All that really needs to be said about the writing and directing is this: a movie set in the 1990's that includes an angry mob CARRYING TORCHES!
Please.
And I actually liked the eye special FX. But really, torches?
I am a HUGE Carpenter fan and I agree this is far and away his worst film. I tend to be easier on his films then non-fans and even liked "Ghosts of Mars" but this one is a mess.
shareAgree with the above posters.
I didn't even know this was Carpenter until I looked it up here. I found it channel surfing one night and was completely agog at one of the WORST-shot movies I'd ever seen in my life. I couldn't believe that any of the actors involved would participate in what was so obviously a B-movie ...
... I'm not a film "buff" and so I'm not normally aware of stuff like direction, cinematography, lighting, etc ... but this was so awful that even a run-of-the-mill movie consumer like myself was forced to notice. The dialog was equally poor. Last time I actually observed anything this extreme was in For Richer or Poorer (Kirstie Allie, Tim Allen) - you could actually see microphone booms in that one. Ugh.
[forgot to say that I loved Escape from New York and The Thing]
You think this is bad, it's a masterpiece compared to Pro-Life.
shareWhat are you talking about? Worst-shot movies? B-movie quality? Cinematography, lighting, etc? You talk like you know what you're talking about, but you have no clue, do you? The movie may not appeal to you on the basis of its plot, characters, pacing, etc, but it's undeniably a well-shot movie with fine cinematography and lighting.
sharecome on A BAD FILM u got to be kidding.this is a great
carpenter film compared to the thing and that god awful mars film.u
better try watching more horror films that do more than show people
chopped up.get away from friday the 13th and see something with a
little intellegence behind it,that make u think a little.U LIKED GHOST OF MARS?and u talk about this being a bad film holy cow.
Yea, anyone seriously suggesting Ghosts of Mars is better than Village of the Damned needs their head checked.
shareghost of mars is entertainingly bad. this movie is just bad.
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John Carpenter is a fan of the horror genre and has worked for Universal Studios (eg THE THING) so the business with the torches may have been a homage to the Universal horrors of the 1930's and 40's such as FRANKENSTEIN and its sequels.
shareSuch an awesome film.Carpenter at his best...The Kids were creepy as hell, and Reeves did a jam up job on this.......
You Have a Hard Lip, Herbert..
Better Living Thru Chemistry
I liked 'Village of the Damned' alot. Angry mobs and other b-movie moments aside, I think this is another great credit for John Carpenter, who has only made one film that I didn't care for. 'Ghosts of Mars'. Everything else, even his later stuff like 'Vampires', 'Body Bags', and of course, 'Village of the Damned' I thought were excellent horror films.
Village's already intriguing story is aided by great performances from an excellent cast, and Carpenter's always excellent theme music (I especially like the childrens' theme played when they're all walking single file). The cinematography is great. The almost serene moment between Christopher Reeve and the kid at the cemetary just looks incredible, and I like those calm, brooding, thoughtful moments in a horror film. Carpenter is a GREAT brooder. And if you're the type of viewer who feels intellectually insulted by horror cliches such as angry mobs brandishing torches, why are you watching horror films?
I also really enjoyed "village of the Damned." Although I do agree we could do away with the mob scene.
shareThis wasn't that bad of a movie. It's a good remake that's just as good as the original.
I'd still like to see a Special Edition dvd of this with commentary by Carpenter.
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I'm just wondering what that bus was doing there in the middle of the firefight...
shareI dig it! I love Carpenter; not ALL of his stuff, but the majority. He probably intended some B movie moments, guys.
shareI'm watching it now, and I just don't get why everyone hates this film. I think that the performances are fine, it's creepy and has the Carpenter-ish atmosphere. Granted, the torches is a bit off, but besides that, I think it's another accomplishment for him.
shareI just rewatched this today to make sure that I wasn't misjudging it - but really, I think this is the worst work Carpenter has done (and I've seen all of his work except "Dark Star"). Some people have commented on the movie lacking the director's signature "look" and atmosphere and I agree. The music was not good (again, atypical for Carpenter) and I thought the eye effects were *cheesy* to say the least.
shareLet me clarify my previous statement. There's nothing wrong with the storyline - I don't even object to the torches. They're slightly silly, but in a way it represents the hysteria of frightened people. I'm a sci fi fan, I was intrigued by the story. Even the overly calm stillness in the streets in the beginning adds to the impression that something is wrong, that something unnatural is about to happen. It drew me in, though I kept desperately hoping the production values would get better.
My issue is with the direction and other mechanics behind the movie. I'm not a student of film, I'm only a consumer, so the only things I know about piecing together a movie are from magazines. I'm expressing my opinion merely as a *viewer*, and I have truly enjoyed Carpenter's previous movies.
To me, when a typical consumer such as myself is watching the movie for content and 'feel', wanting to be captured by and submerged in the story, and the mechanics of the film keep kicking me out of that state with their clumsiness, it's ... not right, and not the goal of an entertaining film. I've watched hundreds of movies in my lifetime, and I've only seen *three* that struck me this way. So it's not like I'm terribly demanding. :-)
The performances selected for the final edit of Village are completely wooden - I think Christopher Reeves is a better actor, and so are the others in this film. Isn't this a directing problem, and/or a clip selection problem?
The lighting is flat and yellowish - it was the first thing that struck me, and made me notice the film mechanics rather than staying involved in the story. The original version of Star Wars (1977) looked like this, but that was filmed in the 70's and I assume was typical of the era's technology. Since then I haven't seen this type of lighting and I presume that the technology has improved. Was it a deliberate "retro" effect? Was it supposed to be "eerie"? Or was it just poor and nobody cared? I don't get it.
