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Frank's Movie Log

by Frank Showalter

Cast & Crew

John Carpenter

Director, writer, and performer with 10 reviewed and 12 watchlist titles.

22 Results
Release Year
  1. 1974
    1. Director | Writer
      Dark Star  1974C+: 3 stars (out of 5)
  2. 1976
    1. Director | Writer
      Assault on Precinct 13  1976A-: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
  3. 1978
    1. Director | Writer
      Halloween  1978A: 5 stars (out of 5)
    2. Director | Writer
      Someone's Watching Me!  1978
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  4. 1979
    1. Director
      Elvis  1979
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  5. 1980
    1. Director | Writer
      The Fog  1980C-: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
  6. 1981
    1. Director | Performer | Writer
      Escape from New York  1981C+: 3 stars (out of 5)
  7. 1982
    1. Director
      The Thing  1982A-: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
  8. 1983
    1. Director
      Christine  1983
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  9. 1984
    1. Director
      Starman  1984
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  10. 1986
    1. Director
      Big Trouble in Little China  1986A-: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
  11. 1987
    1. Director | Writer
      Prince of Darkness  1987
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  12. 1988
    1. Director | Writer
      They Live  1988C: 3 stars (out of 5)
  13. 1992
    1. Director | Performer
      Memoirs of an Invisible Man  1992
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  14. 1993
    1. Director | Performer
      Body Bags  1993
      Because John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper directed.
  15. 1994
    1. Director
      In the Mouth of Madness  1994C-: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
  16. 1995
    1. Director | Performer
      Village of the Damned  1995
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  17. 1996
    1. Director | Writer
      Escape from L.A.  1996
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  18. 1998
    1. Director
      Vampires  1998
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  19. 2001
    1. Director | Writer
      Ghosts of Mars  2001
      Because John Carpenter directed.
  20. 2007
    1. Writer
      Halloween  2007C-: 2.5 stars (out of 5)
  21. 2010
    1. Director
      The Ward  2010
      Because John Carpenter directed.
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Frank's Movie Log

by Frank Showalter

Hi there, I'm Frank, a husband and father old enough to have sat wide-eyed during E.T's first theatrical run, I've been watching, absorbing, and dissecting films ever since.

This site began in 2003 when I realized two things: I had become the designated “movie guy” among my friends (you know, the one everyone asks about every new release), and I was frequently experiencing the peculiar déjà vu of realizing, halfway through a film, that I'd already seen it. Clearly, I needed a system.

What began as personal record-keeping evolved into this little corner of the internet where I share my thoughts on everything from blockbusters to obscure indies that deserved better.

New visitors might want to start by reading about how I grade films. After that, feel free to browse my reviews. If you're looking for something that flew under the radar but deserves your attention, I recommend my underseen gems section. Or, for those moments when you want to feel righteously contrarian, I maintain an list of overrated disappointments.

I also keep a viewing log that tracks everything I watch, whether it gets a full review or not, complete with stats. In an age of endless content, sometimes the act of remembering what we've seen becomes as important as the seeing itself.

And finally, if you're curious about what's on my critical horizon, my watchlist details the films I plan to review and why they've caught my interest.

In an era of algorithmic recommendations and corporate marketing machines, consider this site a human alternative—one person's attempt to catalog the vast ocean of cinema and maybe help a few fellow travelers along the way.

All reviews by Frank Showalter. All images used in accordance with the Fair Use Law.