Precinct 13: The Movies and Music of John Carpenter

Hello out there, and welcome back! As promised, Chris and Nick have returned with an all-new episode to discuss Halloween Ends, the final film in David Gordon Green's sequel trilogy that's now out in theaters and on Peacock. Like every Halloween fan out there, we've got some thoughts on this unique and highly divisive horror film, featuring an original score by John Carpenter (with his usual collaborators Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies) as well as what is -- supposedly -- the very last on-screen appearance of Jamie Lee Curtis as babysitter, massacre survivor, and, uh, pumpkin pie baker Laurie Strode. We really enjoyed being back to talk all things Carpenter once again, and we hope you'll join us for an in-depth, occasionally rather heated talk about the final (?) chapter in the franchise that he and Debra Hill kicked off back in 1978. Enjoy, and, if you're a horror fan, please join us on our new show, The Shuddering (shudderingpod.simplecast.com)!Be warned: MAJOR SPOILERS for Halloween Ends beginning at 36:10 on this episode! They conclude at 1:21:25.

We're BACK -- and sooner, rather than later! After wrapping up the show proper, we promised to check back in any time there was a good reason to do so, and the recent release of Firestarter is exactly that! Why, you ask? Well, most importantly, the Stephen King adaptation features a brand new score composed by none other than John Carpenter, and it features his regular collaborators Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies from his album, soundtrack, and live concert projects. Plus, the film was written by Halloween Kills scribe Scott Teems, and -- as we're sure you've heard us talk about -- back in the early 80s, Carpenter himself was originally tapped to direct the earlier Firestarter film that ended up in the hands of another director.  So, those were more than enough reasons for Chris and Nick to get back into the saddle and revive the show for what we hope is the first of MANY returns to the Carpenter-centric conversation! So, join us for this "bonus" episode, and please check out our new podcast, The Shuddering, when it launches very soon!

Well, everybody, this is it! On this extra-special (and extra-lengthy) episode of Precinct 13, Chris and Nick reveal the top seven films in their Carpenter rankings -- and cap off our three-part sort-of series finale with a look back at some of our favorite stuff. We also welcome back Megan Mosley, who you might remember from our Halloween and The Fog episodes from way back when, to share her own rankings and thoughts on the Carpenter canon. We hope you enjoy this look back at everything we've done over the past few years on the show, and please stay subscribed! We'll be back any time there's something new to talk about in the world of filmmaker, composer, and all-around fascinating creative talent John Carpenter. Thank you all for listening, and please share with us your thoughts on the show, your own Carpenter rankings, or anything else that's on your mind! And, hey, if you like what we do around here, check out our new show, The Shuddering, coming soon -- we're on Facebook and Twitter @ShudderingPod if you'd like to stay informed as  we get set to launch!

The knock-down-drag-out Carpenter-ranking extravaganza continues this week as Chris and Nick share their next round of picks (the middle of their lists) and returning guest Josh Mosley gives us his takes on all 23 films! Once again, the good, the bad, and the silly in the John Carpenter filmography get discussed, along with a few of this year's Oscar nominees, an Elvis impersonator who's got nothing on Kurt Russell, and some further details of your hosts' next podcasting endeavor. This is the second-to-last episode of the show proper (though we'll be back whenever the occasion presents itself), so enjoy and be sure to join us again in a few weeks as we close things out with our very favorite Carpenter films!

We're back again, and the time has finally come to unveil our rankings of all of the John Carpenter-directed films we've covered since Precinct 13's humble beginnings in the fall of 2019! This week's show is part one of our three-part "final" episode extravaganza (more on that in just a second), and we're welcoming back two-time guest host Alexandra Wiles to share her own rankings of all of the Carpenter films. Chris and Nick, meanwhile, share their bottom eight -- some of which you probably have already figured out, others that might be a little bit of a shocker -- and you can hear the rest of their lists as we look back and close out the show over the next few episodes! As we've mentioned several times before, this isn't quite the end of Precinct 13, but now that we've covered all of the Carpenter movies, we'll be moving on to a whole new show (a few details of which we'll reveal on this episode...) and periodically checking back whenever something new happens in the Carpenter universe. So, sit back and enjoy, send your own Carpenter rankings to us precinct13podcast@gmail.com, and stay tuned for our favorites in the weeks ahead!

Ever wonder what happened before MacReady and the boys went toe-to-toe with alien terror in John Carpenter's 1982 classic The Thing? Well, we didn't really, either, but leave it to Hollywood to show us the mysterious backstory that Carpenter's film left tantalizingly out of reach. 2011's The Thing, a sort of grotesque, body-horror hybrid of prequel and remake, takes place a few days before the original and tells the tale of the Norwegian research base that made the colossal mistake of not letting sleeping extraterrestrials lie. Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen, Jr. and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton, the film is similar to its predecessor not only in its story and visuals, but also in the critical and box-office disappointments it suffered on its release. But, hey, it turned out that Carpenter's film was actually pretty incredible -- can the same be said about this long-in-development return to Antarctica? Chris and Nick break it down in the last of our reviews of Carpenter-adjacent projects, taking a look at the film's controversial CGI visual FX, van Heijningen's direction, the little details that make this a very faithful prequel to the '82 version, and lots more! Plus, Nick checks out a trippy slice of forgotten 70s horror, Chris recommends another stellar film from South Korea, and the guys preview the grand finale (for now) of this very podcast!

