Interview - John Carpenter on Prince of Darkness - Sympathy for the Devil

[@LS-oq3qh]

This might be silly to say this but "Prince of Darkness" for me is a masterpiece for following reasons: - A seamless combination of supernatural horror with science fiction, that's not easy to do - Heavily moody and atmospheric horror movie that grabs me by the balls. This movie is a B movie but it is much better than any other big budget horror movies. There is surely a certain silliness to this movie but the mood and atmosphere, the direction by John carpenter transcend all of those. John carpenter is like a teacher in "How to make horror sci-fi movie class", he is teaching us that what is most important in horror movies is not gore but it is the atmosphere and the suspense.

[@MelancoliaI]

Nah, not silly of all to say. Just true

[@desiderious1]

L S, I agree with you, it's my personal John Carpenter favorite.

[@Towerofsnake]

@@desiderious1 same here , by a big margin

[@mikkobarros8436]

Prince of Darkness, Candyman and the American remake of Ring. My holy trinity of horror.

[@MrCarpen7er]

Why is this silly ?

[@desiderious1]

Although not his biggest commercial hit movie, Prince of Darkness has always been my personal favorite from John Carpenter. I was lucky enough to see it on the big screen when it was first released, as a Christian, it creeped me out and made me think.

[@DylanFoster87]

“ unease & Dread “ Mission accomplished.

[@nicholasgoldsworthy4719]

Leaves you disturbed and confused when you thought its gonna be campy... JC wanders off into deeper darker places. Clever bloke

[@LandersWorkshop]

It's very Lovecraftian.

[@Byrnzi360]

I remember watching this film for the first time as a kid. It was on home video. It definitely holds special place in my heart. To this day I feel his 'Apocalypse Trilogy' (The Thing, Prince of Darkness, and In the Mouth of Madness) are my favourite horror films.

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

apocalypse trilogy? y like trilliums? me think she meant 3ology

[@greyeyed123]

Prince of Darkness, which I rented on VHS, was the only film I ever had to stop 30-45 minutes in. I had to wait to watch the rest in daylight.

[@LS-oq3qh]

It is pity that John carpenter is critically being underestimated in US. He is one of the most exciting things US cinema offered to the world.

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

did you mean john carpenter or John Carpenter?

[@marklola12]

Load of crap he is one of once good directors who lost all talent as soon as the 90s came

[@jacobwallace4967]

In regards to Mr. Carpenter's remarks, I personally gravitate toward films like this where there is overwhelming dread. Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the cold war film On the Beach are among them.

[@penubly]

Saw it in the theater and all these years later it still chills me. Loved it and still do. Smart movie making.

[@marcwarren4393]

Still is 1 of the best directors that I enjoy. 👍👍

[@stefangoldschmidt7633]

Awesome director/movie-maker!

[@abelgerli]

This move scared the crap out of me back in time because I knew also a thing or two about quantum physics mixin it it with religion made it so much more based on reality that's made it way more scary. The soundtrack is mind-blowing it still hear the CD from time to time it sometimes gives me goosebumps.

[@MrCarpen7er]

Quantum physics, not mechanics.

[@tommyboy6267]

This is my second favourte Carpenter movie, second only by a fraction to "The Thing". To this day it gives me existential chills like no other film I have seen.

[@scarletteshadow]

My personal favorite, Prince of Darkness, did exactly as he'd hoped, it left me with a great sense of unease and still does to this day. It's a fascinating and seamless blend of religious ideas and scientific ideas...not an easy thing to do. I plan on another watch of the film tonight, as a matter of fact. It's one of my favorite Halloween movies and I watch it many times every year. Thank you, Mr. Carpenter. You're a genius!

[@jackprescott9652]

Actually this film was a small hit back in the 80's. It had a budget of 3 million and made 14 million.

[@amiejohnston2842]

I went to see it when it first came out and I left the theater slightly disturbed and creeped out. This film is so underrated and in my opinion, makes you stop and really think, “what if there is a dark presence watching and waiting in the shadows somewhere?” I don’t know… all I know is that this movie had an impact on me.

[@amiejohnston2842]

And the scene when the “chosen one” who was laying on the bed suddenly opened her eyes… nope. No thank you. She still scares the shit out of me. 😳

[@MindbodyMedic]

Just rewatched it for third time tonight and that bit with eyes is so unexpectedly scary.

