The films and soundtracks of John Carpenter are very near and dear to me. Growing up with his films and now recently re-discovering them, they are the perfect encapsulation of his era, whether it be the 70's slasher, the dystopian action film or the early 80's wave of supernatural horror, his films and their themes defined his time.
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These are simply my favorite theme/soundtracks from his films, but they must by composed by him. (Therefore Ennio Morricone's The Thing theme is ineligible.) So let's start the countdown:
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9. "THEY LIVE"
This is kind of a bluesy, jangly Western theme that Carpenter wrote for his 1988 horror/dark comedy They Live. You've got a harmonica and a saxophone in there playing over a crunching bassline - pretty effective.
8. "PRINCE OF DARKNESS"
A gothic mixtape, this theme is a simple synth track played over and over again accompanied by random effects and start-and-stop rythms - it captures your attention immediately.
7. "HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH"
Taking a break from the familiar theme of Michael Myers, Carpenter hits a home run here with a moody, atmospheric electronic track. At times, it sounds like Elliot Goldenthal's work on Public Enemies.
6. "CHRISTINE"
It starts of slowly before erupting into a simple, repetitive pulse, but I love the slowly building synths that come and go in the background. Perfect.
5. "THE FOG"
It's Halloween lite, but this track really accentuates the film without overdoing it. A creepy, salty seaside urban legend with a theme to match it. I love how it's essentially a showdown between dueling keyboards.
4. "BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA"
Without hesitation my favorite Carpenter film, this schlocky 80's black magic actioner doesn't have a defining theme that I really wanted to feature, but the soundtrack has many standouts, including my favorite piece, "Abuction at Airport".
3. "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK"
This one's rather simple, but it really grows on you. It's like an 80's anthem to me - I see Snake Plissken's eye-patch with an American flag behind him right now.
2. "HALLOWEEN"
It's probably one of the most recognizable movie themes of all-time and some would argue, like me, that it really makes the film. Alot of the numbers on the entire soundtrack are eerie as well, but this is one hanting melody.
1. "ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13"
The former may have reached movie theme immortality, but if you ask me, John Carpenter's best score is this stunning synth show from Assault on Precinct 13. It's the perfect musical accompaniment to the film's themes of trust, redemption and survival against insurmountable odds.
This is kind of a bluesy, jangly Western theme that Carpenter wrote for his 1988 horror/dark comedy They Live. You've got a harmonica and a saxophone in there playing over a crunching bassline - pretty effective.
8. "PRINCE OF DARKNESS"
A gothic mixtape, this theme is a simple synth track played over and over again accompanied by random effects and start-and-stop rythms - it captures your attention immediately.
7. "HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH"
Taking a break from the familiar theme of Michael Myers, Carpenter hits a home run here with a moody, atmospheric electronic track. At times, it sounds like Elliot Goldenthal's work on Public Enemies.
6. "CHRISTINE"
It starts of slowly before erupting into a simple, repetitive pulse, but I love the slowly building synths that come and go in the background. Perfect.
5. "THE FOG"
It's Halloween lite, but this track really accentuates the film without overdoing it. A creepy, salty seaside urban legend with a theme to match it. I love how it's essentially a showdown between dueling keyboards.
4. "BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA"
Without hesitation my favorite Carpenter film, this schlocky 80's black magic actioner doesn't have a defining theme that I really wanted to feature, but the soundtrack has many standouts, including my favorite piece, "Abuction at Airport".
3. "ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK"
This one's rather simple, but it really grows on you. It's like an 80's anthem to me - I see Snake Plissken's eye-patch with an American flag behind him right now.
2. "HALLOWEEN"
It's probably one of the most recognizable movie themes of all-time and some would argue, like me, that it really makes the film. Alot of the numbers on the entire soundtrack are eerie as well, but this is one hanting melody.
1. "ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13"
The former may have reached movie theme immortality, but if you ask me, John Carpenter's best score is this stunning synth show from Assault on Precinct 13. It's the perfect musical accompaniment to the film's themes of trust, redemption and survival against insurmountable odds.
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This is marvelous collection of John Carpenter classics, Chase. Still, that Ennio Morricone theme for The Thing does stick in the mind, doesn't it? Thanks for this.
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