2011's The Ward may not be one of the heavy hitters in the John Carpenter canon, but does this modestly budgeted return to feature filmmaking nevertheless have something to offer the Master of Horror's fans? Chris and Nick consider that question in a discussion that also touches on the future of Carpenter's directorial career -- and whether or not there'll actually be one! Yes, that's right, folks: this is Carpenter's last film, made an entire decade ago, and it might just end up being the final entry in his filmography. Fear not, though -- we at Precinct 13 still have a few more episodes waiting in the wings, and we're not quite ready to step away from all things J.C. just yet! But, for now, our in-depth look at The Ward covers everything from the film's female ensemble cast (a Carpenter first!), its relationship to Carpenter's classic genre works, its slew of new collaborators both behind and in front of the camera, and even which national chain restaurants we'd compare this movie to (trust us, it does sort of make sense!). Plus, Chris revisits Nick's all-time favorite film, Nick thoroughly enjoys a bonkers 90s horror sequel, and the guys propose a cinematic collaboration that would definitely be one for the ages (or, at least, one for the aged)!

Michael Myers is back, and so are we -- it's time to close out another "season of the witch" with an episode about Halloween Kills, the long-awaited (by us, anyway) second entry in David Gordon Green and Danny McBride's sequel trilogy! After debuting to stellar box office numbers and some decidedly mixed reviews from critics and audiences, the new movie has left Chris and Nick with a lot to talk about, so pull that William Shatner mask over your face, grab your favorite piece of cutlery, and strap in for a mayhem-filled ride. Kills has what is likely the highest body count in the entire franchise, it brings back A LOT of supporting characters from Carpenter's 1978 original, and -- of course -- it treats us to another go-round of Jamie Lee Curtis in her most iconic role of Laurie Strode. There's even an extended flashback to 1978 that painstakingly recreates the look and feel of the FIRST night that Michael Myers came home. Is all of that enough to satisfy fans of the long-running franchise and, more importantly, of the film that put John Carpenter on the map? Your humble co-hosts break it down piece-by-piece, from the screenplay to the score to the bigger, badder, meaner tone that allows for brutality and bloodshed that might surprise even a hardened slasher fan. Does this film improve on the one that it (sort of) replaces in the series' continuity, Halloween II? Will fans enjoy the return of characters like Brackett and Tommy Doyle for a four-decades-later showdown with The Shape? And what, exactly, does this film have in common with Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ? All that and more on this very special Halloween episode! Incidentally, we keep the spoilers as limited as possible for most of the episode, but if you're wary of big-time spoiler content, then skip from 1:06:30 to 1:38:30, and you'll be all good! We've got a few last-minute spooky-season movie recommendations for you, too, of course, so enjoy this jam-packed episode, have a very happy Halloween, and don't forget: EVIL DIES TONIGHT!!!

With the long-awaited sequel Halloween Kills hitting theaters and All Hallow's Eve just a few weeks away, it was the perfect time to revisit one of the most high-profile, critically acclaimed, and financially successful remakes of any film in the John Carpenter catalog. 2018's Halloween, directed by David Gordon Green and co-written by Danny McBride, tosses away all of the franchise's continuity after what was established in Carpenter's original, and it attempts to faithfully capture the spirit of the 1978 classic and pick up the story four decades after we left off. How successful is it in doing that, and what's in store for the rest of the trilogy it began? Chris, Nick, and returning guest co-host Alexandra Wiles discuss those questions and many more in a comprehensive breakdown and review of Green's sequel/reboot/homage. We've covered a lot, here -- from the evolution and psychology of Laurie Strode to the (too plentiful?) meta nods to the original film to the music and cinematography that, like a lot of this effort, take inspiration from Carpenter's classic work while catering to a more modern taste in horror cinema. Along with that, we also have some more recommendations for your Halloween movie-viewing month -- and, of course, we'll be back in two weeks to tackle our most highly anticipated horror film of the season, Halloween Kills!

We're back to working our way through John Carpenter's filmography this week, taking a look at the second and final of Carpenter's Masters of Horror episodes. Pro-Life, from the show's second season, features Ron Perlman in a major role and was written by the team that gave us the earlier Carpenter-directed episode Cigarette Burns. Should be great, right? We'll leave you to find out our thoughts on this film -- and we have plenty of them -- but, suffice it to say, this story about a young woman, her fundamentalist father, and the demon baby she's determined to not give birth to is... well, it's not quite what you might expect. Plus: Chris shares his thoughts on the divisive James Wan horror opus Malignant, Nick revisits a classic HBO series with a new movie on the way, and the guys debate Red Letter Media's recent video ranking John Carpenter's films from worst-to-best!

We're back from a brief late-summer hiatus with lots of new music in the John Carpenter universe to talk about! Our "feature presentation" of this episode, so to speak, is a track-by-track breakdown of the recently released tribute album The Way of Darkness, out now on Italian label Rustblade Records. This album features ten tracks of familiar Carpenter tracks from his movie scores and non-film albums, re-imagined and re-recorded by a selection of artists in the electronic music genre -- including two contributions from Claudio Simonetti, keyboardist for the legendary Goblin. It's an under-the-radar release that Chris and Nick have really come to love, and, chances are, if you're a Carpenter fan, you're going to dig it, too! We also discuss the recent remix collaborations between Carpenter and the well-respected synth-rock band Chvrches and, maybe best of all, the brand-new cut "Unkillable" from the original score of the long-awaited Halloween Kills!

