- John Carpenter watched Greta Gerwig’s Barbie and found it perplexing but praised Margot Robbie’s performance.
- The film has been divisive among audiences, some praising its feminist messages and others criticizing it.
- Carpenter’s latest project is a Peacock miniseries called John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams, marking his first television work since 2005.
Famed horror director John Carpenter recently shared his thoughts on Greta Gerwig’s film Barbie, admitting that the movie went “right over” his head. Carpenter, known for directing classic horror films like The Thing and Halloween, discussed watching the film from the comfort of his home in a conversation with the LA Times.
While Carpenter may not have fully understood the movie, he did praise Margot Robbie’s performance, calling her “fabulous.” Barbie has garnered both critical acclaim and controversy due to its feminist and humanistic approach, sparking strong emotional reactions from audiences. Political commentator Ben Shapiro, for example, criticized the film’s messaging and even burned a Barbie doll during a 43-minute rant.
Last month, Warner Bros. confirmed they would campaign for the film in top Academy Award categories, potentially leading to Robbie becoming the second woman to be nominated for Best Film (as a producer) and Best Actress in the same year.
Moving on to his own work, Carpenter is gearing up for the release of his new Peacock miniseries, John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams. This project marks his first foray into television since 2005’s Masters of Horror series and explores true tales of terror that occurred in seemingly perfect American hometowns. Carpenter serves as a series producer and composed the theme music, as well as directing an episode of the show.
While fans eagerly await the possibility of Carpenter directing another feature film, he expressed interest in finding the right project or budget, but also discussed the contrast between his love for music and filmmaking, calling music “the purest art form there is.”
John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams premieres on Peacock on Friday, October 13.