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.
Known For | Directing |
---|---|
Most Rating | 16.895 |
Birthday | 1948-01-16 |
Place of Birth | Carthage, New York, USA |
Also Known As | Martin Quatermass, Frank Armitage, John T. Chance, Rip Haight, John Howard Carpenter, ジョン・カーペンター, ジョン・ハワード・カーペンター, 존 카펜터, 约翰·卡朋特, |
1978
Halloween
7.555/5298
Fifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween Night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddon...
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Halloween
1994
The Silence of the Hams
4.9/175
The federal agent Joe Dee Foster is currently investigating a serial killer, helped by doctor Animal who is isolated in a maximum security jail.
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The Silence of the Hams
2005
The Perfect Scary Movie
7.5/2
A documentary looking at the various conventions and scare techniques of the horror genre.
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The Perfect Scary Movie
1993
Body Bags
6.2/306
A woman working the late shift at a gas station while a killer is on the loose; a man who can't stand the thought of losing his hair; a baseball playe...
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Body Bags
2009
Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
6.6/63
An exploration of the appeal of horror films, with interviews of many legendary directors in the genre.
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Nightmares in Red, White and Blue
2008
Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown
7.2/44
A chronicle of the life, work and mind that created the Cthulhu mythos.
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Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown
2009
Tales from the Script
6.7/38
Shane Black ("Lethal Weapon"), John Carpenter ("Halloween"), Frank Darabont ("The Shawshank Redemption"), William Goldman ("The Princess Bride"), Paul...
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Tales from the Script
2008
Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
7/4
This documentary delves into the art of make-up effects with industry legends Dick Smith, Rob Bottin, Tom Savini, John Landis, Frank Darabont, Joe Dan...
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Fantastic Flesh: The Art of Make-Up EFX
1976
Assault on Precinct 13
7.3/1014
The lone inhabitants of an abandoned police station are under attack by the overwhelming numbers of a seemingly unstoppable street gang.
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Assault on Precinct 13
2004
John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies
5.5/8
Chronicles the work of cult director John Carpenter through interviews with him and his associates, with emphases on the earlier work.
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John Carpenter: The Man and His Movies
2006
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
6.8/78
This historical and critical look at slasher films, which includes dozens of clips, begins with Halloween, Friday the 13th, and Prom Night. The films'...
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Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
1998
The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
7.5/26
An in-depth look at the making of John Carpenter's cult classic sci-fi horror The Thing, telling the story of a group of researchers in Antarctica who...
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The Thing: Terror Takes Shape
2010
Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star
4.6/4
Exploring the controversial story behind John Carpenter (Halloween & The Thing) and writer Dan O Bannon's (Alien & Return of the Living Dead)...
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Let There Be Light: The Odyssey of Dark Star
2003
An Opera of Violence
6/3
First part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West, Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone's masterpiece, released in...
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An Opera of Violence
2007
Bloodsucking Cinema
5/2
The sound of flapping bat wings, an empty coffin, glistening fangs, tiny punctures on the neck, the sensual taste of blood, a blank reflection, fear o...
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Bloodsucking Cinema
2003
Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?
7/1
Whatever happened to this promising young actress from Hollywood? A search for "the woman in the car" through the never-ending suburbia of Los Angeles...
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Do You Remember Laurie Zimmer?
1999
Halloween: Unmasked
5.6/4
A retrospective documentary on the making of the movie "Halloween," featuring exclusive interviews with director John Carpenter, producer Debra Hill,...
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Halloween: Unmasked
2009
Monsterland
6.5/2
A journey through time and history of diverse monster types, from the latex monster in devastated postwar Japan to aliens and serial murderers.
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Monsterland
2006
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
7/1
A short documentary about Robby the Robot.
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Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
1986
Stephen King's World of Horror
5.9/4
A documentary about the works of novelist Stephen King and his influence on popular culture and his impact on horror film and novels. Includes celebri...
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Stephen King's World of Horror
2011
Nightmare Factory
7.3/22
The story of how one Pittsburgh boy’s fascination with monsters drove him to the very top of the Hollywood food chain. In 1989, Greg Nicotero, much to...
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Nightmare Factory
2014
Why Horror?
6.1/20
Horror fan Tal Zimerman examines the psychology of horror around the world to find out why people love to be scared.
