There are two different stories in horror: internal and external. In external horror films, the evil comes from the outside, the other tribe, this thing in the darkness that we don't understand. Internal is the human heart.
John CarpenterRead
It's a very good time for horror. This business certainly has changed, but there's still room for serious horror films. Look at 28 Days Later, that's not a tongue-in-cheek picture.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Horror films have evolved, yet there remains an audience for serious narratives in this genre.
In this quote, John Carpenter reflects on the shifting landscape of the horror film industry, acknowledging that while trends may change, there is still significant potential for serious and impactful horror storytelling. He emphasizes the importance of authentic horror experiences, using the film '28 Days Later' as an example of a work that takes the genre seriously rather than relying on humor or ironic detachment.
Themes
HorrorFilmSeriousNarrativeArt
In practice
Example use cases
In a film class discussion, I referenced Carpenter's quote to emphasize the importance of depth in horror storytelling.
More from John Carpenter
All quotes βWhat scares me is what scares you. We're all afraid of the same things. That's why horror is such a powerful genre. All you have to do is ask yourself what frightens you and you'll know what frightens me.
John CarpenterRead
Film buffs who don't live in Hollywood have a fantasy about what it's like to be a director. Movies and the people who make movies have such glamour associated with them. But the truth is, it's not like that. It's very different. It's hard work.
John CarpenterRead
Similar quotes
She breathed deeply of the scent of decaying fiction, disintegrating history, and forgotten verse, and she observed for the first time that a room full of books smelled like dessert: a sweet snack made of figs, vanilla, glue, and cleverness.
Joe HillRead
Art begins when a man, with a purpose of communicating to other people a feeling he once experienced, calls it up again within himself and expresses it by certain external signs.
Leo TolstoyRead
All poets write bad poetry. Bad poets publish them, good poets burn them.
Umberto EcoRead
Pop art is about liking things.
Andy WarholRead
I started earning a living as a poet rather early on.
Wislawa SzymborskaRead
A lot of the shadow self is the home of poetry, story, prayer. My deepest understandings are often released from the part of me of which I am least aware most of the time.
Madeleine L'EngleRead