FILM CLUB: The Masters of Horror

JOHN CARPENTER DOUBLE FEATURE

Prince of Darkness (1987 • R • 1h 42m)

The Thing (1982 • R • 1h 49m)

"Halloween" was hardly the first slasher movie; Hitchcock's "Psycho" helped inspire the genre, and Italian giallo filmmakers had fleshed it out amidst the '60s and '70s. 1974's "Black Christmas" was already a hit when "Halloween" hit theaters four years later, but Michael Myers became synonymous with the term. The striking image of an unkillable monster wearing a William Shatner mask identified a primal fear; what if a killer could reach you anywhere, even in the comfort of your home?

Creating Myers alone is impressive, but Carpenter has crafted many horror classics. 1980's "The Fog" is a haunting ghost story, 1982's "The Thing" is a masterfully tense dissection of anxiety, and "Christine" stands as one of the strongest Stephen King adaptations. Although not all of Carpenter's films were immediately hailed as hits, films like 1994's "In the Mouth of Madness," 1978's "Prince of Darkness," 1995's "Village of the Damned," and 1998's "Vampires" have garnered cult appreciation that improved their reputation.

RSVP and get 15% off beer that night. Grab some popcorn and film club with us at Arches Brewing.