 Assault on Precinct 13 1976  R, 90 min.
Genre: Action / Drama / Mystery / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Austin Stoker, Laurie Zimmer, Tony Burton, Nancy Kyes, Darwin Joston, Martin West, Marc Ross, Charles Cyphers, Henry Brandon, Peter Bruni, John J. Fox, Frank Doubleday, Alan Koss, Kim Richards, Gilbert De la Pena
A street gang is trying to get revenge on the man who shot some of their gang members after they accidentally shot his daughter. The father of the dead girl runs into the police station for help, but the police station is about to be closed, and only policeman Ethan Bishop (Austin Stoker) and two secretaries (Laurie Zimmer and Nancy Kyes) are inside with a few prisoners. Now the station is under siege, and war results between the two forces. This movie is surprisingly thoughtful in its treatment of its adversaries.
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 Big Trouble in Little China 1986 PG-13, 100 min.
Genre: Action / Comedy / Adventure / Fantasy / Romance
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Dun, James Hong, Victor Wong, Kate Burton, Suzee Pai, Donald Li, Carter Wong, Peter Kwong, James Pax, Chao Li Chi, Jeff Imada, Rummel Mor, Craig Ng
This funny satire follows truck driver Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) who takes his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun) to the airport to pick up his fiancee Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) and finds himself in the middle of a Chinese gang war. The gang kidnaps Miao because the ghost of Chinese warlord Lo Pan (James Hong) must marry her in order to regain his physical form. John goes beneath the streets of San Francisco and encounters some strange creatures while trying to rescue Miao. High-tech action.
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Body Bags 1993  R, 92 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper
Cast: John Carpenter, Robert Carradine, Alex Datcher, Wes Craven, Sam Raimi, Stacy Keach, David Warner, Deborah Harry, Mark Hamill, John Agar
John Carpenter is the coroner-host of this made-for-TV trio of horror/comedy stories. 1. A killer is on the loose, and the gas station attendant is worried about it as various odd-balls pass by. 2. A man is concerned over his hair loss and tries out a very strange clinic. 3. A baseball player is in a car accident, receives an eye transplant, and what he sees is bad indeed. Carpenter is a hilarious host with lots of cameos–including Roger Corman.
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 Christine 1983   R, 116 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Harry Dean Stanton, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky, Christine Belford, Kelly Preston, Roberts Blossom
John Carpenter directed this film based on Stephen King's novel about a teenage dweebe who buys a 1958 Plymouth Fury, "Christine," in hopes of impressing the girls. Christine, however, has a mind of her own and has a very nasty way of showing it, especially when her owner starts dating the prettiest girl in school. Scary stuff.
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Dark Star 1973 G, 83 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Brian Narelle, Cal Kuniholm, Dre Pahich, Dan O'Bannon, Joe Sanders, Michael Shaw, Miles Watkins
John Carpenter's directorial debut is a spoof of "2001." Four astronauts on a mission to blow up planets that are in the way of a proposed transportation route are bored and tired of the trip, having been out for 20 years. The Captain is in deep freeze, but the computer can use his brain for advice. Other than that, there are a lot of odd-ball goings on, even a "smart" bomb that may be too smart. The film was started when Carpenter was a student, and he expanded on it as funds became available. Unfortunately, not many funds came available, but it is still fun.
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 Elvis 1979 TV, 118 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Shelley Winters, Bing Russell, Robert Gray, Season Hubley, Pat Hingle, Melody Anderson, Ed Begley Jr., James Canning, Charles Cyphers
The TV ratings went through the roof for this film's premiere on February 11, 1979. It is a good account of Elvis' life from boyhood through his 1969 Las Vegas comeback. Excellent voice dubbing of songs by Ronnie McDowell.
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 Escape from L.A. 1996 R, 100 min.
Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Stacy Keach, Steve Buscemi, Georges Corraface, Peter Fonda, Pam Grier, Cliff Robertson, A.J. Langer, Valeria Golino, Bruce Campbell, Michelle Forbes, Jeff Imada, Ina Romeo, Peter Jason, Jordan Baker
It is the year 2013, and Los Angeles has suffered a catastrophic earthquake and has become a virtual island. Now, the U. S. President's daughter, Utopia (A.J. Langer), has hijacked Air Force Three and heads for Los Angeles with a black box on board the plane that contains codes for controlling energy satellites. Kurt Russell resumes his role (from 1981's "Escape from New York") as hero Snake Plissken whose mission is to save the world.
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 Escape from New York 1981 R, 97 min.
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Van Cleef, Donald Pleasence, Harry Dean Stanton, Isaac Hayes, Season Hubley, Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Charles Cyphers, Frank Doubleday, John Stobel, Bob Minor, John Diehl, George "Buck" Flower
Set in 1997, this is the story of the skyjacking of Air Force One resulting in the President of the United States (Donald Pleasence) being held hostage. Master criminal and war hero Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) is sent into the Manhattan stronghold to rescue the President.
