John Carpenter‘s body of work has received its fair share of recognition, considering the quality of his projects. Movies like Assault on Precinct 13, The Fog, Starman, Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, and They Live are all justifiably considered minor classics, while Halloween, Escape from New York, and The Thing are universally recognized as cinematic classics. However, some films that he made have been overlooked or dismissed, such as Memoirs of an Invisible Man and Escape from L.A., which were seen as missed opportunities by many film enthusiasts. But what about the lesser-known films that may have slipped through the cracks? The ones that possess merit but are often grouped with movies like Memoirs of an Invisible Man by cinephiles.
Those are the ones that come next. While they might not be as precious as gold eggs in Carpenter’s works, they certainly aren’t worthless like chunks of coal.
1) Ghosts of Mars
An underappreciated action-horror film titled “Ghosts of Mars” struggled mightily when it was released during the summer movie season of 2001. Given its unique and sometimes excessive styling, as well as its relatively moderate production budget of $28 million in 2001, it was destined to attract a limited audience and discourage repeat viewings.
Initially, it’s easy to see why Carpenter enthusiasts might consider Ghosts of Mars as one of his weakest films. However, with the passage of time, this film has received a more favorable reception. Unlike his classics like Halloween and The Fog, Ghosts of Mars is not primarily aimed at scaring audiences; instead, it’s designed to be entertaining. Once you overlook its significant departure from his earlier works, it manages to deliver on that promise. Essentially, Ghosts of Mars serves as Carpenter’s swan song (The Ward doesn’t have that feel), and it was a unique choice for his final project.
Stream Ghosts of Mars for free with ads on The Roku Channel.
2) Village of the Damned
Similar to the subsequent movie in this collection, the remake of Carpenter’s “Village of the Damned” is a notable demonstration of a common problem in the director’s late-career works. To be more precise, numerous films show promise initially but eventually veer off course and become less compelling.
Instead of some other examples, “Village of the Damned” starts off remarkably well, but subsequently drops to an average level. It’s noteworthy as Christopher Reeve’s final film in theater, adding a significant cultural allure (despite Kirstie Alley’s performance, it may be best to keep discussions about that to a minimum).
Rent Village of the Damned on Amazon Video.
3) In the Mouth of Madness
In 2025, there will be enough demand for the movie “In the Mouth of Madness” that a book version will be released, 31 years after its initial release. However, it’s not one of John Carpenter’s most widely-acclaimed films. It’s easy to understand why, as some argue that it represents a common issue with Carpenter’s later works: a strong start followed by a decline in quality.
Nonetheless, after exhibiting a descent, Madness remains striking due to its grand aspirations. Furthermore, it serves as a captivating homage for H. P. Lovecraft enthusiasts. It’s also worth noting that Sam Neill is more effectively utilized in this production than he was in the less favorable Memoirs of an Invisible Man.
Stream In the Mouth of Madness for free on Hoopla.
4) Vampires
In comparison, Carpenter’s work from the ’90s didn’t quite match up to his impressive output in the ’80s. However, the movie “Vampires” stands out as a delightful exception. It’s remarkable because vampire films are often a common theme in horror, and generally, they can feel rather predictable. But here and there, like with the film “Abigail,” there are exceptions that breathe fresh life into the genre.
In my viewpoint, Carpenter’s conception of the monster in this film primarily revolves around the vampire hunters, rather than the monster itself. Although Thomas Ian Griffith delivers an impressive portrayal as Jan Valek, it’s James Woods as Jack Crow who truly captivates as the head vampire hunter. I must admit that Daniel Baldwin’s performance as Anthony Montoya leaves something to be desired, but the movie’s opening scenes featuring the entire vampire hunting team are genuinely exciting. Despite the fact that the movie doesn’t seem to pick up pace after they all meet their demise, those initial 20 minutes or so are engaging enough. All in all, it’s a film with its flaws, but it remains the pinnacle of Carpenter’s work from the ’90s.
Stream Vampires for free on Netflix.
5) Prince of Darkness
A chilling horror movie boasting an enigmatic finale, “Prince of Darkness” is considered one of Carpenter’s most audacious endeavors. Consequently, it may appear somewhat disjointed at times. However, within that seemingly chaotic structure lies a wealth of quality and some of the director’s most terrifying sequences.
The story revolves around a group of university students specializing in quantum physics (who appear to be older than typical college-goers), who venture into an ancient church to examine a towering cylinder containing a pulsating green substance. Surprisingly, this substance represents Satan, eager to escape. This film is Carpenter’s second part of his “Apocalypse Trilogy,” preceded by The Thing and followed by In the Mouth of Madness. Despite not reaching the greatness of The Thing, it surpasses Madness in quality.
Rent Prince of Darkness on Amazon Video.
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2025-08-17 06:11