What the hell is El Diablo, you ask? Why, it's a made-for-HBO film from 1990 co-written by none other than John Carpenter and Tommy Lee Wallace (as well as Christine screenwriter Bill Phillips). And, at least according to us, it's awesome! This week, Chris and Nick check out a largely forgotten chapter in the history of Carpenter's filmmaking career, a hilarious and surprisingly dark comedy/western featuring Anthony Edwards and Louis Gossett, Jr. -- alongside an impressive supporting cast of familiar faces like Joe Pantoliano, Miguel Sandoval, and John "Gremlins 2" Glover. Carpenter might have passed up the chance to direct this one, but it's not hard to catch a glimpse of the humor, energy, and grit of films like Dark Star and Escape from New York in El Diablo's ACE award-winning script. The film is currently streaming on HBO Max, and we think it's well worth a look! Plus, Chris has an amazing experience with the legendary Bruce Campbell, and Nick salutes a YouTube channel that's dedicated to the most obnoxious actor in action movie history.

Yep, we did it again! After tackling the limp Carpenter retread that was 2005's The Fog, we simply couldn't leave that same year's version of our show's namesake on the table. So, Chris, Nick, and special guest Alexandra Wiles checked out director Jean-Francois Richet's Assault on Precinct 13, and, it turns out, we had a lot to discuss about it! Unlike some remakes, this one at least has the guts to try something different from Carpenter's original, swapping out its L.A. setting for a cold New Year's Eve in the industrial sprawl of Detroit and replacing its iconic cop/criminal duo with a strung-out Ethan Hawke and an ice-cold (and, perhaps, a little too Morpheus-like) Laurence Fishburne. And, this time, it isn't a faceless street gang that lays siege to the derelict police station, and (thankfully?) nobody dies while eating ice cream. But, at any rate, this movie -- which is notably lacking in Carpenter's involvement -- has left us with a lot of questions. Like, is a steady stream of automatic gunfire a good substitute for character development? (Spoiler: it's not). Would this movie be improved by the addition of some familiar faces from other beloved franchises? (Spoiler: it would). And, just how did that remote, moonlit forest suddenly appear in the middle of the Motor City? (Spoiler: we have no f*cking clue). So, join us for an unexpectedly in-depth analysis of this not-quite-classic, plus: Nick throws some shade at the Purge franchise, Alex and Chris celebrate a recent horror sequel that definitely did not suck, and we consider just how many close-range Molotov cocktails constitute overkill.

We're back, and we've got a real barnburner (cigarette burner?) for you this time! Chris, Nick, and returning guest co-host Josh Mosley have A LOT to unpack about John Carpenter's first of two episodes of the sadly defunct Showtime anthology series Masters of Horror. With its In the Mouth of Madness-style plot, its graphic bloodletting, and its unique ideas on the medium of film, Cigarette Burns certainly stands out in the Carpenter filmography -- this is definitely not a case of late-career check-cashing. But, there's often a big difference between "interesting" and "good," and while one of your hosts thinks Cigarette Burns is a masterpiece, there's definitely a strong case that can be (and, over the course of this epic-length episode, is) made that this might not be among the director's strongest work. Hate it or love it, though, this hour-long film  leaves us with all kinds of things to talk about, and we appreciate Josh being in for the long haul!

This week, we're headed back to good old Antonio Bay... But, this time around, it's not quite the same place that John Carpenter introduced us to in his classic 1980 chiller. No, against our better judgment (seriously, this thing has a 4% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes!), we've decided to take a look at director Rupert Wainwright's 2005 remake of The Fog to see if there's anything in it that's worth seeing for die-hard Carpenter fans like ourselves. You'll have to listen to find out, but, as with the movie itself, you're not likely to be shocked. Still, Chris and Nick put their usual level of over-thought into this largely forgotten PG-13 affair, and if nothing else, it's a chance to discuss remakes and reboots of beloved genre films -- some of which really did do some interesting things to justify their existence. We also ponder the question of what the most truly original John Carpenter film might be, celebrate the return of moviegoing in the post-COVID world, and discuss the recent Guardian piece about why Ghosts of Mars might not be so bad, after all.

On our latest episode, it's finally time to take a look at John Carpenter's post-millennial moviemaking career, beginning with his 2001 effort Ghosts of Mars. This sci-fi/action/horror romp marks Carpenter's last foray into directing (relatively) big-budget studio movies to date, and while the film didn't set the world on fire critically or commercially, it did receive a memorable thumbs-up review from Roger Ebert. The film stars Ice Cube and Natasha Henstridge alongside a stacked cast of B-movie favorites -- from Pam Grier to Carpenter regular Peter Jason -- and it puts a high-concept sci-fi spin on a lot of familiar Carpenter ideas: outlaw antiheroes, western movie tropes, Alamo-esque siege situations, and more! At first glance, Ghosts of Mars looks a lot like classic Carpenter -- but, is the final product an unheralded late-career masterpiece, a misfire of epic proportions, a hyper-violent Scooby Doo episode set in space, or something else entirely? Chris and Nick attempt to tackle those questions, and many, many others that this film leaves unanswered, in a discussion that, love the film or hate it, we at least hope gives it its due!

Last episode, we sank our fangs into John Carpenter's late 90s horror/western Vampires, a modest box-office hit that paid tribute to some of the director's biggest cinematic inspirations. In keeping with Carpenter's tradition of not caring all that much about making sequels to his own movies, he handed the reins down to his longtime friend and collaborator Tommy Lee Wallace (director of Halloween III: Season of the Witch) for a direct-to-DVD sequel in 2002. Vampires: Los Muertos takes place in the same blood-soaked, vamp-ridden universe as the first film, but, with none of the original cast returning, this time around it's none other than Jon Bon Jovi in the protagonist role, with a whole new bunch of slayers to back him up. So, does this lower-budget, south of the border-set sequel have anything to offer to fans of the original? Or does it totally, ahem, suck? Chris and Nick tackle those questions, and attempt to figure out the film's not-so-coherent plot, in a discussion that takes a slight detour from the Carpenter filmography into the wild (or, at least, wildly inconsistent) world of DVD-era studio sequel-ization.

