Reviewing films slightly off the beaten path
Escape from New York introduced the world to one of the ultimate badass protagonists Snake Plissken and every futuristic action film made afterward owed it a debt for finding the right formula. Shout!Factory has given the film its due with its collector’s edition.
Memoirs of an Invisible Man is an entertaining but somewhat forgettable film that finds John Carpenter and Chevy Chase playing against type to mixed results.
Prince of Darkness has some good material in it, but it is one of Carpenter’s lesser efforts overall. The collector’s edition by Shout!Factory features good technical specs and excellent supplemental materials.
The Thing is one of my favorite horror films of all time. It is debatably the best film by legendary director John Carpenter. Shout!Factory’s release of the film provides an incredible amount of supplemental material and a strong visual presentation.
Sixteen Candles was the first film that John Hughes directed. With an excellent cast and soundtrack, it has become a classic of the coming-of-age genre. Arrow Video have given it a fantastic release.
In the Mouth of Madness is a great later entry in John Carpenter’s filmography. One of my favorite Carpenter films, Shout!Factory has given it a great transfer from a 4K scan.
Christine is not my favorite John Carpenter film, but it is still a fun Stephen King adaptation with a killer score.
Zombie is one of the best known and best loved horror films of all time. It is notorious for a reason and squeamish viewers should avoid at at all costs. Lucio Fulci’s seminal video nasty has been given a great new release from a 4K scan.
Photo by Kyle Cassidy. © Storm King Productions. In 2016, I had the unique opportunity to ask director John Carpenter five questions while he was…
Assault on Precinct 13 finds John Carpenter crafting his trademark style with his sophomore feature. Shout!Factory has released the film with some great supplements and a sharp transfer.