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 The Fog 1980 R, 91 min.
Genre: Fantasy / Horror / Thriller / Mystery
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Adrienne Barbeau, Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Houseman, Tom Atkins, Nancy Kyes, Charles Cyphers, George "Buck" Flower, Jim Haynie, James Canning, Ty Mitchell, John F. Goff, Regina Waldon, Darrow Igus
Residents of a California seaside town, Antonio Bay, are terrorized when an ominous fog carries in ghosts from a shipwreck. The residents–Councilwoman Kathy Williams (Janet Leigh), young Nick (Tom Atkins), teenager Elizabeth (Jamie Lee Curtis), and priest Fr. Malone (Hal Holbrook)–hear the news from local newscaster Stevie Wayne (Adrienne Barbeau) and piece together clues that reveal the ghosts have arrived because of what the city fathers did to them 100 years ago when they murdered a group of lepers and sent their bodies adrift in the ocean. Now, the ghosts have arrived in the middle of a dense fog to seek revenge.
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 Ghosts of Mars 2001  R, 98 min.
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Horror / Thriller
aka: John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Ice Cube, Natasha Henstridge, Pam Grier, Clea DuVall, Jason Statham, Liam Waite, Joanna Cassidy, Wanda De Jesus, Duane Davis, Lobo Sebastian, Richard Centrone, Rosemary Forsyth, Rodney A. Grant, Peter Jason, Doug McGrath
A Martian, intergalactic policewoman Melanie Ballard (Natasha Henstridge), leads a team transporting a killer (Ice Cube) from a mining outpost jail to the capital city for trial. But plans go awry when the team discovers that colonists at the outpost are now possessed by evil Martian ghosts.
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 Halloween 1978  R, 90 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller / Sci-Fi
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles, Charles Cyphers, Kyle Richards, Brian Andrews, Arthur Malet, Tony Moran, John Michael Graham, Nancy Stephens, Mickey Yablans, Robert Phalen, Brent Le Page, Adam Hollander
After stabbing his sister to death and then being institutionalized for 15 years, Michael Meyers (Tony Moran) escapes and returns to the scene of the crime for some more good old fashion killing on, you guessed it, Halloween. His psychiatrist Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasence) is in hot pursuit while Michael spends the day trailing teenager Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her friends Lynda (P.J. Soles) and Annie (Nancy Kyes) around their Illinois town. Laurie has no date for Halloween and takes a baby sitting job while her friends plan on a night of frolic in the house across the street. Laurie spends a quiet evening–until she becomes suspicious and heads across the street to the dark party house. Terrifying! This low budget film spawned several sequels.
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In the Mouth of Madness 1995 R, 94 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jurgen Prochnow, Charlton Heston, David Warner, Frances Bay, Peter Jason, John Glover, Bernie Casey
No one believes John Trent (Sam Neill) when he raves on about an evil force. Trent had been an insurance investigator, but he ran into some bad luck at Hobbs End–in the form of a MONSTER!
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Memoirs of an Invisible Man 1992 PG-13, 99 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Chevy Chase, Daryl Hannah, Sam Neill, Michael McKean, Stephen Tobolowsky, Jim Norton, Pat Skipper, Rosalind Chao, Paul Perri, Richard Epcar
After a bizarre accident, Nick Holloway becomes invisible, and a corrupt government agent has devious plans to take advantage of his condition.
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Network 1976 R, 120 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Sidney Lumet
Cast: Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, Robert Duvall, Beatrice Straight, Ned Beatty, Wesley Addy, Arthur Burghardt, Darryl Hickman, Lane Smith, Bill Burrows, John Carpenter, Jordan Charney, Kathy Cronkite, Ed Crowley
The United Broadcasting System decides to fire its dean of newscasters, Howard Beale (Peter Finch). His friend, network executive Max Schumacher (William Holden), announces that Beale is being fired, and Beale responds by telling the audience that he will be committing suicide on the next show. The head of the network, Frank Hackett (Robert Duvall), wants to get rid of Beale immediately–until he realizes that the network will have the highest ratings ever when Beale commits suicide on the air–and programming exec Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) talks him into airing the show. The show goes on, but Hackett does not commit suicide and, instead, announces, "I'm mad as Hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" He is suffering a nervous breakdown, but the ratings of his television news show skyrocket, and Hackett becomes a TV icon. This film provides great satire on the greed inherent in television networks as they fight for top ratings. Oscars were won by Faye Dunaway (Best Actress), Peter Finch (Best Actor), and Beatrice Straight (Best Supporting Actress). Six nominations were also received, including Best Picture, Actor (William Holden), Supporting Actor (Ned Beatty) and Director.
