John Carpenter is a legend. So much of my horror and cinematic roots come directly from his films. He is a master of horror and his ability to shock us became evident when he showed a little girl in a dress getting shot in the chest at an ice cream truck. Hollywood has always had a stupid rule about kids being immune to danger (which I have lamented about before) and Carpenter spit in the face of that rule back in 1976 with Assault on Precinct 13. Carpenter has never stopped breaking the rules and the results are some of my most favorite movies. The Thing is one of my all time favorite horror films, and They Live! has had a great influence on my life as it keeps me critical of people in power. There is also no disputing the cultural influence of Halloween and the impact of one of cinema’s greatest villains, Michael Meyers. John Carpenter has truly secured his place among film making’s pantheon. John Carpenter is not only a visionary of film but also a genius in music, most of the iconic soundtracks in Carpenter’s films are composed by himself as well.
Back in June (sorry, Wormwood, that it took so long to finish this article) I attended John Carpenter’s concert, : John Carpenter Live: Retrospective, in Seattle WA. It was one of those strange instances where a show delivered more than it promised. Carpenter put together a rock band of talented artists to round out his synthesizer spectacular. Accompanied with lights, lasers, and edited projections from the films, Carpenter’s music has the right blend of freshness and nostalgia. It felt like I was in a room full of horror nerds geeking out on John Carpenter films, except John Carpenter was right there with us being the biggest nerd of all.
(They put on sun glasses for the They Live! theme… and then I peed a little)
Carpenter’s movies and music are instantly recognizable but the changes in sound and instruments create innovative renditions to these classics. He is still on tour and you can see if he is coming to your city here, and you should definitely go if you are a Carpenter fan. I respect everything Carpenter has made from The Fog to Christine and even The Ghosts of Mars which wasn’t well received but I frigged loved it. John Carpenter Live: Retrospective is another masterwork which adds to his legacy as one of the greatest film makers of all time. In his Live Retrospective, John Carpenter has come to kick ass and chew bubblegum… and he’s all out of gum.