It's back to the movies and back to 1998 on the latest Precinct 13, as Chris and Nick sink their fangs into John Carpenter's action/horror/western hybrid, Vampires. Starring James Woods as the leader of a wild bunch of slayers hired by the Catholic church to exterminate the unholy undead, this film was a rare commercial success for Carpenter in the 90s. But, with last-minute studio-imposed budget cuts, a tangle with the MPAA over its bloody mayhem, and the blockbuster Blade breathing down its neck, could this movie live up to the Carpenter classics -- or, at least, to the earlier From Dusk Till Dawn, which covers a lot of the same territory? We've got lots to say about this one -- not all of it positive -- and, along the way, we get into everything from the influence of classic westerns to the crazy "could've beens" on of the casting to the film's uniquely explosive way of dispatching its villainous bloodsuckers. Plus, a few off-the-beaten-path recommendations of genre films that the Carpenter crowd might enjoy, whatever their feelings on this attempted return to form.

This week, it's a first here on Precinct 13: a look at one of John Carpenter's forays into writing for the comics world. The Joker: Year of the Villain #1 is a one-shot entry into the DC Comics canon that Carpenter co-wrote with Borderlands writer Anthony Burch in 2019; it was released right around the same time that movie audiences were turning out en masse to see Joaquin Phoenix's interpretation of the infamous Batman villain. Our discussion of this unique Carpenter work also gets into the larger world of Carpenter comics, the very un-Joker-like portrayals of villainy in his films, and even a member of Batman's "Rogues Gallery" that you may(o) have never heard of! All that, plus a few more of our musings on non-Carpenter horror, from a solid recent sequel to a long-running, low-key franchise to a movie that shows us what The Thing prequel probably should have looked like.

Among the many things we'd been looking forward to in the year of 2021 was the release of Lost Themes III: Alive After Death, the third collection of John Carpenter's original, non-soundtrack musical compositions. And, now that it's here, we can safely say -- and Chris DOES say so, more than once -- that this album is an absolute banger! We got to hear a lot of these tracks when they were released as singles last year, but your humble hosts and Carpenter aficionados think this album is best enjoyed in its entirety. Nick and Chris do another track-by-track review and commentary of this Sacred Bones Records release, and along the way, we imagine the cinematic visions this music might inspire, consider the locked-in groove that Carpenter and his band (son Cody Carpenter and godson Daniel Davies) have established over several albums, and even figure out the correct pronunciation of Moog! Plus, Chris braves the brutal world of Australian horror filmmaker Greg McLean, Nick has a bloody good time with an Italian slasher-movie classic, and we celebrate another one of our favorite cinematic composers, Trent Reznor.

This week, a more in-depth breakdown of John Carpenter's Snake Plissken sequel Escape From L.A., featuring returning guest CoolRogRox -- who previously joined us way back when to talk Escape From New York. A huge fan of the original film since its debut, Rog shares with us his thoughts on the non-blockbuster follow-up that piles on the campy moments and over-the-top FX sequences in an attempt to outdo its cult-classic predecessor. Our discussion stretches from Star Wars prequel trilogy comparisons to the eternal coolness of Bruce Campbell and Peter Fonda to the symbolic implications of Snake Plissken's last American Spirit cigarette. Plus, some consideration of how Escape From L.A. incorporates 90s culture in so many fascinating ways, from its satirical targets to its musical choices to its fixation on "extreme sports" -- and so much more! And, finally, after the guys have worked their way through an episodic, frantic plot that starts with a catastrophic earthquake and concludes with the end of the world as we know it, they give some final thoughts on whether this movie deserves a better reputation and why Carpenter himself thinks it's a better movie than his beloved original.

Yes, you can still call him Snake... But, even though John Carpenter's most beloved B-movie anti-hero returns in the 1996 sequel Escape From L.A., things are definitely not the same (well, unless you're talking about the plot, which is almost exactly the same!). This week, Chris and Nick take a look at the long-awaited follow-up to Carpenter's classic Escape From New York, and we have so many thoughts on this controversial addition to the Carpenter canon that we're just scratching the surface here -- tune in two weeks from now for even more Plissken palaver. For now, though, we take the big-picture view of this fascinating, flawed, and flamboyant slice of 90s CGI-assisted action  insanity, discussing the film's cast and production, its much-discussed visual effects, a unique and diverse score co-written by Carpenter, and lots of ways in which it both echoes and deviates from its predecessor. Along the way, we touch on everything from  inspired soundtrack choices (is that Tool we're hearing???) to Roger Ebert's uncharacteristically positive review to the mortality rate for Snake Plissken sidekicks, which we think is extraordinarily high. Plus, Chris takes a spin through the small but incredible filmography of Robert Eggers, Nick gets lost at sea while remembering 1992's two competing Christopher Columbus movies, and we get amped-up for some future podcasting goodness straight from Carpenter himself!

