Two nerds build a podcast about old VHS tapes, and it ends up being possessed by an evil entity. Listen to Analog Jones talk about John Carpenter’s Christine (1983) for our Halloween episode!Christine was released into theaters on December 9, 1983, on a budget of $10 million and it made $21 million at the box office.Directed by John Carpenter the man who brought us Halloween (1978) and The Thing (1982).
This film is based on a novel by Stephen King called Christine. Bill Phillips wrote the screenplay.
Produced by Richard Kobritz who also produced Salem’s Lot (Salem’s Lot VHS Movie Review)
Christine’s Cast
Keith Gordon as Arnold “Arnie” Cunningham (The Legend of Billie Jean)
John Stockwell as Dennis Guilder (Top Gun)
Alexandra Paul as Leigh Cabot (American Nightmare VHS Movie Review)
Robert Prosky as Will Darnell (Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Last Action Hero)
Harry Dean Stanton as Detective Rudolph “Rudy” Junkins (Alien, Pretty in Pink)
Christine’s Synopsis
A nerdy high school student named Arne buys a busted 1958 Plymouth Fury and falls in love with it while rebuilding the car. As Arne drives the car around, named Christine, it slowly changes him. Christine is more than a car; she’s possessed by an unknown evil entity that wreaks havoc in Rockbridge, California.
Fun Facts
According to John Carpenter, Christine was not a film he had planned on directing, saying that he directed the film as “a job” as opposed to a “personal project.” He had previously directed The Thing (1982), which had done poorly at the box office and led to a critical backlash. In retrospect, Carpenter stated that upon reading Christine, he felt that “It just wasn’t very frightening. But it was something I needed to do at that time for my career.”
King’s novel, the source material for Carpenter’s film, made it clear that the car was possessed by the evil spirit of its previous owner, Roland D. LeBay, whereas the film version of the story shows that the evil spirit surrounding the car was present on the day it was built. Other elements from the novel were altered for the film, particularly the execution of the death scenes, which the filmmakers opted for a more “cinematic approach.”
You can buy the Blu-ray on Amazon that has deleted scenes and commentary with director John Carpenter and Keith Gordon.
Bonus Movie Review: Halloween (2018)
Halloween (2018) was released into theaters on September 19, 2018, with a budget of $10 million.
This is the eleventh installment in the Halloween film series and a direct sequel to the 1978 film of the same name.
Directed by David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express)
Written by Jeff Fradley, Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down) and David Gordon Green.
Based on characters by John Carpenter and Debra Hill
Halloween (2018) Cast
Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode
Judy Greer as Karen
Andi Matichak as Allyson
Will Patton as Frank Hawkins
Virginia Gardner as Vicky
Haluk Bilginer as Dr. Ranbir Sartain
Halloween (2018) Storyline
Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Come back next week when we review The Rage: Carrie 2 with special guest The Jersey Ghouls.
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