[@senormarston]

John Carpenter showed us that, sometimes, is not bad being a misfit in the environment we develop ourselves

[@MrLee2e]

great movie still looks really good especially the dream sequences

[@bradrainwater8056]

One of my top favorite movies of all time… the thing is also! I’m a movie collector! They live and escape are my favorites too!!

[@mstoreyjr]

Prince of Darkness for me is a horror masterpiece and is one of my favorites of all time to this day. The ominous opening music during the Universal logo pulls you in and sets the tone immediately. The science and religion parallel adds verisimilitude to the story. The characters are not stereotypically insipid like most horror film characters are...granted there are a few times where characters stood and "looked at something too long" when they should be exiting, but no one in the movie made really stupid, annoying decisions. The characters were also put in a situation where they could not escape the facility through no fault of their own, just bad circumstances prevented them from doing so. The scares were built up and earned in my opinion, and their was always the worry that anyone of the characters could die/be possessed at any moment. The final sequence and "sacrifice" was a gutsy decision by Carpenter and the final 10 seconds of the film was a great nail-biting way to end the film and left you wondering if the character on the other side reached back or not. Brilliant film that is far better than most of the horror films we get today.

[@xtraspecialmango]

Give us one more Mr. C 🙏

[@Mike4metal]

Definitely one of my favorite horror movies!✨

[@adambazso9207]

A really nice interview! I accidentally watched the film maybe at the age of 15 on television and recorded it to VHS, because the atmosphere at the beginning instantly gripped me. Somehow I could tell without knowing that it's a John Carpenter-film. I liked the whole film, it pulled me in completely, it was mesmerizing and immersive. It has so many memorable scenes, but when the main female character gets trapped in the mirror-dimension at the end, that is just so sad and tragic, a haunting visual composition. And the dream-sequence of course...my God. I was afraid to go to bed because of that, I didn't want to think of it, but then I remembered it constantly. :D

[@lisakobar4153]

I agree...the dream sequences and the distorted voice creeped me out for weeks after I saw the film!!

[@justliam2768]

One of the finest Carpenter movies to date, in my insignificant little opinion.

[@MachineHead783]

An informative interview that actually can give you the creeps! John Carpenter is truly a genius of his craft and Prince of Darkness is a timeless classic of pure horror.

[@freethinker79]

Gnostic/Manichean cosmology and philosophy had to have been an influence on Carpenter's writing as well. Its themes are very prevalent all throughout the film. But yeah, talk about captivating! The first time "Prince of Darkness" ever crossed my radar was hearing snippets from the dream scenes on Dj Shadow's "Endtroducing." It was so trippy and eerie. I had to know where he got those samples from. Later on, I discovered the actual film and viewed it multiple times to try to digest and decode its overall meaning and message. Long story short, everything about it is so on point, dare I say even somewhat prophetic, and just as relevant today as it was when it was first released. Carpenter refers to it as one of his "apocalyptic" works, which is fitting, because indeed a lot of deep truth is being revealed here. Uncomfortable truths that most people probably aren't ready to accept or hear but either way given the current Plutonian Age, will gradually be forced to come to terms with facing and acknowledging - come hell or high water. The real "virus" is one of the mind. Evil, malign intent, confusion, ignorance, hatred etc..spreads like an infection. The storyline makes that fairly clear. Again, all very Gnostic/Manichean. Call it "possession" if you will. Body-snatching. Some call it Wetiko or Mass Psychosis. All of it seems to oddly parallel the absurd COVID1984 era we presently find ourselves living within. There's so much to unpack in this film. But I'll just leave it at that. "Fiction is the truth inside of the lie." --Stephen King

[@JClaus1221]

"This is a message from the year 2029, what you are seeing is real. This message is sent as a warning. What you are seeing is real. What you are seeing is real. What you are seeing is real."

[@derlich09]

This is not a dream... not a dream. We are using your brain's electrical system as a receiver. We are unable to transmit through conscious neural interference. You are receiving this broadcast as a dream......😰

[@Dudereno1]

​@@derlich09I always wanted a movie about The Brotherhood of Sleep.

[@LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto]

From a KY boy to another, I love you and your work John.

