scary Movie‌
star7.5
calendar 2005

The History of Metal and Horror

The History of Metal and Horror‌
star5.0
calendar 2021

Scoring Resident Evil

Scoring Resident Evil‌
star5.5
calendar 2002

Body Bags

Body Bags‌
star6.1
calendar 1993

Carpenter on Quatermass

Carpenter on Quatermass‌
star0.0
calendar

In Search of Darkness: Part III

In Search of Darkness: Part III‌
star7.3
calendar 2022

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue

Nightmares in Red, White and Blue‌
star6.6
calendar 2009

Tales from the Script

Tales from the Script‌
star6.7
calendar 2009

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown‌
star7.2
calendar 2008

Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX

Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX‌
star7.0
calendar 2008

The Making of 'They Live'

The Making of 'They Live'‌
star0.0
calendar 1988

Assault on Precinct 13

Assault on Precinct 13‌
star7.3
calendar 1976

John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies

John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies‌
star5.5
calendar 2004

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock‌
star0.0
calendar 2008

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film

Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film‌
star6.7
calendar 2006

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape

The Thing: Terror Takes Shape‌
star7.5
calendar 1998

Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star

Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star‌
star4.6
calendar 2010

The Original Monster Mash

The Original Monster Mash‌
star0.0
calendar 2011

Studio 666

Studio 666‌
star6.0
calendar 2022

Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge

Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge‌
star6.7
calendar 2011

An Opera of Violence

An Opera of Violence‌
star6.0
calendar 2003

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest

Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest‌
star8.0
calendar 2003

Bloodsucking Cinema

Bloodsucking Cinema‌
star5.0
calendar 2007

Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?

Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?‌
star7.0
calendar 2003

Halloween: Unmasked

Halloween: Unmasked‌
star5.7
calendar 1999

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon‌
star7.0
calendar 2006

Monsterland

Monsterland‌
star6.5
calendar 2009

Stephen King's World of Horror

Stephen King's World of Horror‌
star5.9
calendar 1986

Christine: Ignition

Christine: Ignition‌
star7.6
calendar 2004

Christine: Fast and Furious

Christine: Fast and Furious‌
star7.8
calendar 2004

Christine: Finish Line

Christine: Finish Line‌
star7.8
calendar 2004

Nightmare Factory

Nightmare Factory‌
star7.3
calendar 2011

It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned

It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned‌
star0.0
calendar 2016

Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock

Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock‌
star0.0
calendar 2009

Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story

Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story‌
star0.0
calendar

Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'

Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'‌
star0.0
calendar 2007

Working with a Master: John Carpenter

Working with a Master: John Carpenter‌
star6.0
calendar 2006

Why Horror?

Why Horror?‌
star6.1
calendar 2014

The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie

The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie‌
star0.0
calendar 2012

Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro

Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro‌
star0.0
calendar 2008

The American Nightmare

The American Nightmare‌
star6.9
calendar 2000

Halloween in Hollywood

Halloween in Hollywood‌
star0.0
calendar 2022

Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror

Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror‌
star6.6
calendar 2001

The Reality Trip

The Reality Trip‌
star0.0
calendar

The Boy Who Could Fly

The Boy Who Could Fly‌
star6.3
calendar 1986

Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars

Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars‌
star5.5
calendar 2001

Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur

Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur‌
star0.0
calendar 2017

Big John

Big John‌
star7.8
calendar 2006

The Puppet Man

The Puppet Man‌
star7.0
calendar 2016

Henchman: The Al Leong Story

Henchman: The Al Leong Story‌
star0.0
calendar 2018

Take One: Fear on Film

Take One: Fear on Film‌
star7.0
calendar 1982

Fear in the Dark

Fear in the Dark‌
star10.0
calendar 1991

After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater

After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater‌
star5.2
calendar 1995

Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters

Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters‌
star0.0
calendar 2024

Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre

Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre‌
star5.9
calendar 2000

Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures

Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures‌
star10.0
calendar 2004

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style‌
star6.8
calendar 2009

