Horror Icon John Carpenter Has a Surprising Connection to Beloved Christmas Song

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As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the darkest corners of film history, I can confidently say that John Carpenter‘s connections to Christmas are as unexpected as a Santa Claus sighting on Halloween night. It’s a twist that would make even the most seasoned moviegoer do a double-take.

Legendary horror director John Carpenter, famous for Halloween and his chilling films, has an unconventional link to Christmas. In a surprising twist, Carpenter’s father, Howard Carpenter, was part of the string section that played on Brenda Lee’s “Jingle Bell Rock.” This tidbit might just be amusing trivia for most directors, but given Carpenter’s reputation as a horror maestro, the juxtaposition is rather comical. Imagine if his chilling sci-fi/horror masterpiece The Thing had taken place in December, with Kurt Russell battling shape-shifting aliens while “Jingle Bell Rock” played in the background!

Howard, Carpenter’s father, was not just a carpenter but a remarkably gifted musician. Beyond the popular song he is known for, Howard held a prestigious position as the head of Western Kentucky University’s music department. He accompanied plays, was part of a string quartet, and collaborated with musical legends such as Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash on performances and recordings. From an early age, Howard encouraged Carpenter to pursue music, but Carpenter shared with The Ringer in 2023 that he found it less than enjoyable: “He made me sing in the choir. I wasn’t very happy doing it. Wednesday night choir practice. Sunday morning services. Had to wear a choir robe and all that stuff. Oh, my God.

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Although Carpenter may not have initially taken a liking to his early musical ventures, they undoubtedly left an indelible mark on him, as he ultimately emerged as one of the most iconic film score composers in history. Known for his synthesizer-driven scores, many of which are now considered essential components of their respective films and have earned classic status, such as those for Halloween, Escape from New York, Prince of Darkness, among others. Carpenter revisited the franchise that catapulted him to fame by contributing music to David Gordon Green’s rebooted Halloween trilogy, infusing fresh elements into the beloved theme song.

From Christmas to Halloween: The Surprising Inspiration Behind Carpenter’s Classic

The carpenter is associated with unexpected links to Christmas in various ways, one of which involves his influential horror movie from 1978 titled “Halloween.” While commonly believed that it sparked the slasher genre, it was actually influenced by a movie of similar style, “Black Christmas,” released in 1974. Bob Clark, who later became known for his classic Christmas film “A Christmas Story” (1983), directed Halloween. The plot revolves around a group of sorority sisters being pursued by an unknown killer during their Christmas break. It’s not hard to imagine the carpenter contemplating, “What if I switched this movie’s setting from Christmas to Halloween?

Nonetheless, Clark emphasizes that while his film served as an inspiration for Halloween, John Carpenter’s film remains a unique and original work. In an interview with Icons of Fright back in 2005, Clark stated, “The fact is, John didn’t mimic Black Christmas; he wrote a script, directed it, handled the casting…He admired Black Christmas and may have been influenced by it, but John Carpenter did not steal the idea. At least 15 other people were considering a movie called Halloween at that time, but the script with that title was given to John.

Beyond the unexpected associations with Christmas, it’s worth noting that Carpenter’s ties run deeper. In the 1980s, the father-son team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind, known primarily for their work on the first three Superman films and the 1984 Supergirl, chose to create a movie revolving around another iconic figure: Santa Claus. A plot was devised and a well-known actor was cast – Dudley Moore, riding high after the success of the romantic comedy Arthur. New Zealand filmmaker Roger Donaldson was initially considered for directing duties, but eventually, John Carpenter (for reasons undisclosed) was selected instead.

Carpenter’s Close Call With Christmas: The Santa Claus Movie

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The carpenter’s selection as director seemed unusual, given his background primarily in independent work and a tendency to maintain considerable creative control over his films. In fact, it was his specific requirements that prompted the Salkinds to explore other potential directors. Among these demands were discarding their existing outline, penning an entirely new script, composing the film’s music, and having final editing rights. Since this was a high-budget production, the Salkinds deemed these requests excessive, ultimately opting to hire Jeannot Szwarc instead of the carpenter.

Despite speculation suggesting that Carpenter missed a potential hit movie opportunity with “Santa Claus: The Movie”, the outcome proved otherwise. Regrettably, this 1985 film was a commercial failure, received harsh criticism, and did not gain enough quirky appeal to foster a significant cult following. Following brief ventures beyond horror with “Starman” and “Big Trouble in Little China”, Carpenter reverted back to the darker realms of cinema, giving us enduring classics such as “Prince of Darkness” and “They Live”. Therefore, it’s fair to conclude that he skillfully avoided a costly red-and-green bullet by not directing “Santa Claus: The Movie”.

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2024-12-25 00:09