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Why Horror?
2000
The American Nightmare
6.9/33
An examination into the nature of 1960's-70's horror films, the involved artists, and how they reflected contemporary society.
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The American Nightmare
2001
Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror
6.6/14
Documentary that explores Argento's film career.
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Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror
2016
The Puppet Man
7/3
A supernatural killer stalks a young woman and her friends in a seedy, neon-lit dive bar.
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The Puppet Man
2006
Big John
7.8/10
French documentary on the films of John Carpenter
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Big John
1982
Take One: Fear on Film
7/1
Mick Garris hosts this look at horror films with John Carpenter, John Landis and David Cronenberg all discussing their favorite scare films as well as...
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Take One: Fear on Film
1991
Fear in the Dark
10/1
A short documentary on the history of the horror film narrated by Christopher Lee.
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Fear in the Dark
1995
After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater
5.2/5
A video documentary/road trip that celebrates the drive-in movie theater's impact on the United States, and pays homage to the people who keep the few...
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After Sunset: The Life & Times of the Drive-In Theater
2004
Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures
10/1
Elvira hosts this humorous look at movie monsters and facts about the real animals on which they're based. Included: clips from films; and interviews...
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Hollywood's Creepiest Creatures
2000
Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
5.9/7
Director Garry S. Grant’s insightful documentary celebrates the work and legacy of auteur filmmaker Mario Bava, the grand master of Italian horror and...
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Mario Bava: Maestro of the Macabre
2009
The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style
6.8/6
Documentary that features interviews with Martin Scorsese, Curtis Hanson, Francis Lawrence, William Friedkin, Guillermo Del Toro, John Carpenter and o...
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The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style
2001
Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties
0/0
This documentary was broadcast on the Turner Classic Movies (TCM) cable channel to kick off the presentation of films related to TCM's theme of the mo...
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Hidden Values: The Movies of the Fifties
2018
Henchman: The Al Leong Story
0/0
Story of Al Leong, the greatest henchman in film history.
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Henchman: The Al Leong Story
1989
Stephen King's World of Horror
8/3
This horror documentary is not the same as the 1986 TV special Stephen King's World of Horror nor the 1988 VHS release of the same name, which runs 45...
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Stephen King's World of Horror
2008
In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
7/3
Films beget films. Filmmakers influence other filmmakers constantly. But the most influential filmmaker of all time is Alfred Hitchcock.
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In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy
2017
Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
6/4
The greatness, fall and renaissance of Hammer, the flagship company of British popular cinema, mainly from 1955 to 1968. Tortured women and sadistic m...
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Dark Glamour: The Blood and Guts of Hammer Productions
2000
Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'
6.7/3
A documentary about 'The Magnificent Seven'.
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Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven'
1990
Horror Cafe
8.5/1
April 1990 - Six horror icons gather at the horror cafe to create the ultimate horror movie for the year 2000, these icons include: horror author Lisa...
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Horror Cafe
2006
Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
7.5/2
Tracing the amazing journey of "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, whose intense rivalry with Hulk Hogan launched WrestleMania, and his many stops along the way, inc...
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Born to Controversy: The Roddy Piper Story
1989
First Works
0/0
It's a mixed bag in the age of illuminating DVD supplements, but First Works effectively demonstrates the early promise of 13 successful filmmakers. C...
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First Works
2015
Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music
8/3
Jean-Michel Jarre is one of the pioneers of electronic music. He is a composer, performer, songwriter, and producer whose pioneering approach to elect...
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Jean-Michel Jarre: The Rise of Electronic Music
2006
Halloween: 25 Years of Terror
6.8/42
Follow the evolution of the 'Halloween' movies over the past twenty-five years. It examines why the films are so popular and revisits many of the ori...
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Halloween: 25 Years of Terror
2018
John Carpenter: Live Retrospective
10/2
John Carpenter performs tracks from his movies and from his Lost Themes album. Recorded in London and Chicago in 2016.
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John Carpenter: Live Retrospective
2002
Masters of Horror
7.7/13
Documentary showcasing the work of prominent film directors in the horror genre. Featuring interviews with the directors, behind the scenes footage an...
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Masters of Horror
1982
The Thing
8.058/6597
In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years....
