John Carpenter's Village of the Damned (1995)

[FendersRule]

If you are a Carpenter fan, then you owe it to yourself to see this hidden gem. It's a perfect combination of The Fog + Prince of Darkness in terms of soundtrack, cinematography, setting, characters, and story.

I cannot for the life of me understand why a fan, or even why just a old-school horror fan could dislike this movie. Why is this movie rare, and why is it so hard to find?

Honestly, I'd rather watch it over:

* In the Mouth of Madness (this movie doesn't resemble Carpenter much at all, but it's good)

* The Fog (I have my own reasons)

* Vampires (it's decent, but VoTD is better)

* Escape from LA (I have my own reasons)

* Ghosts of Mars (after seeing all Carpenter movies, I can clearly say that this is his worst movie by far. It's also his last movie thus far..)

I've seen this movie three times in one week. It gets better each time.

Discuss Village of the Damned!

[SpiderBaby]

You know it's a remake, right? Some people may like the first one better.

[csdot]

its been years since ive seen it but it never really left an impression on me. Carpenter is one of my favorite directors and VotD is definitely one of his weaker movies in my opinion. unless youre going to really do something different (like he did with The Thing) remakes are just a waste most of the time.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

You know it's a remake, right? Some people may like the first one better.

Plotwise, it's pretty indistinguishable from the B/W British version--
More a case of Carpenter doing "homage" duty to all his personal 60's Hammer/British fanhoods.
(Which's how we got "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" in the first place. )

And thus, by his vesting a little actual personal interest in it, it's probably the sanest and most coherent of the post-"They Live" 90's Carpenter movies.
Not one of his classics, but at least you're able to watch the whole thing.

[Tcan21]

and Meredith Salenger had a part in the film

[SkinnyTwist]

I saw it in the theater and just hated every frame of it. I also saw "In the Mouth of Madness" in the theater and it blew me away.

[Monterey Jack]

Carpenter's worst movie.

[Jay H.]

It doesn't feel like a Carpenter movie; it feels like he was doing it for the money, and didn't really have any strong feelings for it. Which is exactly what the man himself has said about it.

I probably would like it more if I thought it was directed by some generic filmmaker.

[critterdvd]

Originally Posted by Jay H.

It doesn't feel like a Carpenter movie; it feels like he was doing it for the money, and didn't really have any strong feelings for it. Which is exactly what the man himself has said about it.

I probably would like it more if I thought it was directed by some generic filmmaker.

I always had the impression this was a paycheck movie for pretty much everyone involved because the studio was hyped to mine their catalog for remakes. Especially since none of the main cast and creatives discuss the movie...

[Mikezilla3k]

Wasn't that bad, but not as good as the original.

The score on the other hand is his absolute best.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX4NEsDmXQg

[Waboman]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Carpenter's worst movie.

Ghost of Mars says hold my beer.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Carpenter's worst movie.

I thought that was

[Monterey Jack]

The Ward is at least competent.

[drush9999]

Village of the Damned has grown on me over the years.
I remember seeing it when it came out, and thinking Carpenter had dropped off a cliff after the fantastic In the Mouth of Madness. I've always bought it on successive video formats and now accept it as part of the Carpenter canon and enjoy it as such.
I'd put it above Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Ghosts of Mars and The Ward.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

The Ward is at least competent.

The Ward is fine, if largely unspectacular.

Village of the Damned is a complete mess that has no idea how to actually use its horror concept.

[Fredluos]

It would have been much better if Carpenter had been allowed to make his proposed remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, presumably with some Lovecraft influences in it - than this!!!

But "of course" the producers "always know what's best".

[Cremildo]

Well, I like Carpenter but think VotD is far from being a great film.

[saxomaphone]

Recently watched In the Mouth of Madness and was amused by how 80's it felt put together. Not a good thing.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by saxomaphone

Not a good thing.

A great thing.

[L.J.]

VOTD is good Carpenter but not one of his best. Is better than Mars and The Ward.