Quentin Tarantino on John Carpenter

Quentin Tarantino discusses the early career of John Carpenter, with particular attention to Carpenter's 1974 debut feature Dark Star.
Source: Video Archives Podcast
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[@lv2465]

John Carpenter is one of my top 10 Directors. Dude's way ahead of his time.

[@yellowjackboots2624]

Ahead of his time? Great movies and great directors were a dime a dozen in the 70s. Carpenter fits in perfectly. But I get what you mean.

[@luomodagliocchidifalco9421]

@@yellowjackboots2624They Live is a movie about our future

[@FUCKINGENIOUS]

Agreed

[@jnnx]

@@luomodagliocchidifalco9421You obviously didn’t grow up in the 80’s, it’s a film about our present.

[@obscure.reference]

his 80’s output was unmatched

[@mikebasil4832]

Dark Star was one of the most enjoyable sci-fi films from the 70s for me growing up. Happy 50th Anniversary (1974-2024).

[@billybatts8283]

Big Trouble in Little China is a masterpiece

[@TrueEnglishMan01]

In my humble opinion, it was dogshit

[@ryandonovan5205]

YUP

[@msh6865]

Well said.

[@isetfires2913]

Lo Pan still one of the best Villains of all time.

[@pb9782]

YES SIR.

[@garyphisher7375]

Carpenter had about a 15 year run, where he made great film after great film - all original. Did he get tired, jaded, uninspired - no idea, but I will always be happy to watch his films and listen to his music.

[@drlight6677]

The gas station segment of Body Bags is fantastic and doesn't get enough recognition.

[@EricSciarine-yc6zn]

At one point he said making movies was a grind, and he got tired of it. Before "The Thing" came out, the studio he was with had him under contract to make several films, but after The Thing didn't do well, they let him out of his contract, and I know that upset him.

[@garyphisher7375]

@@EricSciarine-yc6zn Apparently the J's cut you off if you lose them money - unless you're also a J.

[@user-rt9zq8rs9k]

​@@EricSciarine-yc6znnot really . He worked with Universal Studios again

[@BUKUDI]

​@@user-rt9zq8rs9knot sure how him working with them again negates a single thing the other guy said

[@RichardsShortHorrorFilms]

Dan O'bannon was the master of "workplace" movies, Dark Star. Alien, and Return of the Living Dead. The people who populate his movies populate your job.

[@nadamarena]

O'bannon. A genius. Gone too soon.

[@hansgrueber8169]

Halloween is a workplace movie as well, babysitting is a job.

[@Bonn1770]

"Burt is a slave driver"

[@peterosipov400]

Wow, what a nice way to characterize him! Very interesting. I agree with you!

[@derkeheath5172]

John Carpenter's description of Dark Star: "One of the greatest student films ever made, and one of the worst theatrical films ever released."

[@thesaltmerchant4564]

That’s very accurate I had a lot of mixed feelings watching it

[@genetvideos]

Even John Carpenter can be wrong.

[@ankanghosh5272]

The Fog is one of the best horror films i have ever seen. The atmosphere , theme music , cold night in radio station everything is perfect

[@PrinceBarin77]

My grandfather introduced me to me when I was about 8 or 9 years old (not really appreciating the nuance of age certification!). Like any movie you watch as a kid, it leaves an indelible mark so, for me, it is the ultimate ghost story. I adore it - the John Houseman intro, the score, the wide angle shots of beaches that, even in daylight look spooky (in no small part due to the wind sound effects). It’s pure horror movie magic.❤

[@GizmoBeach]

John Houseman’s intro for The Fog is just perfect.

[@JamesPaparella]

Completely agree.

[@mikebasil4832]

@@PrinceBarin77 The Fog was one of the first horror films that my parents let me see (on TV of course) when I was a kid. For its time it certainly had much to say about supernatural consequences. John Houseman's intro is of course quite timeless.

[@LegionHimself]

It cannot be overstated that Darkstar is the original Alien, and it’s Alien as a comedy

[@wonkawilly5573]

I tried watching darkstar.. I turned it off after 20 minutes. I'll try and push through in the future. Does it get any better after 20 minutes? I usually love oddball older flicks.

[@drainel9707]

@@wonkawilly5573no it sucks. I regret watching it

[@wonkawilly5573]

@@drainel9707 😂😂😂

[@marcussmith4913]

@@wonkawilly5573 lol Quinten recommends it so I thought hey maybe. Glad I read your comment before trying to watch the movie.