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The Thing
2005
Hollywood's Greatest Villains
10/1
Hollywood's Greatest Villains
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Hollywood's Greatest Villains
2019
In Search of Darkness
7.8/84
An exploration of '80s horror movies through the perspective of the actors, directors, producers and SFX craftspeople who made them, and their impact...
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In Search of Darkness
2016
John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016
0/0
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John Carpenter: Live At Primavera Sound 2016
1974
Dark Star
5.9/522
A group of scientists are sent on a mission to destroy unstable planets. Twenty years into their mission, they have to battle their alien mascot as we...
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Dark Star
1988
They Live
7.292/2865
A lone drifter stumbles upon a harrowing discovery -- a unique pair of sunglasses that reveals that aliens are systematically gaining control of the E...
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They Live
1981
Escape from New York
7.068/2954
In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. After the US presiden...
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Escape from New York
1992
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
5.9/536
After a freak accident, an invisible yuppie runs for his life from a treacherous CIA official while trying to cope with his new life.
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Memoirs of an Invisible Man
1984
Starman
6.9/805
When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.
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Starman
1995
Village of the Damned
6.078/776
An American village is visited by some unknown life form which leaves the women of the village pregnant. Nine months later, the babies are born, and t...
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Village of the Damned
1980
The Fog
6.725/1448
Strange things begin to occurs as a tiny California coastal town prepares to commemorate its centenary. Inanimate objects spring eerily to life; Rev....
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The Fog
1986
Big Trouble in Little China
7.21/2825
Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver, goes into a supernatural tailspin when his best friend's fiancée is kidnapped.
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Big Trouble in Little China
2002
Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'
5.8/5
Retrospective documentary on the making of the 1980 horror film "The Fog."
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Tales from the Mist: Inside 'The Fog'
2022
In Search of Tomorrow
6.5/24
A nostalgic journey through ’80s Sci-Fi-films, exploring their impact and relevance today, told by the artist who made them and by those who were insp...
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In Search of Tomorrow
1980
Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'
4.8/4
Short documentary. Interviews with the cast & crew of 'The Fog'
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Fear on Film: Inside 'The Fog'
2019
1982: Hollywood Summer
6/6
In the 1980s, Hollywood cinema was revolutionized. Especially the summer of 1982 changed the entertainment cinema with nine grand films forever, as th...
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1982: Hollywood Summer
2019
The Rise of the Synths
7.6/16
A documentary about the Synthwave scene, nostalgia and the universe of creating sounds. A love letter to human fascination and the collective memories...
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The Rise of the Synths
2003
The Wages of Sin
7.4/5
Second part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West, Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone's masterpiece, released i...
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The Wages of Sin
2020
AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
0/0
Unleashed from the video vaults of the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA), AGFA MYSTERY MIXTAPE #4: FOLLOW YOUR OWN STAR is a brand new compilation of...
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AGFA Mystery Mixtape #4: Follow Your Own Star
1982
The Making of 'The Thing'
8/2
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The Making of 'The Thing'
2020
In Search of Darkness: Part II
7.7/37
The ultimate ‘80s Horror retrospective just got BIGGER. In Search of Darkness: Part II is a four-hour-plus sequel to the Rondo Hatton-nominated In Sea...
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In Search of Darkness: Part II
2006
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
4.5/3
A documentary about the making of, and legacy of, the Forbidden Planet movie.
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Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2010
Halloween: The Inside Story
7.4/17
This feature-length documentary takes a look at one of the most successful film franchises of all time as it goes behind the scenes of John Carpenter’...
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Halloween: The Inside Story
2003
Something to Do with Death
6/2
Third part of a three-part documentary series on the making of Once Upon a Time in the West, Italian filmmaker Sergio Leone's masterpiece, released in...
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Something to Do with Death
2000
Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film
6/1
Documentary tracing the rise of the 'slasher' movie.
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Scream and Scream Again: A History of the Slasher Film
2005
Snake Plissken: Man of Honor
0/0
Documentary with interviews with John Carpenter and Debra Hill
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Snake Plissken: Man of Honor
2021
The History of Metal and Horror
4.5/2
A documentary that explores the history of heavy metal music, horror films, and how the two genres have merged together over time.
