john carpenter
Ranking the ‘Halloween’ Franchise by Box Office Performance
Halloween is an ancient holiday, a day dedicated to celebrating the dead. We dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins, and trick-or-treat for candy. It doesn’t matter if you are an adult or a child...
Why ‘Escape from New York’ Worked So Well Without Backstory
Escape from New York is one of John Carpenter’s best films. After the double horror hits of Halloween and The Fog, Escape from New York returned Carpenter to the sci-fi and action roots he ...
How ‘Halloween II’ Was Shaped by the Early Slashers (Which Were Shaped by its Predecessor)
While Halloween II is consistent with the first and is overall a very similar film, it was made in a completely different climate and that surely has an effect on the movie itself. This was made the s...
Seven Horror Reference Books Every Fan Should Read
There’s a great point during the process of becoming a horror fan where you begin to get this urge to see everything. Whatever you hear about, you want to track down. But after that passes, the...
Why ‘Assault on Precinct 13’ is a Classic Horror Movie (Without Actually *Being* a Horror Movie)
Assault on Precinct 13 is John Carpenter’s sophomore effort. Before this, his only feature film had been Dark Star, co-written and co-starring Dan O’Bannon. Yet even though Dark Star sur...
Five Overlooked John Carpenter Movies That Deserve More Love
John Carpenter is one of the undisputed masters of horror. He has made some of the most important genre films ever released. His storied career spans the course of multiple decades. Movies like Hallow...
Eyes of Laura Mars is a Stylish Look at ’70s Suspense
The Rabid Dog’s House is a recurring feature at Wicked Horror where contributor Justin Steele uncovers hidden gems, lost classics, and overlooked indie offerings with a little bite. Flying solo...
Famous Movies Turned down by Legendary Horror Directors
A directing career is a volatile thing. Plum directing gigs are hard to come by. Yet there are always movies that get turned down, for whatever reason. Movies that turn out great on the screen do...
Icons Behind Icons: The Cinematic Influences of Your Favorite Horror Movies
One of the best things about being an avid fan of film is that there is always more to discover. It’s fascinating to hear directors talk about the movies that influenced them. To go ba...