[@ublade82]

It's not Alien, the beachball was added to pad time It's 2001: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love a Space Odyssey

[@dargorwarrior]

John Carpenter is a genius

[@pedrolucass.8969]

He had great ideas, but they were badly executed sometimes

[@BUKUDI]

That word gets thrown around a bit too easily these days

[@BendeHoedt]

For those who care: this audio was taken from one of the first episodes of the wonderful Video Archives Podcast. I salute the uploader's good taste and encourage him to credit his sources so the audience can always learn more.

[@kamenanew9867]

It's in the description currently

[@BendeHoedt]

@@kamenanew9867 So it is!

[@magicknight13]

Thank you!!

[@PlunderRoad]

Are there full discussions one could watch over a movie like commentary. Thanks for the info!

[@riprubbler5211]

Thank you for the info! I’ve seen your Police documentary stuff, by the way! It’s outstanding!

[@jbellflower83]

Carpenter has always been one of my favorite directors. They live, Big trouble in little China, The thing and Escape from New York were all fantastic. The Fog was another one that kinda gets overlooked by even Carpenter fans sometimes when naming his best movies.

[@maxtubb8560]

I just watched Escape from New York last weekend and I thought it was an amazing Sci-Fi movie with a deep political story and themes throughout the film and a great performance from the legendary Kurt Russell. I also watched Paprika from Satoshi Kon, which is a beautifully animated Sci-Fi movie from the late great Satoshi Kon.

[@christ7381]

My man you have good taste in movies and a great profile pic

[@maxtubb8560]

@@christ7381 Thank you for your comment I am a huge movie buff and every day I try to learn about new movies and study their impact on our society wheither it be a big blockbuster or a low budget indie film. Also, I pick this image for my KZbin account since Harold and Maude (1971) is one of my favorite movies of all time and you're the only person on KZbin who actually pick up on the reference.

[@christ7381]

@maxtubb8560 I am also a good movie buff let me know what genre you like maybe I can give you suggestions

[@ModernArtisanCasey]

Prince of Darkness my dude.... check it

[@JoseyWales44s]

I remember going with my father to see a showing of "Forbidden Planet" back in '74 and "Dark Star" was playing as the second feature. We were pleasantly surprised.

[@samknowles83.]

Watched it recently. A masterpiece. Nobody makes films like this anymore.

[@johnmiller5679]

What I love about Tarentino is he is a student and lover of film foremost. He knows film and gives his opinion of those who came before him.

[@akfreed6949]

He's homemade . He went to some quick technical school for filmmaking . He's the best home video rental clerk . That's where he got HIS education .

[@OpenMawProductions]

That's the big problem with Gen Xer's though. All they ever knew was their VHS collection. QT is a talented director to be sure, and if you look at many of his peers, they were mostly fast burners. They burned out their reserves very quickly. Most of them were done by the end of the 90s, because all they had to say was relevant to the pop culture. Just like comedians who are so anchored to of-the-moment humor, referencing specific figures of society and politics, they become dated rapidly. The films that QT loved were not themselves inspired by films before them. They were inspired by real world experience, stories of old, ancient myths. QT, Kevin Smith, others, were inspired by the movies they loved. Xerox of a Xerox of a Xerox. Unfortunately, Gen X film directors are the reason we have a completely cavernous and hollowed out film industry today, vacant of exceptional films most of the time. Gen X gave us the nostalgia bombs, the witticisms of pop culture excess and self-indulgence... and now that's all the industry produces is nostalgia bait.

[@akfreed6949]

@@OpenMawProductions I disagree . I saw Kevin Smith's RED STATE and that was no Xerox copy of something . Quentin, on the other hand simply made a Western out of John Carpenter's THE THING . I'm surprised John Carpenter hasn't sued him . He doesn't like it if you go to close to HIS work .

[@anthonybrett]

@@OpenMawProductions not to mention they lack "grit". They have no hard life experience because everything is so easy for them now. Imagine the films these older guys would have made 40 years ago if they had a fast computer running Davinci Resolve. But the catch 22 is, difficulty and adversity made guys like Carpenter great.

[@anthonybrett]

@@akfreed6949 I disagree. Red State was a standard "cult" film. Rosemary's Baby, The Wickerman, The Village etc. At the very least, all those examples have about as much similarity to Red State as Hateful Eight does to The Thing.

[@evilalex87]

john carpenter is one of my fav directors ever

[@whatutalkinboutwillis6122]

I love all of Carpenter’s films

[@ryline666]

My favourite director talking about my favourite director

[@RyMovieGuy]

I respect his take obviously, but Dark Star still has the “student” feel to it. That’s not saying it’s bad, and if anything I would recommend people see it. But he clearly went on to make greater stuff…

[@danielgallagher2612]

It's honestly pretty bad tho, the only thing I like about it is the song and the beach ball alien

[@grizzlywhisker]

I was never a huge fan of Dark Star, it's probably one of the few movies of his that I usually skip over in favor of something else. Once you've seen it, it's not one you want to keep revisiting like his other films.

