'What you fear most... is among you.'

The Thing is a 1982 science fiction-horror starring Kurt Russell as R.J Macready, member of an American research team based in Antartica. Their research is interupted when a group of seemingly insane Norwegian scientists turn up in pursuit of a dog. The helicopter they are riding in is destroyed, leaving no explanation for the chase. The dog is taken inside, where it is cared for with the rest of the teams sled-dogs. During the night, the dog begins to mutate and attacks the other dogs, absorbing them into its mass. After an expedition to the Norwegian base,  Macready and the rest of the team realise the dog was in fact infected by an alien discovered by the Norwegians. The team soon realise that the alien life form also infected some of their members, can they destroy the alien threat before it spreads to the rest of the world?

'You see them on the street. You watch them on TV. You might even vote for one this fall. You think they're people just like you. You're wrong. Dead wrong.'

They Live is a 1988 action film starring former wrestler Roddy Piper as Nada, an out of work construction worker, moving from town to town looking for a job. After spending the night at a soup kitchen, Nada discovers a case full of sunglasses in the ruins of a church across the street. Nada dons the sunglasses, and discovers a terrible secret. The sunglasses have enabled him to see the true face of the world. Billboards that once advertised holidays now simply read 'OBEY', money has the phrase 'THIS IS YOUR GOD' printed on it.  Worst of all the wealthy, upper classes are revealed to be hidieous skeletal aliens, using their subliminal messages to enslave mankind. With this knowledge, Nada sets out to destroy the aliens, and free mankind, without them even knowing it.

'New York City has Become the Only Maximum Security Prison for the Entire Country. Once You go In, You don't Come Out... Until Today'

Escape from New York is a 1981 action film starring Kurt Russell, Donald Pleasance, Lee Van Kleef, Ernest Borgnine and Isaac Hayes. In the near future, crime levels have risen so dramatically that New York City itself has been turned into a maximum security prison. En-route to a conference that could end World War III, the President of the United States is shot down over Manhattan. It is up to Snake Plissken, former war hero and new inmate to rescue the President. If he succeeds, he will be freed. If he fails, he will be killed.

Catalogue in progress

Books

-The Films of John Carpenter, John Kenneth Muir, 2000 (Long Road Library):

This book is a useful source as it offers insights into all aspects of the three films I have chosen to study, including their messages, critical responses, and puts them in context with the rest of Carpenter’s films.

- Yippee Kay Ay MovieGoer! Writings on Bruce Willis, Badass Cinema and Other Important Topics, 'Vern', 2010:  

      Shows another interpretation of the film ‘They Live’. Of little value due to it’s comedic tone and lack    of relevant content.

Internet
-IMDB, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000118/
-Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carpenter
-Official website, http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/pages/home.html
-Capitalists from Outer Space: http://www.situation-rus.narod.ru/mater/theylive/theystillive.htm

Magazines
-Empire, issue 256
-Sight and Sound, Volume 13, Issue 12, December 2003 'What a Carve up!' by Mark Kermode.

Ideas

I have decided to focus on John Carpenter for my film studies research project. I have watched many of his films and have read a small amount abount him. I have made this decision as I am interested in how he takes on many different roles as well as directing, and seeing on how that reflects on his directorial style. I am also particularly curious about the criticisms made by Carpenter of Hollywood and the studio system. I have decided that my focus film will be They Live(1988) as it clearly comments on Carpenters view of Hollywood and society on the whole. The other films I have chosen are The Thing(1982) and  Escape From New York(1981) as they clearly show Carpenters anti establishment tendencies.