Did John Carpenter Actually Make Zombie Movies Without Zombies?

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John Carpenter is famously recognized as the director behind timeless films such as “Assault on Precinct 13,” “Halloween,” “Escape from New York,” and “They Live” (among others). Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a versatile approach to various film genres. However, he is particularly well-known for his mastery in the horror genre.

It’s clear that a significant portion of his acclaim comes from his profound contributions to the horror genre, which earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a testament to his remarkable career. He essentially pioneered the slasher genre through “Halloween” and explored nearly every subgenre of horror films, ranging from vampire movies to possession films to Lovecraftian horror, even dabbling in various styles. However, unlike many other genres, a zombie movie is missing from his filmography. It appears that the horror maestro never created a zombie film, but it seems he may have always harbored an interest in doing so.

Is Assault on Precinct 13 Secretly Just A Zombie Movie?

Analyze several films directed by Carpenter, and it could be argued that he covertly produced a couple of timeless zombie movies, with one crucial difference – no actual zombies. At first glance, this might seem peculiar, but upon closer examination, consider the fundamental storyline of Assault on Precinct 13.

Examining Carpenter’s films may lead you to believe that he secretly crafted a couple of classic zombie movies. What sets them apart is the absence of traditional zombies. However, this idea isn’t as unusual as it initially appears if we delve into the core plot points of Assault on Precinct 13.

In this setting, an unusual partnership forms between law enforcement officers and criminals as they find themselves stranded in a secluded police station that’s about to close down. They are under siege by an unyielding mob of ruthless, inhuman assailants – a street gang with a destructive intent reminiscent of zombies from horror films like Night of the Living Dead. The absence of actual zombies makes this scenario feel more like a reimagining rather than a direct remake, but the role the gang plays in Assault on Precinct 13 is strikingly similar to that of the undead in traditional zombie movies.

In the film, the antagonists lack true character development; instead, they embody a malevolent aspect of nature. The narrative spends considerable time portraying them as mindless, relentless killers with no discernible purpose. They are not open to negotiation; it’s either fight or die, and our heroes struggle merely to survive repeated assaults. Essentially, they behave like zombies except for the cannibalism and consumption of brains. This concept was revisited by Carpenter in one of his later, less acclaimed works.

Ghosts Of Mars Is Assault on Precinct 13… In Space

John Carpenter’s movie, “Ghosts of Mars,” brings together law enforcers and outlaws once more in a united front against swarms of Martian monsters. Remarkably, this Martian-set film shares many similarities with his earlier work, “Assault on Precinct 13.” It appears that Carpenter drew inspiration from his past for this film, incorporating elements such as an adversary that can be seen as a zombie substitute.

In the movie titled “Ghosts of Mars,” we venture deeper into the realm of traditional, eerie supernatural horror. Instead of confronting mere human criminals aiming for chaos, our protagonists now grapple with a different adversary: spectral entities. To be precise, these are not ordinary ghosts, but rather the spirits of an ancient Martian civilization that have invaded the bodies of inhabitants from a human mining outpost. This transformation has resulted in their behavior becoming feral and eerily reminiscent of certain undead creatures.

It appears that two of Carpenter’s films exhibit characteristics similar to zombie movies, albeit with a twist. “Ghosts of Mars” came close to depicting zombies by incorporating ghostly possession akin to zombies, but one wonders why he never decided to fully commit and produce an unadulterated zombie movie instead?

John Carpenter Is Not The Only Beloved Master of Horror

Perhaps Stephen Carpenter chose not to delve into this specific aspect of horror cinema due to his strong association with the genre and the fact that the contemporary concept of zombies in film is largely shaped by George A. Romero’s groundbreaking “Dead” series, which essentially created the modern zombie as we know it today, much like Bram Stoker introduced the pop-culture vampire with Dracula.

George Romero is the pioneer behind the modern concept of zombies as we know them today. His creation, “Night of the Living Dead,” introduced the shuffling, ravenous undead that drag their decaying bodies across the earth to devour the living. These unyielding, indefatigable monsters who will not cease unless their brains are destroyed, have left an indelible mark on our collective folklore.

Maybe John Carpenter chose not to fully dive into the zombie movie genre, given the lasting impact George A. Romero had on it. It could be seen as a gesture of humility or respect from one esteemed horror filmmaker towards another. Alternatively, he might have wanted to avoid being compared directly, understanding that zombie films are essentially Romero’s domain. Despite Carpenter’s remarkable talent and the promise of a fantastic zombie movie from him, it would still be operating in Romero’s realm, potentially leading to unfavorable comparisons.

Is There Perhaps Some Other Influence on Carpenter?

It’s equally plausible that the structure of “Assault on Precinct 13” borrows elements from genres other than zombies. In fact, Carpenter’s initial passion for filmmaking was centered around Westerns. This is evident throughout his body of work, such as the Clint Eastwood-like character portrayed by Roddy Piper in “They Live”, or the casting of Western icon Lee Van Cleef in “Escape from New York”. Additionally, Ennio Morricone, famed for composing the score of “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly”, scored “The Thing”. Carpenter himself acknowledged this influence when he stated to IGN in 2001: “…I wanted to make Westerns.

Initially, I entered this field with the aspiration to create authentic Western films. However, things didn’t quite pan out as planned. While I did produce a few Western-themed movies, they aren’t traditional Westerns per se; instead, you might say they are subtly embedded Westerns.

It’s possible that the storyline of “Assault on Precinct 13” isn’t centered around zombies, but rather a reimagination or tribute to the Battle of the Alamo, with Carpenter adding his own distinct touch. This might be another instance where his love for Westerns found its way into his creative work.

Perhaps it’s just an amusing hypothetical scenario. In any case, whether Assault on Precinct 13 was secretly a zombie film or not is immaterial. The movie maintains its stature based on its own merits. Despite the unknown factors that may have influenced Carpenter during his filmmaking, he has an unique and captivating collection of work that continues to gain more admiration as time passes.

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2025-04-11 23:12