[@jaykaufman9782]

Love this movie so much -- it's been part of my collection for almost thirty years now.

[@Vaporvice84]

Finally saw this flick for the first time last year and the end had me dying laughing. To take the themes of 2001 and lampoon ithem for laughs was genius For about 3 months afterwards, the theme song was stuck in my head. I guess you could say Benson, Arizona is always on my mind too.

[@johnclavis]

Watched it way back in the 90s. Still sticks with me. The ending Fuchs you up

[@stanimirgeorgiev.87]

I agree. Quite simply, John Carpenter is one of the greatest film directors who ever lived.

[@qweqqweq2090]

in was blown away by dark star, watched it twice in one night. I couldn't believe how cool and funny it was, and so original. they made a whole British show that's basically a sequel to dark star, I think it's called, "red dwarf" or something like that. it's got the same sillyness and humor. dark star was just way, way, way ahead of its time.

[@officalhumblefish565]

Carpenters hope for what would happen after the release of Dark Star is exactly how I felt when I relased my first album. Now I'm working on my next album making sure its as perfect as Halloween.

[@acquiescence5331]

I love love love Dark Star. One of John's best movies as far as I'm concerned.

[@salvocampoli]

Carpenter is The Genius. If you are able to do "The Thing" you are above everything, and i have to say that all his film gve big messages.

[@Njbear7453]

The fact that John Carpenter doesn’t have an Oscar or an honorary Oscar is blasphemy.

[@finslaw]

His first written film The Resurrection of Broncho Billy won an Oscar.

[@UpsonPrattJr.]

Let's all be outraged with Hollywood and cancel it.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

He'll get it first year posthumously. Which is really shitty.

[@AdamFisher]

Benson Arizona, my heart longs to be there

[@Eddie_Bx73]

Starman is my favorite

[@TwoLeftThumbs]

I had a top ten of sci-fi films when I was a kid and Dark Star was number one. It’s not number one now but it’s still in my top ten.

[@MikeWhiskyTango]

I feel somewhat relieved he likes Dark Star. I've loved it since I first saw it '81. I keep going back to watch it again and again over the years. No one I know of has ever heard of it and when I show it to someone they all go "what is this sh...." I had one girlfriend in '82 who liked it.

[@PsilocybinCocktail]

This film could be packaged and sold as "How To Make A Classic Sci-Fi Film On A Shoestring Budget" Saw it almost 50 years ago on a BBC Christmas season of sci-fi flicks. Still a corker.

[@Tim21189]

Dark Star is absolutely fantastic, as are all early John Carpenter movies.

[@shadow6543]

Carpenter could really walk the line between trashy and artful merit. Halloween is a great example of this, it’s at the same time a true exploitation film but also masterfully directed and scored. It helps as well that he was a real fan of those kind of movies. Far and away my favorite director

[@FreakinSweet86]

Huge JC fan and in my opinion, he never put a foot wrong with exception to the godawful Ghosts of Mars and The Ward was a little meh too. The 80's were definitely his peak era with The Thing probably being my number 1 film of his from that decade. In The Mouth of Madness is the stand out film from his 90's period. He reminds me a little of De Palma, a lot of his stuff was never appreciated at the time, only getting love from cult cinema fans. Nowadays of course both are applauded for their work.

[@r.t.5425]

It’s amazing how much denser the first film feels, despite have the shortest run time. We have the exact same taste in the films, and the first movie is my favorite as well. I think that Tom Cruise would be smart to make the final Mission he stars in something inspired by this first one.

[@poppyaddams6467]

It's interesting how diverse he is and yet that doesn't turn me off as it usually would. I mean, imagine watching The Thing and then out of curiosity you check out Big trouble... they couldn't be more different, but they are both fantastic movies. He is just that good in his craft 😊

[@BlackenedLiam]

The Thing and They Live are my favorite Carpenter movies.

[@JohnInTheShelter]

Dark Star is underrated. Very original AND entertaining, a fun watch.

[@Njbear7453]

Dan O’Bannon also wrote “Dead and Buried” an awesome horror movie from 1981 starring jack Albertson grandpa joe

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

Dead and buried script was great and O' Bannon hated it.Guy was crazy.

