<DIV><DIV><B>From his hands-on filmmaking style to his writing and his composing?an indispensable guide to the ultimate cult auteur</B></DIV><DIV> </DIV><DIV>One of the most iconic directors of American cinema, John Carpenter has astonished audiences the world over with his tightly crafted horror, thriller, and science-fiction films. Not just a director, Carpenter's talents also extend to writing the screenplays and soundtracks to many of his films, and this guide covers his work as a director, composer, writer, and producer. It examines Carpenter's influences and style and the films that have, in turn, been influenced by him. From the existential comedy classic <I>Dark Star</I> through to the terrifying smash hit <I>Halloween</I>, the taut siege of <I>Assault on Precinct 13</I> to the visceral <I>Vampires </I>there's action and tension all around. But it's not all ghosts from <I>The Fog</I> or horrific mutations in <I>The Thing</I>, there's time for romance in the science-fiction road movie <I>Starman </I>and even for the King himself in the superior bio-pic <I>Elvis: The Mov</I>ie. John Carpenter's films are always memorable, distinctive, and unashamed of their genre roots.</DIV></DIV>