Back in 2016, John Carpenter and his band embarked on a world tour, performing all the classic cuts from his movie soundtracks as well as a selection of songs from his two Lost Themes albums. Sadly, Chris and Nick missed all of those shows, but the John Carpenter Live Retrospective Blu-Ray from Storm King Productions is as close as we could get to actually being there. For our first episode of 2021, we take a look at this one-of-a-kind concert film, a must-have for fans of John Carpenter's composing and a rare glimpse of John Carpenter, unlikely rock star (for better and, certainly, for worse, this ain't no Coupe De Villes!). Along with our thoughts on that, we also get into the filmographies of two other masters of horror whose careers paralleled Carpenter's in some surprising ways -- and dream up an idea for a concert tour that NEEDS to happen when we can all go see live music again! 

This week, Chris and Nick take a break from their regularly scheduled programming to share some holiday cheer from the most unexpected of places! Back in 1986, John Carpenter's band, featuring his friends and fellow filmmakers Tommy Lee Wallace and Nick Castle, filmed a music video for their end-credits theme to Big Trouble in Little China... and it is, in our humble opinion, the greatest thing ever. We love it so much, in fact, that we've decided that discussing it is the perfect way to end the craziest year in recent memory. This video has nothing whatsoever to do with the holidays, but its joyful cheesiness and rad 80s style is sure to brighten any Carpenter fan's season as 2020 draws to a close. We even (poorly) attempt a live commentary, so be sure to cue the clip up on YouTube and follow along (and, while you're there, definitely check out the hilarious comments, as well)! Happy holidays and a VERY happy New Year, and we'll see you in 2021!

Oh, the HUMANITY! This week, Chris and Nick welcome back their old buddy Brian Verderosa to discuss John Carpenter's sci-fi/horror remake Village of the Damned, a movie with no shortage of creepy kids, unintentional camp, or lovely northern California locations to its credit. Arriving hot on the heels of Carpenter's boundary-pushing Lovecraftian meta-nightmare In the Mouth of Madness, this film is one of the director's least-loved works, but it does reunite him with cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe, supporting players Peter Jason and George Buck Flower, and some of the settings of 1980's The Fog. Can we find anything to recommend in a movie that even Carpenter himself has expressed his disdain for? Is the film a worthwhile end to the incredible screen career of its late, beloved star Christopher Reeve? And, just how cute is that alien baby in the jar? The answer to those questions, and many more, can be found in this 90s-centric episode, and, speaking of answering questions, we've got a pretty cool prize to give away to one of our movie-loving listeners -- so, stay tuned to see how you can score a Reel Trivia 2021 calendar to keep your cinema knowledge sharp in the new year!

As promised, we're not done with Sutter Cane yet... or, maybe, he's not done with us! In the second episode of our two-part discussion of John Carpenter's modern horror classic In the Mouth of Madness, we welcome actor, podcaster and Carpenter fan Justin Dane to the show to help us sort all of this insanity out. Our deep dive into the final entry in the "Apocalypse Trilogy" covers everything from the film's Lovecraft references to its still-impressive VFX to the killer Sam Neill performance that holds it all together. We also grill Justin on his favorite John Carpenter films and characters, consider the questionable acting chops of Stephen King, and finally figure out just what the hell is up with that creepy-looking kid on the bicycle. 

It's time to give the ol' double-episode treatment to another John Carpenter classic: 1994's In the Mouth of Madness. After celebrating Halloween with a pair of special holiday episodes, Chris and Nick are back to their regularly scheduled programming, breaking down the truly unique horror film that asks viewers, "Lived any good books lately?" On the first of our two-part conversation on this reality-warping, mind-bending, Lovecraft-worshiping movie, we take a look at the film's development and the talent-stacked cast and crew it managed to land, consider its place as the capper of the loosely connected "Apocalypse Trilogy," discuss its literary influences and homages to H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King, and MUCH more. For anyone who thought the most terrifying things that Sam Neill had ever encountered on screen were rampaging raptors or a spaceship from hell, well, you ain't seen nothing yet!

Halloween is here once again, and while the season is still in full swing, we thought we'd take a look at a John Carpenter-produced sequel that (temporarily, at least) took his beloved horror franchise into entirely new territory. Halloween III: Season of the Witch, directed by Carpenter's regular collaborator Tommy Lee Wallace, might be one of the kookiest big-studio horror films ever made, kicking Michael Myers to the curb and replacing him with something altogether unexpected. Chris and Nick explore this wild and crazy corner of the extended Carpenter universe (featuring another killer musical score co-written by J.C. and more terrific cinematography by future Oscar-winner Dean Cundey), and make some futile attempts at solving its many mysteries. What mysteries, you ask? Well, for starters, what kind of drugs were the writers of this film on (and, where can we get some)? What, exactly, is the movie's villain -- the somewhat Willy Wonka-esque Conal Cochran -- trying to accomplish with his sinister plot to gruesomely murder America's children on Halloween night? And, um, how does middle-aged Tom Atkins keep ending up in bed with attractive, much younger women in all of these Carpenter movies? Maybe a content warning is in order, here: this episode contains A LOT more profanity than your average Precinct 13  outing, but we think it's pretty well justified -- this movie isn't just crazy, it's f*cking crazy.  Anyway, we've got all of that, plus a few more recommendations for your spooky seasonal viewing pleasure, on a very special Halloween episode -- put on your Silver Shamrock mask and enjoy!