[@biffmercury]

O’Bannon claimed that the Dead & Buried script was actually written by an unknown writer and it was requested by the producers if they could credit it to O’Bannon and Shusett to be able to use their names to help sell it to audiences. Had O’Bannon not said this in an on-camera interview, I would never have believed that he would agree to such.

[@gallery7596]

WHEC - Channel 10 in Rochester, New York used to run "Dark Star" for their Saturday night "Frightening Flickers."

[@sandmanlogan5ran149]

Yes! Grew up in Henrietta NY, it was the only night of the week I was allowed up late. Frightening Flickers, I forgot it was called that!

[@gallery7596]

@@sandmanlogan5ran149 Yes, hosted by Gregory The Grave Walker. 😱

[@bud389]

The Thing will forever stand as John Carpenter's magnum opus. Everything he did before and everything he did after will be compared to it, even Halloween.

[@-REMOwilliams]

I love John's films. I wish the films that underperformed had done financially better in there time. I think he would have kept going and creating rather than slowing down by 2001 he needed a break. I think he was disappointed. But he clearly understands at this point how influential his films and Music are. They have stood the test of time. I would guess more people have bought a copy of "The Thing" than "E.T." - Many bought the Beta, VHS, LaserDisc, CED VideoDisc, DVD, Bluray, 4kHD

[@eddieprice6098]

I agree. Got to meet John carpenter once and he was great! Signed art I did from the thing and halloween!

[@magicknight13]

Great stuff!!! Thank you so much for these videos!

[@kuribayashi84]

Its frankly incredible how much Carpenter managed to get out of these 60000 Dollars. Especially the Effects.

[@gregbors8364]

IKR that beach ball monster must’ve run him like 20 bucks

[@geekspeakmadechic4003]

The thing is a masterpiece. My all time favorite movie.

[@neogeoha1464]

Halloween, Escape From New York, Big trouble in Little China, The Thing, Christine, They Live, Starman, Vampires. ALL great movies.

[@grizzlywhisker]

Honestly I feel like John Carpenter has 7 or 8 classic "masterpiece" films. Assault on Precinct 13, Halloween, The Fog, Escape from NY, The Thing, Christine, Big Trouble in Little China, and They Live are all amazing films that you can watch a million times and always enjoy (Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness are also great.) Even his lesser films that aren't as popular or memorable are a blast... Like John Carpenter's Vampires is so ridiculous and over the top, but it's got that From Dusk Till Dawn sort of campy feel to it that makes it fun despite the fact that it takes itself somewhat seriously.

[@Toestubber]

I have met many people who for some reason claim that Dark Star ISN'T one of the best comedies ever made. I'll never understand this.

[@ttrestle]

The Thing remake by Carpenter is the greatest horror sci-fi masterpiece film in the history of the world.

[@colincharlton9339]

They live....brilliant film

[@BlazingOwnager]

QT really is on point here.

[@RamZar50]

John Carpenter’s best movie is The Thing (1982).

[@Peter-dk4fz]

The thing is one of the greatest movies of all time

[@kevhead1525]

Pinback was so funny I'm surprised O'Bannon didn't act more.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

Dan had his emotional problems. That's kinda the reason they brought in the successful commercial guy to direct Alien instead of him. Now Dan did pretty much everything else in making that film. But emotionally stable, not so much. Although I think a mash up between Alien and Return of the Living Dead would be amazing.

[@TheDas9582]

thanks to the band Pinback. They got me to watch Dark Star since they got their name from the movie.

[@CoolCoyote]

Carpenter has made some great movies and series, tv series but hes also made some shit to go along with the somewhat 'quality' for him

[@jeshkam]

(Very) unpopular opinion: "Memoirs of an invisible man" is a great movie. Also, I've always loved "The Fog".

[@onewithsource9742]

JC: My No. 1 director for life

[@scotta9735]

I love Dark Star.

[@randycunningham7318]

Carpenter up there with De Palma, David Cronenberg, Scorsese, and Tarantino.

[@reidboggs4344]

Early era low budget Carpenter was the best. He had no money, so he had to get creative. Turns out that was the best place for a creative person to be. Prince of Darkness was my favorite.

[@geneawisea2708]

Isn’t it insane that he had so many box office flops that are now considered Legendary?

[@viperrecords3288]

John Carpenter made cool as movies. Banter after banger.

[@thethinkingcatakaneonormie3527]

My favourite is Assault on Precinct 13 myself

[@hplovecraft1402]

Not a film but Cigarette Burns needs a mention to

[@randycunningham7318]

It is a film. A shorter film but a film. It is great IMO.