[@toddgrogg8005]

John carpenter, is the prince of horror films the king of Hollywood

[@kazirahman-bw7cn]

happy memmories watching this movie in the late 80s

[@sandraminarovic1523]

Excellent Interview

[@diegojimenez6087]

An incredible director.

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

my favorite John carpenter flick

[@dameinoferrall2400]

Huge Carpenter fan!

[@laurentduchene5572]

Video is excellent. The succes of carpenter movie was "originality" of screenplay comparing telling story codes in movie. The content of this movie is so original and unique at that time. This is why carpenter is cult: he never respected, in his independant movie, the code for story telling in Hollywood. The second point is the perfect use of cinemascope and editing. that proves the great director he is. the third one is the atmosphere created by his music. For me, his last movie entitled the ward is not so bad but he had to do the music in it.

[@mikemckenzie3175]

Carpenters best score

[@TANKTREAD]

My favorite John Carpenter film, great score by Carpenter and Howarth. This movie is like "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Altered States", combining the 3 elements of: Religion, Science and Horror. Still a hard watch today, very underrated.

[@DR.MF.DOOMSDAY]

This movie scared the shit out of me when I first watched it hahaha especially the dream sequence with the transmission coming through. I think it’s looked at as one of his weaker movies but I think it’s probably his creepiest? Anyway, it sits high on my list of horror movies

[@LoneWolf_Cub_Ogami_Itto]

The true tragedy of John, he never got to make the film he always wanted, a Western.

[@ramseyabdul1873]

Great point, wow!!!!!

[@daytripperhd]

this movie creeped the blank out of me

[@Foxfire_Pony]

The underground scenes were filmed at The Pacific Coast Club.

[@Wally-pu2hh]

@ 9:00 exactly... *THE MONEY SHOT* !!

[@LS-oq3qh]

Also, what i love so much about this movie is that the ending is ambiguous like "Blade Runner". Have they really changed the future so that there wouldn't be apocalyptic ending for cosmos? Or Is it that the anti-god will keep trying to get free until it succeeds?

[@m1lst3r89]

It's left to speculation and to me, the weakest part of the film.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

John Carpenter and Alice Cooper? Yes!

[@digijock223]

"You will not be saved by the god plutonium. You will not be saved by the holy ghost. In fact... you will not be saved!"

[@TheIndependentLens]

I love John Carpenter's movies.

[@mikebasil4832]

John Carpenter’s horror films are especially unique. My favourites are The Fog, The Thing, Christine and the Village Of The Damned remake. I also have a certain fondness for Prince Of Darkness. At least for how it ended which I thought was very effective.

[@GalaxyVoid0]

Prince of Darkness: hmm perhaps I might watch the end of the era of which this came on repeat.

[@amritpalhh9836]

For me my favourite Jc films are The thing and Halloween I also like vampires, and his kurt Russell movies. Oh and that movie with the aliens lol they live I sorta liked that too

[@付和雷同-j5b]

I'm interested in the issue he made around 4:35 in the video. I think, the things he's trying to tell us here is actually a problem of modern day movies. On theory, Russian montage is the way generates the meaning by combining multiple shots with symbols. On the other hand "wide long shot", he referred in the video, is more like fine arts. it self-contained and contains all necessary symbols to tell us the meaning of the shot. Both are the theoretical base of audio/visual communication (including music video, documentary even evening news...) but I really don't see the latter used effectively in modern day films. I'm afraid it possibly means lack of vision from the modern day directors. Carpenter's movies are visual. That's the reason why sometimes the poster of his movies tell so much about its contents. Maybe my sensibility just became too old to capture the vison of the culture in 21st century but honestly I miss a director like John Carpenter who showed me strong visual images. And the politics is the second things I'm afraid about modern movies. It seems to me that modern directors make political statement in their movie to satisfy the social system rather than their own visons. I always like John Carpenter's "They live" regardless of its political taste because it is the movie about the vision based on the politics rather than the propaganda to manipulate opinion for the needs of social system...apparently, it was exact opposite wasn't it? By the way, when the last time you saw something inspires you for real on the screen? It's just a nostalgia or it's really happening...I'm not sure. How do you think?

