John Carpenter is the ultimate auteur. Not only has he directed, written, edited and produced throughout his career but he's also written the scores for most of his movies. One of the first soundtrack composers to make use of synths, Carpenter brought a minimalistic rock 'n' roll approach to his scores and defined the sound of eighties horror. Here are selections from ten of his best works.
Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
Halloween (1978)
The Fog 1980
Escape From New York (1981)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Christine (1983)
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
They Live (1988)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
BONUS: Big Trouble in Little China music vid
Halloween (1978)
The Fog 1980
Escape From New York (1981)
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Christine (1983)
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Prince of Darkness (1987)
They Live (1988)
In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
BONUS: Big Trouble in Little China music vid
John Carpenter, along with fellow film-makers Tommy Lee Wallace and Nick Castle (who played the original Michael Myers) were members of the band 'The Coup de Villes', even releasing an album. They performed the theme song for Big Trouble and the accompanying video is eighties-tastic!
Eric Hillis