Even the cuts from one scene to another seem unprofessional, as though done by a trainee. Perhaps all this stuff was done deliberately for some artistic intent, and I just missed the point, I dunno. But it spoiled my enjoyment of the movie, and that's just my opinion.
I watch films for the same reason, and I never once noticed this lighting issue. And this is easily the best role I've ever seen Kirstie Alley in. She's actually pretty good at playing an arrogant b@tch, as we saw when she first appeared in Cheers. Christopher Reeves is great too, especially in his scenes and reactions to the kids. I guess we can chalk this one up to difference of opinion, because everything you thought went wrong, I thought went right.
"Your attention, please. Tromaville high school will be temporarily closed for remodelling!"
<I> by - thejenx-1 on Tue Oct 31 2006 14:29:10 I'm just wondering what that bus was doing there in the middle of the firefight...</I>
I could be wrong on this but it looked like an Army Bus, albeit a silver version, so it would have been carrying backup, if I am thinking rightly that is, again, I could be wrong
Wrestling and Horror. The perfect combination
The mob had pitch-forks too...I kid you not!!! Just watched this for the first time, it's not awful but easily one of Carpenter's lesser works.
Reeve (RIP) was mailing this performance in, editing was poor etc etc
I loved the original (which I haven't seen in years) but this was too much a carbon copy of that one, down to what the kids were wearing in the film!!!!
I saw this in the movies and thought that it was JC's worst movie to date (and I'm a big fan). For years I just ignored it, but I recently decided to watch it again. Overall, not that bad. My biggest complaint is just still how flat the film looks. With the exception of a few effective angles and dolly shots, you would think a sit-com director did this. Very little of the stylish framing we've come to expect from JC. The cast of has-beens doesn't add to the vibe - although Reeve and Koslowsky are both good in this.
Overall a 6 out of 10. Watchable but could have been so much better.
Well the mob with torches may be explained by the fact that it's set in the 50s, not the 90s
shareIt's been too long since I saw the movie, but I don't think they meant for it to be taking place in the 50's. Even if it was, nobody in the 50's would have been carrying a torch. Nobody has carried a torch since the flashlight was invented.
Every sci-fi/fantasy film requires a suspension of disbelief, and usually a pretty big leap. For example, Cloverfield requires you to believe a monster that is immune to gunfire and 80-pound bombs might come up out of the ocean to attack Manhattan, and Star Wars requires that you believe there was a galactic empire a long time ago and far, far away.
But when the director throws in stuff that makes me laugh at the situation it ruins the effect and I can't buy any of the premise. It's hard enough to swallow a bunch of psychic kids taking over a town, but add in something dumb like a torch-carrying mob and the illusion is blown.
It's been even longer since I saw the orginal, but even then they didn't walk around with torches.
The Thing may be my favorite movie. This film, Village of the Damned, relies too heavily on the static shot of the children's eyes. There is no progression - just the eyes, over, and over, and over. The suspense is non-existent. I found myself wanting the children to kill everyone, and quickly. The deaths are few and far between. The "climax", one cop with a shotgun, is pathetically underwhelming. This film gets a cringing 1 out of 10 and 3 facepalms out of 2.
looked like a D.O.C. bus probably was gonna be used to transport the children if they were actually captured...
shareMaybe it was my light expectations but I really liked this movie. Very atmospheric and to some extend reminded me of 'Omen'. People always say this and 'Ghosts of mars' are JC's worst movies but I like em' both a lot.
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Watching it now... I'm a big Carpenter fan and had forgotten that he'd directed this... I didn't remember until I checked here. I was actually going to make a comment on the torches (not to mention the lady saying "dost thou.") I'm just trying to visualize all these people at home doing arts and crafts, breaking broom handles, wrapping gas soaked old linen around them... maybe afterwards they glued some macaroni to burlap and spray painted it gold. That alone really hurts this movie... lacking the subtlety of the original and then have torch bearing mobs? The Thing is my favorite horror movie, and Big Trouble in Little China is my favorite action movie, but this... wow. At least he came back strong eventually with Cigarette Burns.
sharejust saw it a few minutes ago about 3nd time ive seen it. its what i
call a late night filler.its not great but its entertaining especially at
night.i loved the opening when everyone is put to sleep and kristy alley
shows up and other police and army.kristy is a real bitch in this one and
it fits her well.also she chain smokes which i found a little sexy though
i don't like smoking.chris reeves was not bad either in this movie.if
u haven't seen this movie give it a try.again its a late night movie.
It's a good movie. Bitchin about torches is really stupid.
shareI think your all forgetting the fact that the leader of the mob was the crazed Preacher's wife. Of course she would start using words like "Thou" and carry torches like the old witch hunters of Salem. Since she just lost her husband to the children, you'd think she would act a little nutty and oh yeah, they had pitch forks, they are a farming community afterall. There's a lot to be appreciated in this movie, Carpenter added an extra layer of depth with the inclusion of the David subplot and a few little touches that sets it apart from the original. Such as the children walking in formation, the creepy whispering of the invisible force, and a thought provoking sermon from Mark Hamill's character, just to name a few.
"This movie is garbage and garbage belongs in the garbage bin!"- littlejimmy835 on AVPR
Yeah, Sarah was a religious nutcase; I'm actually amazed that she convinced all the townspeople to go all medieval on the children's asses. Two reasons; this is the 1900s people, show some class; also, a mob of maniacs vs a group of children with mind control powers, who do you think is going to win?
shareIn the 1990's, John made many, many, many poor, poor, poor choices. This poor choice, though, is at least fun to bag on. Hokey, campy and enjorable.
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Well, there was an angry mob carrying tiki torches in Charlottesville just two years ago. One of those angry Nazi's, actually murdered a girl by running her over with his car. If you thought this was dated in 1995, you should see how far backwards we've gone now.
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