[@BrianHess-vn8ez]

The character of Pinbacker in Boyle’s Sunshine was a nod to Dark Star.

[@peabody3000]

if you like carpenter or just great out-there moviemaking, see dark star right now

[@hallking7441]

The best.

[@eclat4641]

I love: they live

[@electricwizard3000]

I don't always agree with the guy, but in this instance 100%.

[@hplovecraft1402]

Benson Arizona :)

[@jumpstart55million]

What episode of the podcast is this?

[@Craig-wi5bv]

Christine is very underated...The best Stephen King adaption...

[@johnnyc.4761]

Not better than the shining

[@Craig-wi5bv]

@@johnnyc.4761 The Shining is a great movie but it is not the best adaption to the book.King wasn't a fan of it..

[@hollywooda111]

Halloween influenced films to this day.

[@Benj-p5w]

Dark star is the source of star wars

[@minbari73]

Source?

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

@@minbari73 Don't know where it is, but, yeah, Lucas says it was a big influence.

[@Magicalfluidprocess]

Is no one gonna mention they live ?

[@SuperLaney81]

Carpenter pound for pound is my favourite.... Quentins not bad either 🤣

[@jakehamilton5502]

Dark Star has always been underrated. Disappointed in RLM's placement on their Carpenter top whatever list.

[@nigelfrrrunkis7106]

didnt rich have Halloween before Vampires

[@touchofdumb]

Nobody vibed harder than Johnny C.

[@ganglabesh]

best director of all time, sorry Quentin

[@matthewweng8483]

Poor Bill Froog, stuck wearing Pinback's ill fitting underwear... Lol

[@kennethnoisewater8170]

Hot take: The Thing is better than anything Quentin ever made.

[@FUCKINGENIOUS]

😂

[@JoseyWales44s]

Quentin remade "The Thing" as a western.

[@gamleskalle1]

Ironic since the thing is a very cold film

[@GizmoBeach]

In the Mouth of Madness is pretty cool after a second watch. Carpenter’s 70’s/80’s films are well-known, all have excellent qualities (story, acting, music) Of his 90’s films Madness is the most memorable and interesting. The two after Escape from LA sound uninspired in comparison to his previous films.

[@stevenevol6304]

I guess i know what my mission is

[@randyledirt1493]

Starman

[@LawsMusic108]

subbed

[@FyouThatsMyName]

I love all carpenter movies except for darkstar.

[@Johnny_Savage]

Darkstar is definitely better than The Ward

[@BishopWalters12]

@@Johnny_Savage Ghost of Mars is his worst movie.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

@@BishopWalters12 Not bad, but should have been much better. Something was just off.

[@TheoriginalBillBraskey]

Big Carpenter fan but I didn’t find Dark Star all that watchable. I’ll give it a go if I ever get back to watching movies like I use to.

[@anapoda3081]

misleading title

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

I don't care what people say, Prince of Darkness is by far his best film, and in the top, um, let's say 5 horror films of ALL TIME. See it! And see it again.

[@k-slay4407]

You serious?🤣

[@bearded_grumby]

dark star is trasg n jonh knows

[@MinkSnopesJJZ109]

Quentin Tarantino licks the sweat off of stripper's feet, from what I've read. His films do about the same as far as I'm concerned.

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

I think some viewers are too young to understand what Tarantino meant by counter-culture. If you didn't experience the cess pit knows as "the seventies," you probably don't see the connections. OK, imagine: Viet Nam, Patty Hearst, Richard Nixon, Three Mile Island, The Partridge Family, Disco, pull tabs, Welcome Back Kotter, garbage strikes, teacher strikes, low grade weed, .... Jeez. I'd better stop. This is depressing.

[@robbyrobot3303]

Nixon was cool tho

[@arthurrimbaud7287]

Quentin still hate Dan O'Bannon?

[@princeofcupspoc9073]

No, he does the same thing with "Shamalamadingdong". He's just being cute.

[@georgemorley1029]

Beach ball alien.

[@phalliccc]

Based

[@johnclavis]

No trebled

[@grahamjohndavis]

Absolutely brilliant film

[@chongsdong]

This isn't Quentin Tarantino speaking is it? Doesn't quite sound like him.

[@whatinthefudge5346]

I think it is this is new he's old now and he showed darkstar at his theater a while back

[@Humma_Kavula]

it sounds literally exactly like him??? what are you talking about

[@chongsdong]

@@Humma_Kavula Not to these ears champ.

[@Flurgburglr]

It is and yes it does

[@CharlieA24]

This is from a podcast and his old friend/coworker have named after the video store they've worked at. The Video Archive Podcast.