The Halloween season is upon us yet again, and we simply couldn't let it pass without checking in on the long-running horror franchise that John Carpenter launched over 40 years ago. This week, it's back to good old Haddonfield as Chris and Nick revisit 1981's Halloween II, the first sequel to Carpenter's genre-defining classic. While directorial duties were handed over to first-timer Rick Rosenthal, Carpenter and Debra Hill returned (somewhat reluctantly) as screenwriters and producers; the film also features returning cast members Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, and Charles Cyphers, another classic Carpenter score (this time, with the assistance of frequent collaborator Alan Howarth), and the incredible cinematography of future Oscar-winner Dean Cundey. The movie picks up right where Carpenter's original leaves off, but as much as we love Michael Myers, we have to ask: did we really need to see MORE of the night he came home? We've got a lot of thoughts about this slasher sequel, as well as some other favorite horror franchises, in a special episode that we hope brings a little bit of normalcy to what will definitely go down as one of the scariest Halloween seasons in memory.

We're back to discuss another collection of John Carpenter's original musical compositions, the 2016 Sacred Bones release Lost Themes II. Like the first Lost Themes album, this one features songs that aren't tied to any of Carpenter's film projects -- though anyone who loves his film-scoring work will likely find a lot to love across these 11 tunes. Chris and Nick break the album down track-by-track, discussing Carpenter's composing, instrumentation, and influences -- and considering the amazing unmade films that this very cinematic music might have soundtracked. Plus, what we're currently watching on Shudder and what we have planned for the Halloween season ahead!

After the disappointing returns of his big-studio effort Memoirs of an Invisible Man, John Carpenter briefly returned to television for a Showtime anthology film, seemingly designed to cash in on the popularity of HBO's Tales from the Crypt. 1993's Body Bags was a  particularly fun entry in the filmography for Chris and Nick to discuss -- it includes two segments directed by Carpenter (plus a third by his fellow 70s genre auteur Tobe Hooper) and, even better, features the filmmaker/composer in a rare on-screen appearance as the mortician who hosts the show!  We even get cameo appearances from the likes of Wes Craven, Sam Raimi, Debbie Harry, Greg Nicotero, and lots of others (not to mention Mark Hamill in a REAL change-of-pace role from his Skywalker persona). So, yeah, lots to talk about with this one! Plus, we continue to shill for Shudder, Nick watches some cartoons, and there's even a little Stephen King talk to round things out. 

We've covered a lot of Carpenter classics on this show thus far, and now it's time to take a look at one of his less-loved efforts. 1992's Memoirs of an Invisible Man was a project that star Chevy Chase had been attempting to get off the ground for years, and after passing through the hands of directors Ivan Reitman and Richard Donner, the film became Carpenter's return to the screen after his longest hiatus to date. So, does this sci-fi star vehicle (also featuring Daryl Hannah and pre-Jurassic Park Sam Neill) deserve the bum rap it received from critics and audiences? Chris and Nick chew over that question and many more,  and you might be surprised with some of their conclusions on a movie that may very well still be worth a watch! 

How's this for a change of pace: this week, we're talking about two films that John Carpenter didn't direct! However, both 1978's Eyes of Laura Mars and 1986's Black Moon Rising began their existence as Carpenter screenplays (both, eventually, re-worked by other writers), and we'd be missing out on a lot of Carpenter completionist cred if we didn't check them out!  In a discussion that somehow ends up winding its way through early 80s west coast punk rock, the recent Suspiria remake, and the magnificent (and persistent!) uni-brow of Mr. Tommy Lee Jones, Chris and Nick seek out the nuggets of quintessential Carpenter in these two VHS-era movies -- and consider whether they're essential viewing for the filmmaker's fans.  

This week, we're firing up the Wayback Machine for a look at the very beginnings of John Carpenter's film career. As a student at USC in the late 60s/early 70s, Carpenter wrote and directed the bizarre comedy/horror short Captain Voyeur, and he followed it up by collaborating (as co-writer, editor, and composer) on the Academy Award-winning The Resurrection of Broncho Billy. After our marathon look at They Live, and before we tackle Carpenter's still-prolific 1990s, we thought we'd study some of his most notable student work to see if the seeds of his later successes can be found there. The answer? Kinda sorta, we guess? At any rate, we thought it would be fun to analyze his pre-Dark Star output, and with both films available for viewing on YouTube, you can check them out, too! Plus, we give Carpenter's unexpected (and awesome) new musical compositions, Skeleton and Unclean Spirit, a listen, and ponder what Carpenter's lockdown life has been like.

Sorry for the delay on this episode... we seem to have run out of bubblegum. But, for those who've been patiently waiting for the conclusion of our discussion of Carpenter's 1988 sci-fi/action satire They Live, we've got a whole lot of show for you! This week, Chris and Nick break the film down beat-by-beat, with an eye on its sharp character moments, the witty critiques of 80s-era media and consumer culture, that deservedly famous fight scene between "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Keith David, and SO much more! We can just about guarantee that, no matter how big a fan of this cult classic you are, we've singled out some things that you've never even thought about before -- you'll never see that garbage truck scene the same way again. Put your sunglasses on and enjoy! And, please join us in two weeks (we promise!) for a very special episode that takes us back to the very beginning of Carpenter's filmmaker career.

Well, how about that... we seem to be all out of bubblegum. Only one thing left to do, then! This week, Chris and Nick put the glasses on and take a look under the surface of Carpenter's paranoid 1988 sci-fi/action flick, They Live. In the first of two episodes on this much-discussed, still relevant satire of consumerism and the evils of media technology, we explore some of the film's subversive and daring themes, the cast and crew of returning Carpenter regulars and welcome new faces, and the period in Carpenter's career where he truly called all of the shots. And, as always, we consider J.C.'s musical contribution to the film (his last score with frequent collaborator Alan Howarth), its influential aesthetics and design, and just how much of a stone-cold badass co-star Keith David is. Plus, we've got some plans for new content that we'd like to share! Check it out, and join us in two weeks for an even deeper dive into the  film that taught us just how much fun an endlessly drawn-out hand-to-hand fight sequence could be!

