John Carpenter dismisses A24 horror

Last Updated on October 20, 2022

John Carpenter is undoubtedly a legend of horror, a Mount Rushmore-worthy icon who has directed some of the greatest of the genre. And as horror adapts, with A24 working to spearhead the movement, John Carpenter has some thoughts–actually, he has no idea what you’re talking about.

In a new interview with The A.V. Club, John Carpenter had a lot to say about the final installment of David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy and video games (did you know he digs Sonic the Hedgehog?). But when it came to “elevated horror”, he was nearly at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what that [term] means,” Carpenter said. “I mean, I can guess what it means, but I don’t really know.” When the interviewer cited indie production company A24 and their trademark horror films, Ari Aster’s Hereditary and Midsommar, he simply said, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Unless he’s been that wrapped up with the new Halloween movies, certainly John Carpenter has heard of both movies and their director–he did say he only keeps up with “some” current horror. Or maybe his indifference stems from his age (he’s now 74). Or perhaps he doesn’t see a need to label genre movies with terms like “elevated horror.”

Regardless of John Carpenter’s non-thoughts on A24’s “elevated horror”, he does have a busy few weeks coming up. Along with the release of Halloween Ends, which Carpenter composed, he will also be hosting the Masters of Monsters event, where he’ll present various Godzilla and kaiju movies. We know he’s not busy directing, though, as he hasn’t helmed a movie since 2010’s The Ward.

How do you feel about John Carpenter’s comments regarding “elevated horror” like what A24 produces? Should older horror directors keep up with modern trends? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.