Quentin Tarantino is only one of many directors who cite John Carpenter as an influence.
What is it about his style thats so appealing?
Martin Scorsese.Steven Spielberg.George Lucas.
Some of the most influential, acclaimed, and successful American filmmakers of their generation.
So whats going on?
Is it simply nostalgia at worka group of filmmakers fondly referencing the movies of their youth?
Or is there, as I attempt to argue here, something more fundamentally important about Carpenters work?
But consider this:Halloweenin its entirety was shot for a tiny $325,000.
And likeHalloween, the use of those long, low takes establishes the sense of foreboding and impending violence.
The killer was standing there all the time, we just couldnt quite see him.
That is what I was trying to achieve withThe Hateful Eight.
Few American directors were as adept at generating an air of paranoia as Carpenter.
The two paired together create a brew that is unmistakeably Carpenters own.
But theres a lean, simple rhythm to his unforgettable electronic scores.
Its a slyly satirical idea from Carpenter, resulting in one of his very best and funniest films.
Theyre his ground-level entry point into his worlds of violence and chaos.
The action-comedyBig Trouble in Little Chinalargely unfolds in one building in San Franciscos Chinatown.
Apocalyptic horrorPrince of Darknessrestricts its nightmarish events to an old church.
Its the only movie that I showed the cast.
I even showed it to Kurt Russell.
He loved watching it with the cast: Thats mine baby, thats what I did.'
Indeed, Carpenters narrative economy has fed into all kinds of movies.
As for 2012sDredd,check out Tim Georges 2015 piece aboutwhy its the best film Carpenter never made.
Shades ofAssault on Precinct 13?
When asked byEntertainment Weeklywhat he thought about the influence of his filmmaking, his response was characteristically dry.
I love it, he said.
But I just wish they would send me money.
It doesnt have to be muchjust a couple bucks.
His films are thrilling, disturbing, caustically witty, and often delightfully personal and odd.
This article originally appeared onDen of Geek UK.