Is 1987's Prince of Darkness one of the most underrated and overlooked films in the John Carpenter canon? Or does this smaller-budget but thematically ambitious tale about science, religion, and bicycle impalements not quite hit the sweet spot of cinematic craft and outright horror that, by the late 80s, we knew was well within his wheelhouse? Chris and Nick wrestle with these questions, and many more, in an exploration of a movie that might not have won over the box office or the critics, but undoubtedly contains some of the craziest and most fascinating stuff Carpenter has ever put on film. With a cast of returning players (More Donald Pleasance! Back-to-back Victor Wong and Dennis Dun!), the debut of a longtime collaborator in cinematographer Gary B. Kibbe, and thematic echoes of everything from Assault on Precinct 13 to The Thing, we've got a lot to talk about with this one! Plus: Chris sings the praises of a definitive documentary on 80s horror, Nick has some thoughts on the video games inspired by the Carpenter filmography, and we look ahead to the kick-ass (and chew bubblegum) follow-up,They Live.

The Porkchop Express rolls on in part two of our discussion of Carpenter's action/comedy cult classic Big Trouble in Little China! Picking up where they left off (after catching up on a bit of quarantine film-viewing), Chris and Nick explore the bizarrely wonderful back half of Big Trouble, which features some of the wildest moments in the entire Carpenter canon. Along the way, the guys also pay tribute to some of the amazing character actors and art department personnel that helped make this film pop off the screen. Plus, Nick finally gets to talk about that amazing set on which the film's insanely over-the-top climatic battle takes place (is it just us, or does David Lo Pan have one of the greatest villain lairs ever?). 

It's cult-classic time once again here on Precinct 13, and this week, Chris and Nick are jumping aboard the Porkchop Express for part one of a two-part discussion of Carpenter's mid-eighties action-comedy Big Trouble in Little China. You know the deal: Kurt Russell stars as trucker Jack Burton in a wildly colorful movie that goes so far over-the-top with its martial arts and mystical mayhem, it's almost too much to absorb in a single sitting. For part one of our exploration of Big Trouble, we take a look at the film's pre-production challenges (at one point, this movie was going to fit into another genre entirely!), the introduction of Russell's bumbling hero and his much-more-competent companions, and the influence of both Hong Kong action cinema and the silent comedy tradition. Oh, and there's also another iconic Carpenter musical score, cinematographer Dean Cundey's dazzling return to the filmography, a future Sex and the City  co-star who lands one of the best character names in the Carpenter canon... We've got a lot to talk about with this one (and, don't worry, we promise we'll get to Al Leong next episode!).

We're back, and with quarantine still in place, we've had a lot of time on our hands. So, what a great opportunity to really soak up some instrumental John Carpenter compositions from his 2015 album Lost Themes! Track-by-track, Chris and Nick break down the album of all-original Carpenter music (none of which has been heard in his, or anyone else's, films), and it's a must-listen for those who love his iconic scoring work on movies such as Halloween and Assault on Precinct 13. We also recap some of our quarantine film viewing and discuss some of our favorite film composers of this generation -- many of whom have some distinctive John Carpenter influences of their own. (Apologies for the sound quality not being quite up to our usual standard -- Nick's mic crapped out, and he's pretty heartbroken about that -- but we'll be back at 100% by our next episode on Big Trouble in Little China!)

At long last, we're back in action to discuss John Carpenter's 1984 romantic sci-fi road movie Starman -- and we've brought along our ol' podcasting pal, Brian Verderosa, to help us sort through this very unique addition to the Carpenter canon. While the first decade of the director's career was marked by thrills, chills, and dark humor, with Starman, Carpenter shows his sentimental side; yes, there's an extraterrestrial visitor, here, but this movie is about as far from The Thing as it gets.  Did your hosts find the film as heartwarming as it clearly intends to be? Did Jeff Bridges deserve the Oscar nomination that he earned for playing the title character? And, just what's up with those magical balls? All that and much, much more on the latest Precinct 13!

Buckle up and crank that old time rock 'n roll, Stephen King fans, because it's time to tackle John Carpenter's adaptation of the killer-car novel Christine. On this episode, King expert Josh Mosley joins Chris and Nick to discuss Carpenter's comeback film after the box-office disappointment of his magnum opus, The Thing. Is the cinematic Master of Horror up to the task of bringing King's wildly popular work to the screen? Or does the film, about a 50s-vintage Plymouth Fury that's as evil as it is beautiful, belong in the junk pile behind Darnell's garage? We have some thoughts on where this movie stands in both the Carpenter canon and the pantheon of Stephen King films, and we also run down some of Christine's most memorable moments -- much like Christine herself runs down anyone who crosses nerd-turned-badass Arnie Cunningham!

We're back to wrap up our two-part discussion of one of the all-time great Carpenter films, 1982's The Thing! This time around, we take a look at the film's chilling second half, from the infamous "defibrillator" sequence to the most terrifying blood test in movie history to the brilliant ending that drives home the film's themes of both apocalyptic despair and -- perhaps surprisingly -- sacrifice and brotherhood in the face of unimaginable evil. We also discuss the film's box-office disappointment and its effects on Carpenter's later career, as well as the much-deserved cult following that began to spring up as The Thing caught up with audiences in the VHS era. Even with a much-discussed remake on the horizon, this classic will always hold a special place in Chris and Nick's hearts (after all, man IS the warmest place to hide!), and we're excited to return to it one more time before tackling the rest of Carpenter's fascinating 1980s output.

