tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post1575945529523964417..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: John Carpenter: In the Mouth of MadnessKevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-65249087147246663242013-06-27T13:12:16.698-07:002013-06-27T13:12:16.698-07:00Wow, J.D., that's quite the comment! Hehe. Tha...Wow, J.D., that's quite the comment! Hehe. Thanks for taking the time to write out such a wonderful defense of the film. I think I failed to address in my review that I totally understand why the film is so beloved, and I like it too, I just don't think it's in Carpenter's top 5 or anything. I love that opening with the Carpenter's song, too, and I'm bummed that I forgot to mention it. Looking back on my notes, I had something on it written down, but I just forgot to mention it...<br /><br />And I too liked the way Neill played Trent. I liked the little bit of self-reflexivity when he's talking about how cheap horror stories are...and then Carpenter delivers the most cliche, cheapest scare there is where the music blasts and something pops up out of nowhere to jolt the audience. I think the film has its moments like that, but I also think that it's pretty overrated (again, I want to be clear: I don't want overrated to be equated with bad) considering <i>Prince of Darkness</i> did a lot of these similar <i>outre</i> set pieces so much better. <br /><br />I think a lot of your examples defending the film show how good the script is and how good the performances are, but for me, the film just didn't coalesce into a great horror experience. I did like the narrative structure of the film quite a bit (I liked that it was so different than anything he had done before and is kind of a nice lead-in to the way he would mess with narrative in something like <i>Ghosts of Mars</i>), but the setting, particularly the stuff at Hobb's End, just didn't do it for me. It was too hit and miss to call one of Carpenter's truly great films. A notch below <i>The Fog</i>, another poplar Carpenter film that has some problems, in my opinion.<br /><br />Anyway, I like your defense of the film (especially in the last paragraph), and I'm glad you stopped by to defend the film. I knew I would be in the minority when I wrote this one. Hopefully we'll be back on track with <i>Vanpires</i>! Hehe. Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-54571280990926968862013-06-27T12:53:53.137-07:002013-06-27T12:53:53.137-07:00And this response to your comment is really belate...And this response to your comment is <i>really</i> belated! Hehe. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to these comments. I appreciate the comment, Barry, and I'm glad these are even remotely interesting enough to follow along with. I hope you do give <i>Prince of Darkness</i> another viewing -- if it weren't for this retrospective, I don't know that I would have ever taken the time to watch it.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-19253314749991734962013-06-25T07:34:27.119-07:002013-06-25T07:34:27.119-07:00I am really surprised that you're not a fan of...I am really surprised that you're not a fan of this film! I love it and really do feel, like a lot of Carpenter fans that it is last truly really good film.<br /><br />I love the opening teaser (the crap Metallica-esque music that plays over the opening credits aside) done much like the opening scene from INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, as Trent is brought into the authorities looking visibly distraught and ranting about the end of the world. Neill is excellent here, all wild-eyed and frantic, claiming that he’s not insane despite the straitjacket that says otherwise. In a nice, cheeky touch, I love how the administration drowns out the patients’ ravings with a Muzak cover of The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun.” The bit where Trent groans, “Oh no, not The Carpenters too," never fails to make me smile.<br /><br />I like how Neill plays Trent as a bit of a smart-ass. He’s a little too cocky, a little too confident for his own good and deserving of a lesson in humility which the Cane case will provide. Trent’s not the most likable protagonist but Neill’s natural charm keeps you invested in his character. His philosophy, rather succinctly summarized when he tells Stiles, “Lady, nothing surprises me. We’ve fucked up the air, the water, we’ve fucked up each other. Why don’t we finish the job by just flushing our brains down the toilet?” could so easily be Carpenter's.<br /><br />While PRINCE OF DARKNESS only scratched the surface of the blurring of reality and fantasy, MOUTH OF MADNESS takes it to the next level by constantly questioning what is real and what isn’t. I think is summed up best in the conversation Stiles has with Trent at one point where she tells him, “It’s not real from your point of view and right now reality shares your point of view. What scares me about Cane’s work is what might happen if reality shared his point of view.” Trent says, “We’re not talking about reality, here. We’re talking about fiction. That’s different,” and she counters, “Reality is just what we tell each other it is. Sane and insane could easily switch places if the insane were to become the majority.” his conversation is the key to understanding Carpenter’s intentions with this film – that reality is what you perceive it to be, but what happens when you can no longer trust your own perception?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-66953687614487941912013-06-11T17:34:57.436-07:002013-06-11T17:34:57.436-07:00Great review, Kevin. This comment is a bit belate...Great review, Kevin. This comment is a bit belated, but I'm enjoying your odyssey through Carpenter's work.<br /><br />Although I'm not entirely convinced that Prince of Darkness is the superior film, you make an excellent case. Perhaps another viewing is warranted.<br /><br />I agree that the "blue bus" scene is one of In The Mouth of Madness' standouts.Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-16296647053099508642013-06-11T10:41:47.452-07:002013-06-11T10:41:47.452-07:00Uneven--that's a good word for it. Overrated s...Uneven--that's a good word for it. Overrated sounds a tad harsher than I probably intended, but uneven sounds better. Yeah, the journey to Hobb's End is great stuff, and a nice example of Carpenter going outside of his comfort zone (like he did with <i>Prince of Darkness</i>). <br /><br />I did use the term "Lovecraftian" to describe <i>Prince of Darkness</i>, so I don't know if that counts, hehe. <br /><br />Thanks for the comment. Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-19738287055631527372013-06-11T00:50:34.651-07:002013-06-11T00:50:34.651-07:00Agree wholeheartedly with your views on this film,...Agree wholeheartedly with your views on this film, it´s uneven but contains some of the best and eeriest moments of Carpenter´s career. For me the journey to Hobb´s End and the passing biker is just brilliant, the same goes for the scene with the painting in the reception.<br />Very impressed that you didn´t mention Lovecraft one single time:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com