John Carpenter – the man who can get the maximum fright out of every dollar

Many have dear childhood memories of having been frightened by a John Carpenterfilm. Take the ”All saints ' bloody night” (1978), who virtually created the slasherfilmgenren, or dystopin ”Escape from New York” (1981) – few can have so much fear and tension out of a wagered dollar as effective John Carpenter.

On Thursday visited the he the American pavilion in Cannes. He told about how it is when his old movies now will be recorded again:

– If the film company owns the rights to the film, I do nothing. If it is material I have written, I am sitting in my easy chair and holds out his hand like this – he demonstrates – and waiting for my check.

the small room cheering. Carpenter was interviewed by Keith Simanton, editor filmdatabassajten IMDB. Carpenter is in Cannes because the French critics awarded him the Carrosse d'or prize. In recent years it has gone to Martin Scorsese and Werner Herzog, " says Simonton.

"It was a huge mistake that I got it, I was probably mistaken with someone," smiles the 71-year-old Carpenter.

He will check with baseballkepsen in the hand. You see that his thin, grey hair ending in a small ponytail. He has the perfect old-anekdotberättarrasp in his voice.

Jamie Lee Curtis in ”All saints 'bloody night'. Photo: svT

where Jamie Lee Curtis was being chased by a maniac with a knife, began with a proposal from a producer. The producer had a title: ”Barnvaktsmorden”. All american teens had been baby-sitting service. The title was changed but the barnvaktsjakt it was. It got jättepublik and because it cost so little to record, the film is one of the most profitable ever.

Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in ”Escape from New York”. Photo: Moviestore Collection/REX

”Escape from New York” was inspired in part by the ”Death wish - the violent enemy no. 1” (1974), where New York city is portrayed as a lawless hell. Carpenter had written the lead role, the ferocious hero Snake Plissken, with the view of Clint Eastwood. It was Kurt Russell instead:

" It turned out that Kurt played Clint Eastwood instead, so it worked out fine.

several times with Russell, and speaks warmly of him, ”every morning, every day, you can count on Kurt”.

However, he has not the same bright image of the producers. It has most touched that they want to put themselves in the final design of his films, " he says. What it was for battles? Asch, they are themselves equal, ”always about the same gormande and screaming and calling each other things.”

he tells his favourite story about the producenttypen: A producer, a screenwriter and a director have been lost in the desert. They are completely dehydrated, about to die. They come over a hill and there, just below them, water! The crystal clear, shimmering, wonderful. They get there, the director shall take a first sip...

"Then," says the producer, ”Wait, I'll just piss in it first!”

Carpenter repent, or pretend to repent, immediately:

" No, what's awful, I shouldn't have said that!

”Starman” with Karen Allen and Jeff Bridges in 1984. Photo: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Ever

Carpenter has directed 32 movies according to IMDb. The audience will help him to remember, ”right right right right”, says John Carpenter, the actor was in the film. Simanton seems particularly fond of ”Starman” (1984), with Jeff Bridges, which please the visitors from space. A scene where Bridges revives a shootin 'deer touched Simanton:

" I thought it reminded a bit of ”E. T.” so I was ”a little pissed”, a bit pissed, says Carpenter, but it was in the script so I did it.

four decades of the filming, he can't say a specific moment that has been extra happy:

" Every time I come to a recording I am happy. I realized early on that this is my life, I love it here, I love directing, I love it when it is recording.

the Hall is full of young hopeful filmmakers. They have it good, with the cheap video technology, says Carpenter.

" I don't know why you are here and sit and listen to me, out and filming!

Åjo. He takes enough.