by Anthony O'Connor
2021 has, in many ways, been an absolute shocker. Lockdowns, civil unrest, a seemingly endless ongoing pandemic – just a hellish collection of circumstances. Two good things do exist, however: 1) A new Halloween movie, Halloween Kills, with a score from the great John Carpenter and, 2) a chinwag with the legend himself (FilmInk’s second this year).
After all, you’ve got to take the good stuff where you can find it.
Carpenter, with typical humility, brushes off our compliments about the (excellent) score for the new flick. However, he’s more emphatic when we inquire about the enduring appeal of the Halloween franchise. “Michael and Jamie,” he says simply, referring to antagonist Michael Myers and protagonist Laurie Strode who is played by evergreen Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis. “[You’ve] got the two of them. Michael Myers is a great character. A great monster is what he is. He has no character, really. He’s just a shape, with a mask. He’s a force of evil, he is evil incarnate. He is somebody we can be scared of… and it’s not that serious… Like Frankenstein.”
Speaking of Laurie Strode, her character has gone through so many changes in the twelve (!) Halloween films over the years. In fact, she carked it in Halloween: Resurrection (2002), something Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills (2021) ignore. Did Carpenter ever imagine how iconic a character he was creating? “I’m glad [of it], though I never imagined it. I’m really glad! Jamie Lee – she was a young girl when we made the first one,” Carpenter speaks fondly. “She has matured into a really fine actress and has handled herself so well in these movies. I’m proud of her and she’s deserving of this.”
Of course, this begs the question: are JC and Jamie Lee still mates, chatting about the wild and crazy journey they’ve been on? “Yep! We do it all the time,” Carpenter laughs. “You know, that was long ago, we were children back then. But [Jamie Lee]… she’s a force of nature.”
On score composition, Carpenter has a method honed over years of experience: “Well, we have the basics that we bring from the first movie,” he explains. “But then, most of the score is improvised, depending on what the cut footage is. So, when [director] David Gordon Green made this film, we were inspired and provided music for most of the movie. It’s improvisation and it’s fun and it’s great to do. And I’m really, really proud of it.”
Wait, improvisation? We needed clarification on that point. Was the whole film scored in one epic sesh? “Yeah, it’s not really like that… but it is,” Carpenter answers somewhat cryptically. “We have the movie in our hands – the final cut. So, we start composing to that, to the images. And we have spotting sessions with David [Gordon Green]. He gives us direction and which way to go and so forth. That’s how we do it.”
One of the most delightfully wholesome things about Carpenter’s scoring is the inclusion of his son, Cody, in the mix. A real family affair. “It’s wonderful. It’s awesome. I can’t tell you how great it is!” he enthuses. “We do these movie scores, but we also do these [Lost Themes] albums at the same time.”
So, what is the one score Carpenter thinks he really nailed. The one where he came closest to getting exactly what he wanted? “Oh dear,” Carpenter laughs. “I really liked Big Trouble in Little China. I think that’s fun, I really had a good time with that one. I can’t really tell you why… I just like it and I like how it fits in the movie.”
Carpenter continues to be an enthusiastic gamer, so we asked what game he would make based on one of his movies, if budget etc. was no object. “Well, they did it once already, but I think The Thing would make a really great, in-depth video game,” He muses. “I’d have MacReady [Kurt Russell’s character] survive in the ice at the end. And I would have Keith David there too. The two of them. And go from there…”
The hour grew late, and even legendary directors and composers need their down time. “Well, young man,” Carpenter says, showing his gift for satire is undiminished, “I have a WNBA game to catch.” And then, with a twinkle in his eye, he nodded to your humble word janitor’s The Thing t-shirt, saying: “I love your shirt.”
Thanks, John. We love your movies.
Halloween Kills Original Soundtrack out October 15, 2021 on Sacred Bones Records. Halloween Kills in cinemas October 28, 2021
