John Carpenter’s “Apocalypse Trilogy” (The Thing – 1982, Prince of Darkness – 1987, In the Mouth of Madness – 1995) was not conceived as a trilogy, but Carpenter later dubbed these three films as such because of their thematically connections and their “bleak endings.” Carpenter scholar Robert C. Cumbow brings his enthusiasm for Carpenter’s filmography to SIFF with a focus on how Prince of Darkness merges theoretical physics and modern technology with the gothic supernatural, and how Carpenter wades hip-deep into the maddening, creature-haunted world of H. P. Lovecraft with In the Mouth of Madness. But that’s not all: Cumbow also illuminates Cigarette Burns and Pro-Life, the two underseen hour-long films Carpenter contributed to Showtime’s Masters of Horror series, and shows how both of them extend the themes and vision of the “Apocalypse Trilogy.” Registrants are encouraged to have viewed or be familiar with the films that are the focus of this class (links to stream online provided, $3-$10 per film). More info: John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy and After – Hybrid Class (siff.net)
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