[@DukeCannon]

This is my favorite Horror movie of all time. I still find the entire concept unsettling. It probably will until I die. Groundbreaking ideas. Today's horror is garbage. Especially found footage. Grrrrrrr

[@tallyholightguy5353]

Should have gone back in time to tell John Carpenter about "Gallium" it's a non toxic metal that is just like mercury in that it's liquid at room temperature

[@ganglabesh]

trik or treat studios should release a replika lamp

[@CollegeDroputPowerpoints]

"Downtown LA is perfect for films" OOP

[@Njbear7453]

Hammer films are the best !!

[@m1lst3r89]

Are there any good Hammer film with ghosts?

[@outpost31737]

Prince of Darkness wasn't really about the Devil as stated by the man himself.

[@Zeithri]

Prince of Darkness is not my favorite, it's In the Mouth of Madness and The Thing. But Carpenter is just,

[@damian_cross]

I hate this movie because its so terrifying I do not want it to exist. Its the awful idea you can do absolutely nothing to stop evil...the sun comes up the devil is still there. You get together with your friends, still there. Smash the mirror, throw holy water, NOTHING WORKS. And if you try to get away Alice Cooper is gonna come stab you with a bicycle. I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE I LIVE

[@bigpond2607]

🎉

[@matthewJ142]

Matter and antimatter. The 2 things holding the Universe together. And behind it is God and the counterpart of himself. So in actuality there are ultimately 2 Supreme forces in the Universe. God and The Other

[@Valkonnen]

The fact that he Hired the Best special effects makeup artist in 'The Thing" and then hired an inept "Artist" name Frank Carrisosa who ruined "Prince of Darkness" and "They Live" makes me think that he's hit or miss. I don't get it!

[@v.rudeboy9829]

He couldn't afford Rob Bottin or Stan Winston by that time..

[@Valkonnen]

@@v.rudeboy9829 I happen to be a special effects makeup artist and know everyone working at the time. There were dozens of competent artists available who could have done a better job. You remind me of when people say that we had terrible looking monsters in the 50s because that's all that they could do. That is, until you see the work coming out of Germany in the 1920s when you realize that it was just inept people and nepotism.

[@TheIndependentLens]

No kidding the horror movies of today are mostly lacking. If you were a horror film fan growing up in the 70's, 80's and even into the 90's, you've pretty much seen it before and done much better. These remakes and reboots are mostly terrible, uninspired ripoffs.

[@temetnosce6192]

:-) Anti god... Funny name:-)

[@redskinStu]

A decent movie but not one of his best films, the low budget nature of the film becomes obvious when watching the possessed scientists, but this film does have several brilliant moments, including the anti-god scene as it leaves the church, very creepy, and the future radio transmission which could have had a bigger part in the film...BTW, it was Catherine coming through the church's front doors the entire time

[@jamiel3902]

I think it's also possible that each dream message came from a different future. Minor shifts, but not enough to change the horrific outcome.

[@stefjevtic]

One of his best I'd say. Wish he did more thought-provoking stuff.

[@zillion914]

There is one God and then there is free will. The last part gives you the opportunity to choose. At the beginning all were beautiful beings of light and because of free will everybody chose darkness and because of that the universe is now devolving. To the point that a guy comes here and says that there are two supreme beings which is a lie. We came from the same force and this force broke in infinite pieces giving birth to you. Some of them have tremendous dark energy and it may feel like a God, but it is not. God is only the original source and through free will you prove that you can come back to the source by yourself. That’s the meaning of life and your mission in the universe. If everything becomes darkness then it’s nothing you can do but stay true to your free will and your path regardless of others. When everything becomes engulfed in dark matter you will still exist as once created it cannot be destroyed, life goes beyond this life, it’s goes eternal.

[@m1lst3r89]

Wtf man?

[@m1lst3r89]

Mildly entertaining Carpenter horror.

[@m1lst3r89]

@Nick Xero yes. He done better.

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

spoiler alert: it's a movie about love and technology

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

and it's not so easy to patent my stuff, caws it has to be patented, mirrors at least! against too all the other elves,,

[@andrewbrown2888]

The prince of "Kruk-ness" Pete Kruk from the Quinn house

[@cv507]

55:5 ^^ photo dark but light brite. but negative dark. Left become rite ? vFallout is great. like borderlance. dozence? of cult ural dif eh refce. ^ ^ is there a link ? in the blööd? ötherce?

[@mantronickilldozer]

A perfect movie. Dripping in doom dread dispare hopelessness.