John Carpenter On Whether Horror Movies Are Better In Theaters

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The legendary director John Carpenter has his say on whether horror movies are better watched in theaters or at home. Carpenter, 74, is also a writer, producer and score composer on dozens of Hollywood movies spanning decades and genres. He is widely credited with popularizing the slasher genre in horror with his 1978 film Halloween, which introduced the world to the silent, stalking specter of Michael Myers. Some of his other most famous films are action thrillers, including Escape From New York and Big Trouble In Little China (both of which starred '80s hero Kurt Russell), though his best work arguably comes in the horror genre. As well as Halloween, Carpenter’s 1982 remake The Thing is regarded as a classic, and his other spooky hits include The Fog, Christine, and In the Mouth of Madness.

While The Thing is perhaps his greatest horror creation, Halloween has endured the test of time and spawned numerous sequels, most recently 2021’s Halloween Kills. The newest movie came out following two years of uncertainty for the industry, with many films being moved to streaming or delayed for months on end during the pandemic. The moviegoing experience has been scrutinized with newfound intensity as a result, and many are wondering if theaters will one day become obsolete.

Related: John Carpenter’s Five Favorite Horror Movies 

Talking to AV Club, Carpenter says he prefers to enjoy films as a spectator rather than a participant these days. When asked whether horror movies are better in theaters, he responds “Yeah, it’s more fun,” but he argues that “it can work in the privacy of your house.” The filmmaker further posits that it “depends on how good the movie is” when determining whether it’s better on a big screen.

The director