John Carpenter on Letterman (1982)

Y’all know we love us some John Carpenter ‘round these parts. One of the best things is that he has such precise artistic insight into storytelling and filmmaking, but seems utterly uninterested in talking about the process. Whether it’s a panel discussion or part of a larger special on the horror genre, Carpenter always imparts wisdom and wit through his lackadaisical vibe.

In June 1982, the Master Of Horror stopped by Late Night With David Letterman to promote/discuss his upcoming film, THE THING. The host asks him about his career up to that point (HALLOWEEN, ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13, HALLOWEEN II) and then what it’s like to move from a more indie production to working with a big studio like Universal. The absolute best moment is when a clip from THE THING is shown (it’s the sequence where the dog mutates in the cage) and the audience has no real idea what to make of it but knows that it’s pure insanity. Letterman also seems awe struck and at a loss for words (although he has a good zinger) for Carpenter’s movie and Rob Bottin’s amazing f/x. It’s a fun look back at yesteryear, before THE THING would do poorly at the box office (and way before it would be rightly regarded as a masterpiece) with an incredible talent who was just beginning his impressive career.