Let’s be honest: when it comes to horror, John Carpenter is in a league of his own. Director, writer, composer, he’s basically a one-man horror machine. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just someone who avoids dark alleys in October, his films have probably left a mark on your imagination (or at least your streaming queue). In honor of the Master of Horror, here are his 11 greatest horror films listed in reverse, as suspense is his game.
11. The Ward (2010)
Carpenter’s most recent film, and sadly, also the weakest. It’s a psychological thriller set in a mental institution from a director who was away from the director’s chair for nearly a decade. Carpenter was interested in the setting of another woman hounded by an escaped former patient. The Ward is the result, and at this point, it was clear Carpenter wasn’t happy in Hollywood. This is an undistinguished thriller, not really a classic Carpenter film, but completists may still want to screen it.
10. Village of the Damned (1995)
Carpenter attempted a remake of the 1960 cult classic, in which telekinetic kids terrorize a small community. The film never quite reaches classic levels, but those chilly, blank-faced kids are certainly creepy. Not his best, but it’s got enough thrills to hold horror fans’ attention.
9. Vampires (1998)
A team of James Woods-led vampire hunters supported by the Vatican? Crazy-sounding, and it is. Vampires have attitude, grit, and blood, but their execution is patchy. Carpenter’s trademark style intrudes at times, but it’s obvious his heart wasn’t fully committed. That said, it’s a cult classic for its audacity and energy.
8. Christine (1983)
A killing car is absurd, but funnily enough, Carpenter makes it sheer horror. Directed from Stephen King’s book, Christine is about a nerdy teenager whose existence is consumed by a haunted Plymouth Fury. Carpenter demonstrates that even the most straightforward setup can be frightening, combining eerie ambiance, suspense, and his own style.
7. The Fog (1980)
A remote beach town, radiant fog, and wrathful spirits, The Fog is Carpenter’s suspense at its finest. The film’s atmosphere cannot be beat, and the ground-breaking effects hold up today. A simple premise, a maximum of fright.
6. Prince of Darkness (1987)
Philosophical horror at its finest. A group of scientists and a priest uncover a tube of green liquid in a church basement, turns out it’s pure evil. Carpenter blends science, religion, and cosmic horror for a strange, unsettling experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
5. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Mind-bending and reality-twisting, this film has Sam Neill playing an investigator on the trail of a missing horror writer. The line blurs between fiction and reality, with a disorienting and terrifying result. Underrated and fantastic, it’s a latter-day Carpenter classic.
4. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976)
Is it horror? Is it action? Both. Carpenter’s second feature is a siege film with horror overtones, influenced by westerns and George Romero. The faceless gang that assaults the precinct is frightening, and the ice cream truck scene continues to astonish audiences today.
3. They Live (1988)
Aliens, subliminal messages, and one of the greatest fight scenes in movie history, They Live is Carpenter at his satirical peak. Roddy Piper’s drifter finds glasses that show him a society taken over by aliens, and the film skewers consumer culture and authority with elan. Its influence runs from memes to contemporary commentary.
2. Halloween (1978)
Certainly. Halloween didn’t merely shape Carpenter’s career; it redefined the slasher film. Michael Myers, masked villain of unadulterated evil, haunting babysitters on Halloween night? Sheer terror. Simple concept, memorable score, unyielding tension, and this is the blueprint every slasher copies.
1. The Thing (1982)
Carpenter’s masterpiece. In Antarctica, scientists are confronted with a shape-shifting extraterrestrial capable of assuming anyone’s form. Paranoia, gruesome practical effects, and relentless tension render The Thing a horror classic. Originally polarizing, it’s now universally considered one of the greatest horror films of all time. If you’re only going to see one Carpenter film, make it this one.
From frightening ghost tales to brain-shattering cosmic horror, these 11 classics highlight why John Carpenter is still an overseeing giant within the genre. His films still influence directors and frighten viewers years after their release.