Psych-Out! John Carpenter double: Christine + Starman

John Carpenter steers straight into the psychosexual exaggeration in his film adaptation of Stephen King's novel about school nerd Arnie, who has long been a bullying victim but suddenly gains an unexpected and uncontrollable power when he buys a vibrant, jealous and self-driving car. A car that can repair itself and kill anyone who violates it. In other words, 'Christine', as the car is called, has supernatural horror horsepower that is difficult to control.

Already the film's opening shot focuses on the V-ornament on Christine's cooler, a vagina dentata reference (“Vagina with teeth”) — and the mythological and psychoanalytic antennae are activated, including the reference to the male anxiety about castration. The film's feminine dangerousness is hereby established. And Christine, of course, pursues Arnie's boyfriend and best friend in trying to have the young man for herself. Double Trouble! A film about obsession with obsession on.

A creature from space follows the invitation sent by the United States via Voyager 2 (NASA's space probe launched in 1977 to explore planets in outer space): “Come and pay a visit to Earth”:)

However, the non-physical alien is NOT kindly received and takes refuge in a widow's secluded house, where it clones itself into an exact replica of her just-deceased husband. Karen Allen plays the widow. Jeff Bridges plays the alien, who has three days to reach a collection point in a meteor crater in Arizona, where his mothership will pick him up. Mercilessly pursued by the US Army, which wants to capture the creature and use it for laboratory tests.

Starman is a different film than most from horror, sci-fi and action master John Carpenter. It is both more touching, heartwarming and romantic. Allen and Bridges both deliver a power performance, as the two effortless existences who slowly begin to understand each other. 'E.T.' for grown-ups!

Directed by: John Carpenter
Starring: Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, Robert Prosky
Country/year: United States, 1983
Running time: 110 min.
Formato: 35mm
Language: Danish subtitles
Age limit: Allowed for children over 15

Part of the series: Psych-Out!
Cult and genre film — preferably on 35mm. With happy hour bar before and between tonight's screenings — and wild vinyls on the break gramophone.