13 John Carpenter movies ranked from worst to best

2. The Thing (1982)

A tour de force in horror would definitely be John Carpenter’s The Thing.

Released in 1982, The Thing still holds up even in today’s horror movie standards. Based on a novella from 1938 written by John W. Campbell “Who Goes There?” and adapted to film in 1951’s The Thing from Another World John Carpenter’s version came at a time when the competition was tough in cinema.

The film gathered it’s recognition only later and rightfully so. At release, The Thing wasn’t on many’s radars but that was due to poor marketing unfortunately for the time. The film stars long-time collaborator Kurt Russell once again assisted by Keith David, David Clennon, and Peter Maloney in supporting roles. John Carpenter nails the tension by putting us in an isolated state of tension, terror, and paranoia as the film takes us on a path of pure dread in this sci-fi horror. A great slow burner with the ultimate payoff.

1. Halloween (1978)

John Carpenter has directed 21 films in his career. As you have seen in this list we took 13 of his most memorable features to date and number one our our list in my humble opinion would have to be 1978’s Halloween.

Halloween is not only one of my favorite horror films but my favorite film in general. Starring living scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis in her breakout role whose career owes so much to the horror genre playing the ultimate final girl Laurie Strode.

Carpenter and co-writer Debra Hill bring a tale of terror in Halloween with a slasher in American suburbia in the town of Haddonfield, Illinois. Carpenter’s use of camera takes and showing us the point of view of the infamous Michael Myers aka The Shape as he stalks Laurie and her friends. John Carpenter showcases why he earned the title of being a master of horror with Halloween by his creative choices in direction with a simple premise and creating such a heavy dreadful atmosphere.

Watching Halloween, you can put yourself in Laurie’s shoes and fear for her safety as you hang on her every move hoping she makes it out in the end. Halloween would be the start of a long-running franchise and allow actress Jamie Lee Curtis to return to Haddonfield to go up against her stalker time and time again.