Episode 103: If I Were a Carpenter: The Films of John Carpenter

2022-08-26

In this episode we celebrate and explore the films of legendary filmmaker, John Carpenter! Carpenter is such a unique director, a man who has always done things his own way, with a real talent for storytelling. The Planet 8 crew will start by discussing Carpenter's early life and how he became a filmmaker. We move on to a discussion of the qualities that define John Carpenter's style. Obviously, we'll talk about his work with his film soundtracks, but there are so many other aspects to a "John Carpenter film" - the 'slow burn' or building of suspense,...

We move on to a discussion of the qualities that define John Carpenter's style. Obviously, we'll talk about his work with his film soundtracks, but there are so many other aspects to a "John Carpenter film" - the 'slow burn' or building of suspense, his use of unusual camera angles or long takes, his distrust of authority figures, and so much more.

As we go through Carpenter's style, we'll talk about his films, lingering on some of our favorites, including The Thing (we dedicated a whole episode to it -you can hear it here), Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York, They Live, and Big Trouble in Little China. But we also talk about some of his films that aren't on our favorites list too, just to balance things out.

Without a doubt, Carpenter has an impressive and varied portfolio that includes some real classics. If all he had ever done was make The Thing, he would be a master, but he's made so many films that exhibit incredible skill and style. He's truly an amazing filmmaker.

For the Sensor Sweep this week, we sadly note the passing of Nichelle Nichols, famed for her portrayal of Lieutenant Uhura on the original Star Trek. Nichols was 89. Beyond the impact she had in her role as one of the very first African American women on TV who wasn't in a subservient role, Nichols went on to work with NASA to recruit women and people of color into the astronaut corps. A constant presence on the convention circuit, she was known for her warmth and beautiful smile. She will be greatly missed.

That's it for this go round. Please share your thoughts with us on anything we talked about -or forgot to talk about!