John Carpenter is a seminal figure in the history of horror and science
fiction filmmaking. His work in these genres has been highly influential
in their ongoing development. This book gives Carpenter's output the
sustained critical treatment it deserves. It comprises essays that
address the whole of Carpenter's work, as well as others which focus on
a smaller number of key films. Some essays take on wide-ranging issues
such as Carpenter's approach to remakes and the question of genre, while
others are organized around a specific theme or technical aspect of
Carpenter's film-making. The text's key strength is that it draws upon
an international group of scholars offering a variety of expertise.
Films discussed include Assault on Precinct 13 (1976), Halloween
(1978) and its subsequent sequels, Escape from New York (1981),
Escape from L.A.(1996), The Fog (1980), The Thing (1982), Village
of the Damned (1995) and Ghosts of Mars(2001). The book also features
an exclusive interview with John Carpenter.