The Thing Expanded

The Thing Expanded‌
star0.0
calendar

Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties

Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties‌
star0.0
calendar 2001

Stephen King's World of Horror

Stephen King's World of Horror‌
star8.0
calendar 1989

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy‌
star7.0
calendar 2008

Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions

Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions‌
star6.0
calendar 2017

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'

Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'‌
star6.8
calendar 2000

Horror Cafe

Horror Cafe‌
star8.5
calendar 1990

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story

Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story‌
star7.5
calendar 2006

First Works

First Works‌
star0.0
calendar 1989

Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music

Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music‌
star8.0
calendar 2015

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror‌
star6.8
calendar 2006

John Carpenter: Live Retrospective

John Carpenter: Live Retrospective‌
star10.0
calendar 2018

Masters of Horror

Masters of Horror‌
star7.7
calendar 2002

Hollywood's Greatest Villains

Hollywood's Greatest Villains‌
star10.0
calendar 2005

The Thing

The Thing‌
star8.1
calendar 1982

In Search of Darkness

In Search of Darkness‌
star7.8
calendar 2019

Dark Star

Dark Star‌
star5.9
calendar 1974

The Fog

The Fog‌
star6.7
calendar 1980

Escape from New York

Escape from New York‌
star7.1
calendar 1981

Starman

Starman‌
star6.9
calendar 1984

Big Trouble in Little China

Big Trouble in Little China‌
star7.2
calendar 1986

They Live

They Live‌
star7.3
calendar 1988

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

Memoirs of an Invisible Man‌
star5.9
calendar 1992

Village of the Damned

Village of the Damned‌
star6.1
calendar 1995

John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016

John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016‌
star0.0
calendar 2016

Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'

Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'‌
star5.8
calendar 2002

In Search of Tomorrow

In Search of Tomorrow‌
star6.4
calendar 2022

Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'

Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'‌
star4.8
calendar 1980

1982: Hollywood Summer

1982: Hollywood Summer‌
star6.0
calendar 2019

The Rise of the Synths

The Rise of the Synths‌
star7.7
calendar 2019

The Wages of Sin

The Wages of Sin‌
star7.4
calendar 2003

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star

AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star‌
star0.0
calendar 2020

The Making of 'The Thing'

The Making of 'The Thing'‌
star7.3
calendar 1982

In Search of Darkness: Part II

In Search of Darkness: Part II‌
star7.7
calendar 2020

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet‌
star4.5
calendar 2006

Halloween: The Inside Story

Halloween: The Inside Story‌
star7.4
calendar 2010

Something to Do with Death

Something to Do with Death‌
star6.0
calendar 2003

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film

Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film‌
star6.0
calendar 2000

Snake Plissken: Man of Honor

Snake Plissken: Man of Honor‌
star0.0
calendar 2005

Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper

Biography: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper‌
star7.7
calendar 2021

The Future of Fear

The Future of Fear‌
star0.0
calendar 2011

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects‌
star0.0
calendar 1994

In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994

In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994‌
star8.0
calendar 2024

Scary Girl

Scary Girl‌
star0.0
calendar 2011

Tv Credits

The Director's Chair

The Director's Chair‌
star8.0
calendar 2014

The Rifleman

The Rifleman‌
star7.0
calendar 1958

Through the Night with...

Through the Night with...‌
star8.0
calendar 2002

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert‌
star6.6
calendar 2015

A History of Horror

A History of Horror‌
star7.5
calendar 2010

100 Scariest Movie Moments

100 Scariest Movie Moments‌
star7.9
calendar 2004

Amityville: An Origin Story

Amityville: An Origin Story‌
star7.4
calendar 2023

The Movies That Made Us

The Movies That Made Us‌
star7.2
calendar 2019

Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow

Charles Band’s Full Moon Freakshow‌
star6.0
calendar 2022

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.

John Mulaney Presents: Everybody's in L.A.‌
star6.6
calendar 2024

The Real History of Science Fiction

The Real History of Science Fiction‌
star6.9
calendar 2014

Track Stories

Track Stories‌
star0.0
calendar 2015

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Alfred Hitchcock Presents‌
star7.7
calendar 1955