This week, Chris and Nick take a look at one of John Carpenter's more obscure early works, the 1978 made-for-TV thriller Someone's Watching Me! The film premiered just one week after Carpenter's breakthrough hit Halloween arrived in theaters, though he actually made this one first -- and, as your humble hosts are quick to point out, it's filled with small glimpses of the masterful suspense and superb visual storytelling to come. That's not to say that Someone's Watching Me! is one of Carpenter's finest, but it does feature some great performances (including those of star Lauren Hutton and Carpenter's soon-to-be wife, Adrienne Barbeau), a nifty setting, and some pointed commentary on sexism in the TV news industry (seriously, there are moments in this movie that would make Ron Burgundy blush!). Join us as we break down the film's most distinctly Carpenter-esque setpieces, consider the constraints that the writer/director faced in working within the boundaries of acceptable TV content, and rejoice at the sight of a beloved Seinfeld supporting player who unexpectedly shows up halfway through the movie!
This week, Chris and Nick take a look at one of John Carpenter's more obscure early works, the 1978 made-for-TV thriller Someone's Watching Me! The film premiered just one week after Carpenter's breakthrough hit Halloween arrived in theaters, though he actually made this one first -- and, as your humble hosts are quick to point out, it's filled with small glimpses of the masterful suspense and superb visual storytelling to come. That's not to say that Someone's Watching Me! is one of Carpenter's finest, but it does feature some great performances (including those of star Lauren Hutton and Carpenter's soon-to-be wife, Adrienne Barbeau), a nifty setting, and some pointed commentary on sexism in the TV news industry (seriously, there are moments in this movie that would make Ron Burgundy blush!). Join us as we break down the film's most distinctly Carpenter-esque setpieces, consider the constraints that the writer/director faced in working within the boundaries of acceptable TV content, and rejoice at the sight of a beloved Seinfeld supporting player who unexpectedly shows up halfway through the movie!