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The History of Metal and Horror
Carpenter on Quatermass
0/0
John Carpenter discusses his love for The Quatermass Xperiment
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Carpenter on Quatermass
2022
In Search of Darkness: Part III
6.9/11
The conclusion to the ‘In Search of Darkness’ trilogy. In this epic final chapter, our focus turns to the straight-to-video horror classics that popul...
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In Search of Darkness: Part III
2011
The Original Monster Mash
0/0
The Monster Mash was originally too hardcore for some to handle.
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The Original Monster Mash
2022
Studio 666
6/258
Legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. Once...
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Studio 666
2011
Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge
6/2
The cast of MTV's 'Teen Wolf' teams up with Funny or Die and gives Charlie Brown a spooky twist.
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Charlie Brown: Blockhead's Revenge
2016
It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned
0/0
Featuring interviews with Director John Carpenter, Producer Sandy King, Actors Michael Paré, Peter Jason, Karen Kahn, Meredith Salenger, Thomas Dekker...
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It Takes a Village: The Making of Village of the Damned
2007
Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'
0/0
An appreciation of Howard Hawks' "Rio Bravo" (1959) by filmmakers and historians.
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Commemoration: Howard Hawks' 'Rio Bravo'
2008
Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro
0/0
No director-composer collaboration has been more seminal to motion pictures than the partnership of Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann. In this doc...
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Bernard Herrmann: Hitchcock's Maestro
2022
Halloween in Hollywood
0/0
Chris Hardwick hosts this epic night celebrating all things Halloween, including interviews with Jamie Lee Curtis, Jason Blum and David Gordon about t...
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Halloween in Hollywood
2001
Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars
6/1
Documentary about the making of John Carpenter's sci-fi horror movie, Ghosts of Mars.
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Red Desert Nights: Making Ghosts of Mars
2017
Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
0/0
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Monstres, l'ennemi de l'intérieur
2002
Scoring Resident Evil
5.5/3
Resident Evil featurette.
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Scoring Resident Evil
1988
The Making of 'They Live'
0/0
Behind the scenes of John Carpenters cult classic.
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The Making of 'They Live'
2008
Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock
0/0
Alfred Hitchcock often referred to his style of film making as "pure cinema" — using camera movement, editing, music and sound to tell stories that wo...
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Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock
2003
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
8/1
Using original interviews with director John Carpenter, stars Jamie Lee Curtis and P.J. Soles, and crew members, 'Halloween': A Cut Above the Rest unv...
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Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
2004
Christine: Ignition
6/2
A look at the making of Christine (1983).
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Christine: Ignition
2004
Christine: Fast and Furious
5/1
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Christine: Fast and Furious
2004
Christine: Finish Line
5/1
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Christine: Finish Line
2019
Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween
0/0
Go behind the scenes of the 2018 iteration of Halloween, as well as interviews with director David Gordon Green, producer/composer John Carpenter, co-...
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Back in Haddonfield: Making Halloween
2019
The Original Scream Queen
0/0
A look back at the incredible scream queen herself, Jamie Lee Curtis.
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The Original Scream Queen
2019
The Sound of Fear
0/0
Incorporating the original 1978 Halloween theme, John Carpenter, Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies showcase their skills.
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The Sound of Fear
2019
Journey of the Mask
0/0
A brief history of the iconic 'Michael Myers' mask.
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Journey of the Mask
2019
The Legacy of Halloween
0/0
The Legacy of the iconic 'Halloween' franchise.
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The Legacy of Halloween
Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story
0/0
Debra Hill's documentary tells the story of her multifaceted life and of inspiring filmmakers around the world, and her legacy as a creative producer,...
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Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story
2009
Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock
0/0
A short Universal promo regarding the works of Alfred Hitchcock.
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Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock
2006
Working with a Master: John Carpenter
6/1
Documentary by Frank H. Woodward.
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Working with a Master: John Carpenter
2012
The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
0/0
This documentary short explores the origins of the monster movie and how Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (1963) fits in the genre.
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The Birds: Hitchcock's Monster Movie
The Reality Trip
0/0
Documentary celebrating the centenary of cinema which looks at how technological innovations - from widescreen to 3D, Cinerama to Showscan and IMAX -...
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The Reality Trip
1986
The Boy Who Could Fly
6.3/118
Milly and Louis, and their recently-widowed mom, Charlene, move to a new neighborhood. Once there, they all deal with a variety of personal problems,...
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