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John Carpenter is one of the biggest name in horror history . Carpenter has an wide filmography that has proven unceasingly entrancing and influential throughout the years . Of course , not every single picture show of his is a firecracker , but then again , which director ’s filmography is perfect ?
But as extensive as Carpenter ’s filmography is , he is primarily known for two movies -HalloweenandThe Thing . Released just four years aside , both could n’t have been incur any differently : Halloweenwas a monolithic achiever , andThe Thinga massive bomb , though it saw 2nd living as one of the proficient cult classic ever made .
HALLOWEEN: The Iconic Music
Halloweenis an iconic film for many different ground , and one of those reasons is the music . Halloween ’s sexual conquest ( composed by Carpenter himself ) is an iconic piece of cinema euphony , and it superbly capture the eerie tone of the movie . Even to this sidereal day , the opening strain is synonymous with the horror genre , and it may very well be the most famous piece of slasher movie music ever composed .
It ’s sure enough more memorable thanThe Thing ’s Razzie - nominated grievance from the otherwise spectacular Ennio Morricone though like the flick as well , the score has since been vindicated by metre . trial impression of this was the fact that one of its fresh tracks was used for Quentin Tarantino’sThe Hateful Eight , which Morricone won an Oscar for scoring .
THE THING: The Stellar Visual Effects
When it comes to practical visual effects , it really does n’t get better thanThe matter . The gore , the practical effects , the disgusting beast animatronics – all are spectacular , and all are genuinely sicken .
Now , this is a somewhat unfair comparison , asHalloweencontains little to no optical result to speak of . But that may try out problematic for some modern , more bloodthirsty viewers . Halloweenis perhaps the most pop slasher flick ever made , yet it has zero roue or gore to verbalise of . But even if it did , it simply would n’t vie withThe Thing .
HALLOWEEN: Everything About Michael Myers
Halloweenhas one major thing thatThe Thingdoesn’t have , andthat is Michael Myers . Even people who do n’t check ( or like ) scary movies know who Michael Myers is . Like the music , his name is synonymous with the slasher genre in general .
His bring down strong-arm appearance , silent demeanor , unending pursuit of the Hero , and his seeming unfitness to drop dead helped influence countless slashers to accompany , most notably the evenly intimidating Jason Voorhees fromFriday the 13th . No character ( human or otherwise ) inThe Thingcan even hope to compare with Michael Myers .
THE THING: Everything About The Arctic Setting
Both movies ' preferences are unique and memorable . Halloweentakes the slasher genre to the Americana suburb , serve as a thrilling and appal allegory for mundane evil . ButThe Thingtakes post in the wasteland , freezing , and dark tundra of Antarctica , and it prove more unique and gratifying than the suburbs .
The Thingsuccessfully mines all that it can from its interesting circumstance , and in many ways , it becomes its own graphic symbol within the movie . It for sure makes for a more visually appealing film thanHalloween .
HALLOWEEN: It Has The Stronger Cast
The Thinghas Kurt Russell , butHalloweenhas a unassailable overall cast . Despite being an unknown region at the time , Jamie Lee Curtis has since unfold into one of the most democratic and in - demand actresses in Hollywood . Not only is she the Scream Queen , butshe ’s a genuine movie mavin .
Halloweenalso has the endlessly enjoyable and dead magnetic Donald Pleasance , whose Dr. Sam Loomis has become an ikon of the horror genre alongside his personal nemesis .
THE THING: Its Filmmaking Is More Professional
Halloweenwas made for a measly $ 300,000 , whileThe Thingwas made for $ 15 million . The massive budget difference is apparent . Now , higher budgets do n’t always correlate with quality . Many fantastic films have been made on miniscule budgets - Halloweenincluded .
But in this particular slip , the increase budget help makeThe Thinga far more visually compelling and ambitious film . Beside it , Halloweenlooks like an unskilled student production – which it fundamentally was . To be sightly , Halloweenwas one perdition of a film from a then inexpert Carpenter but by the time ofThe Thing , his novice ’s faults and ticks were gone .
HALLOWEEN: It Has Better Writing
By now , it should be obvious thatbigger budgets ca n’t do anything about the authorship . Well , unless it buys a in effect author . Carpenter ’s book forHalloweenis more compelling than Bill Lancaster ’s , with finical praise go to Carpenter ’s dialogue .
The man certainly know how to write a compelling and alarm speech , as evident by Loomis ’s many iconic monologues and diatribe throughout the motion-picture show . Halloweencontains many classic and instantly - identifiable lines , whereas even the most go hard buff ofThe Thingmay find difficultness thinking of a exclusive illustrious quote that is n’t a punchline or a one - liner .
THE THING: It’s Arguably More Disturbing
Both motion-picture show approach repulsion in unlike way . Halloweentakes a quieter approach shot , favoring tense build - up and " Did I just see that ? " scares over outright violence and gore . The Thingcombines paranoia with a helpless atmosphere and skanky creature - found gore .
Which glide slope is scary is obviously dependant on the personal feelings of the viewer , butThe Thing ’s gore ca-ca it more disturbing and unforgettable . Literally , who can bury that guy ’s head melting off his organic structure and change state into a spider ?
HALLOWEEN: It Has More Iconic Scenes
The Thingbombards the looker with horrific gore , but the subtler approach path ofHalloweenhas bestow itself to more iconic scene . picture that , to this day , are homaged by other aspiring film producer .
Cases in point : The opening sequence with Michael killing his babe , Michael ’s safety valve from the mental institution . Michael stalk Laurie throughout town . Michael emerging from the backseat of Annie ’s car . Bob ’s execution and Michael playing ghost with Lynda . Loomis ’s aforementioned speeches . The terminal opposition with Laurie and Michael . Michael ’s physical structure disappearing . It ’s all fantastic stuff , and it all helped makeHalloweenan undeniable classic .
THE THING: It’s More Ambitious
The Thing ’s increased budget leave in an undeniably more ambitious film . Of course , there ’s the gore and awful transmutation sequences that putsHalloweenand its pathetic taste for stab to pity . But it ’s also grander in scale , open with a helicopter Salmon P. Chase through the bare permissive waste of Antarctica , continue to a monumental UFO crash site , ending with MacReady facing The matter and destroying the outpost with dynamite .
There ’s also the fact that The Thing threatens the very macrocosm of humanity , not just some teenagers in suburbia . Not to discredit their fictional deaths , of course of action , but a few dead adolescent is nothing compared to the complete obliteration of civilisation .
NEXT : John Carpenter ’s The Fog : 10 Behind - The - Scenes fact About The Movie