It's the dead of winter, and what better movie to, er, celebrate the season with than Carpenter's snowbound sci-fi/horror masterpiece, The Thing? Chris and Nick have been eagerly anticipating the chance to discuss this film (Nick's favorite entry in the Carpenter canon), and on this episode, they tackle The Thing's origins, its themes of paranoia and isolation, and -- of course -- the incredible visual effects that can make even modern audiences squirm. This week's episode focuses on the first half of the film, where its bleak worldview, memorable cast of characters, and endlessly shape-shifting creature are established, and, next time around, we'll tackle the film's spectacular second half, the effect its release had on Carpenter's career, and the cult-classic status it took decades to develop. You knew we'd have a lot to say about this one, so bundle up and join us -- and, yes, we promise it's really us!

We just can't get enough of Snake Plissken here at Precinct 13, so this week, Nick and Chris are back to continue our discussion of Carpenter's 1981 classic Escape From New York. This time around, we discuss the film's casting (and what it might have been like without star Kurt Russell), explore some thematic ideas that link Escape to the previous entries in the Carpenter canon, take a look at critics' opinions of the film both then and now, and delve a bit further into the film's cinematography, production design, pacing, and -- of course -- that rockin' synth score (sorry, RedLetterMedia, but we love it!). 

2020 is here, and as we kick off the new decade, it's time to tackle the amazing run of films that characterized John Carpenter's most successful decade of moviemaking. Guest co-host CoolRogRox joins Chris and Nick for the first half of our wide-ranging discussion of Escape from New York, the movie that introduced the world to Kurt Russell's all-time-great action antihero Snake Plissken. This week, we touch on everything from the film's almost comically bleak depiction of dystopian future America to its amazing poster art, innovative visual effects, classic supporting characters, and much, MUCH more. Strap on your favorite eyepatch, keep an eye out for landmines, and give it a listen!

The holidays have come, and... well, alright, John Carpenter's 1980 horror outing The Fog has absolutely nothing to do with this season, but who needs the holiday spirit when you've got vengeful spirits raising hell for Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, and an all-star cast of Carpenter regulars? Chris, Nick, and returning guest co-host Megan Mosely break down the supernatural thriller that marks something like an "official" follow-up to Halloween, features some of the finest cinematography and scoring in the entire Carpenter canon, and kicks off the filmmaker's most memorable decade in style. And, this being as close to a holiday special as we're going to get, we even take a moment to discuss what a John Carpenter Christmas film might look like. Check it out, have a wonderful holiday season, and we'll talk to you in 2020!

Chris and Nick check in to the Heartbreak Hotel for a discussion of John Carpenter's 1979 made-for-TV film Elvis, which marks the first collaboration between Carpenter and his ride-or-die leading man, Kurt Russell. Does Kurt have the chops to portray The King both as an up-and-coming young star AND as a middle-aged music icon who's well past his prime? Can Carpenter successfully pivot from innovative genre fare into much more conventional TV-movie territory? And, how excited are we to see Carpenter regular Charles Cyphers show up as the record producer who gives Elvis Presley his big break? Give this one a listen and find out, J.C. fans -- and, don't worry, it's a whole lot shorter than the movie!

We're switching things up a little bit this week, taking a step back from our discussion of Carpenter's film-directing career to focus on a 2017 album that showcases his talents as a composer. Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998 features re-recorded and newly orchestrated versions of a large selection of classic Carpenter movie themes, with musical support from his son, Cody Carpenter, and godson, Daniel Davies. Chris and Nick break it all down track-by-track and discuss Carpenter's stylistic choices, his off-the-cuff way of composing, and his uncanny ability to conjure up atmosphere that's perfectly suited to his films.

This week, Chris and Nick take a look at one of John Carpenter's more obscure early works, the 1978 made-for-TV thriller Someone's Watching Me!  The film premiered just one week after Carpenter's breakthrough hit Halloween arrived in theaters, though he actually made this one first -- and, as your humble hosts are quick to point out, it's filled with small glimpses of the masterful suspense and superb visual storytelling to come. That's not to say that Someone's Watching Me! is one of Carpenter's finest, but it does feature some great performances (including those of star Lauren Hutton and Carpenter's soon-to-be wife, Adrienne Barbeau), a nifty setting, and some pointed commentary on sexism in the TV news industry (seriously, there are moments in this movie that would make Ron Burgundy blush!). Join us as we break down the film's most distinctly Carpenter-esque setpieces, consider the constraints that the writer/director faced in working within the boundaries of acceptable TV content, and rejoice at the sight of a beloved Seinfeld supporting player who unexpectedly shows up halfway through the movie!

As promised, we're back with another episode on Carpenter's horror masterpiece Halloween, just in time for All Hallow's Eve -- and, this time, we've also welcomed to the show our very first guest co-host, Halloween franchise devotee Megan Moseley! Chris, Nick, and Megan go in-depth on some of their favorite shots, sequences, subtleties, and scares in a wide-ranging discussion that covers the multitude of reasons why this 1978 film is a cut above the slasher-film genre it pioneered. Plus, a way-too-detailed analysis of the crane shot in the film's opening sequence, a (somewhat) spirited defense of some late entries in the long-running franchise, an appreciation of the late, great Donald Pleasance, and much, MUCH more! Happy Halloween, and remember -- the boogeyman is out there!