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Prince of Darkness 1987 R, 102 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jameson Parker, Victor Wong, Lisa Blount, Dennis Dun, Susan Blanchard, Anne Marie Howard, Ann Yen, Peter Jason, Jesse Lawrence Ferguson, Ken Wright, Dirk Blocker, Robert Grasmere, Thom Bray, Joanna Merlin
A priest (Donald Pleasence) learns of the existence of a large tube, with green swirling fluid, in the cellar of an old church. The priest, a physicist friend, and two graduate students stay in the church to uncover the truth behind the fluid. The truth is that the devil has been "sleeping" for thousands of years and now is the time to awaken. John Carpenter all the way.
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Starman 1984 PG, 115 min.
Genre: Adventure / Sci-Fi / Drama / Romance
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen, Ted White, M.C. Gainey, George "Buck" Flower, Mickey Jones, Lu Leonard, Tony Edwards, John Walter Davis, Sean Stanek, David Wells, Dirk Blocker
Starman (Jeff Bridges) comes to Earth with the mission of learning about the civilization of Earth's human beings and to give a message of peace. He takes on the form of Jenny Hayden's (Karen Allen) deceased husband. At first, Jenny's response is fear, which changes to love when she takes Starman to the Nevada desert where he plans to depart Earth. Along the way, they unite against National Security Council agent George Fox (Richard Jaeckel), and Jenny helps Starman reach his fellow aliens who pick him up and take him home. Bridges was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.
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They Live 1988 R, 97 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi / Action / Horror / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Roddy Piper, Keith David, Meg Foster, George "Buck" Flower, Peter Jason, Raymond St. Jacques, Jason Robards III, John Lawrence, Susan Barnes, Sy Richardson, Wendy Brainard, Lucille Meredith, Norman Alden, Susan Blanchard, Dana Bratton
A drifter, Nada (Roddy Piper), finds a special pair of sunglasses that allows him to see the "real" world. One such sight is that, supposedly, human beings are, in fact, aliens behind a massive plot to subdue the humans. Can he do something about it? A poor make-up job on the aliens is but one of the flaws of this film; however, it's good fun. From the mouth of our hero: "I have come here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum."
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The Thing 1982 R, 108 min.
Genre: Horror / Sci-Fi / Mystery / Thriller
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Richard Dysart, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Richard Mazur, Donald Moffat, Charles Hallahan, Keith David, Peter Maloney, Thomas G. Waites, Joel Polis, Norbert Weisser, Larry J. Franco, Nate Irwin
In this remake of the 1951 film, an American scientific expedition, whose 12 members include MacReady (Kurt Russell) and Copper (Richard Dysart) goes to Antarctica and finds a spaceship embedded in the ice. Strange occurrences begin, and it is soon evident that the expedition is in deep trouble when The Thing appears, and it becomes evident that The Thing can mutate into anyone that it kills. Lots of gory special effects.
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 Vampires 1998 R, 104 min.
Genre: Horror / Thriller / Action
aka: John Carpenter's Vampires
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Tim Guinee, Maximilian Schell, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Mark Boone Junior, Thomas Rosales Jr., Gregory Sierra, Mark Sivertsen, Henry Kingi, Clarke Coleman, David Rowden, John Furlong
To avenge his parents' murders by vampires, Jack Crow (James Woods) hunts vampires. One night, master vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) appears and wipes out most of Crow's team of vampire hunters. Crow knows that something big is up because Valek knew his name. Now, Crow and his friend Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) use vampire-bitten Katrina (Sheryl Lee) as a decoy and enlist the aid of Father Adam Guitean (Tim Guinee) in finding the Black Cross to end the killings.
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 Village of the Damned 1995 R, 96 min.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Christopher Reeve, Kirstie Alley, Lindsey Haun, Linda Kozlowski, Michael Pare, Mark Hamill, Meredith Salenger, George "Buck" Flower, Thomas Dekker
This is a remake of the 1960 movie about a group of women in town who give birth to telepathic, evil children. Leave it to John Carpenter to add some "different" touches.
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| 1. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
2. Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
3. Body Bags (1993)
4. Christine (1983)
5. Dark Star (1973)
6. Elvis (1979)
7. Escape from L.A. (1996)
8. Escape from New York (1981)
9. The Fog (1980)
10. Ghosts of Mars (2001)
aka: John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars
11. Halloween (1978)
12. In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
13. Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992)
14. Network (1976)
15. Prince of Darkness (1987)
16. Starman (1984)
17. They Live (1988)
18. The Thing (1982)
19. Vampires (1998)
aka: John Carpenter's Vampires
20. Village of the Damned (1995)
In The News
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