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i think Carpenter started with such a big bang that it was hard to maintain the level of quality.
I collect Carpenter films. Have everything he's done from Dark Star up (with the exception of one made for TV movie)
Ghosts of Mars (2001) weak effort - poorly written - no budget
Vampires (1998) - weak effort - poorly written
Escape from L.A. (1996) - weak tired effort.
Village of the Damned (1995) - cant remember a thing from this one.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994) - didnt like it
Body Bags (1993) (TV) (segments "Gas Station, The" and "Hair")
so so anthology
Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) - enjoyed this one
They Live (1988) - really enjoyed this one
Prince of Darkness (1987) - not bad - not great
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) - really enjoyed this one
Starman (1984) - suffered by using a known actor in the roll
Christine (1983) - good spin on a so so King effort (strong performances)
The Thing (1982) - excellent
Escape from New York (1981) - excellent
The Fog (1980) - excellent
Elvis (1979/I) (TV) - very good
Someone's Watching Me! (1978) (TV) (i havent seen this)
Halloween (1978) - excellent
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - excellent
Dark Star (1974) - very enjoyable.
i would say that Carpenter suffered from a general shift in cinema largely because of the fact that (as i'v said before) the horror genre hasnt been taken seriously since the 70's. Now it's just a cheap cash cow - people making garbage films that will still make money on the rentals (most never see the theatres)
And again - i blame the 80s home video invasion for that - and the trend of cheap slasher movies that kids will rent if it has cool cover art.
so where is the incentive for making a mind blowing influential horror film ? why would the studios bother when their garbage still makes money by using no name directors - no name actors and a shit budget.... for straight to home video markets.
i think Carpenter has become an endangered species - he's a product of the 70's .. so are many of the other struggling horror directors.
I think its a fucking shame.
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