Pushing Boundaries: Is the Critique of Christine's Legacy Excessive?

Summary

John Carpenter dismisses the notion that his film Christine deserves its classic status, calling it "ridiculous."

Carpenter confesses his lack of knowledge about the film's position in the horror realm but embraces his nostalgic connection to it.

Carpenter expresses his belief that Bryan Fuller's upcoming revival of Christine will outshine his original rendition, offering him well-wishes for success.

John Carpenter believes that the reevaluations of his horror film Christine have been taken too far. Released in 1983, Carpenter's adaptation of Stephen King's story brought to life the haunted 1958 Plymouth Fury, resulting in a moderately successful box office performance ($21 million earned from a $10 million budget). Now, four decades later, this relatively small success is now regarded as a horror genre classic and is consistently ranked as one of Carpenter's finest works. Interestingly, there are even plans for a Christine reboot, being helmed by Bryan Fuller, the creator of Hannibal.

Today, horror fans may have a stronger affection for Christine than ever before. However, Carpenter himself does not buy into the hype surrounding the film's status as a classic. In an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), Carpenter dismissed the idea that his adaptation of King's work deserves such high praise. He exclaimed, "Oh come on, stop, that's ridiculous." Furthermore, Carpenter questioned the reasoning behind the film's anniversary celebrations, expressing his lack of understanding. When informed about its place in the horror genre, Carpenter admitted his lack of knowledge but did acknowledge that he has fond memories of creating the movie. Read his comments below:

"I'm not aware of any of that. You have to understand one thing about me – no one ever tells me anything. But I'm pleased. I really enjoy it. I enjoy it a lot. Especially because of the cast. I really appreciate them. And the car. It was a fun experience. It's not one of my personal favorites, but that's alright. It's a good film."

Carpenter Thinks Fuller’s Christine Reboot Will Top His Version

Carpenter's usual frankness makes it unsurprising that the director would disregard claims of Christine being a horror masterpiece. In fact, in response to news about Fuller's upcoming reboot, Carpenter stated to Total Film (via GamesRadar) that he expects the new version to surpass his own, saying "Well, best of luck to him. It will probably be better."

One might think that Carpenter is being harsh in his evaluation of his own Christine film. However, it was not a particularly personal project for the filmmaker. Following the disappointment of The Thing, a film Carpenter truly believed in that unfortunately performed poorly at the box office, the adaptation of King's work was merely a job for Carpenter, and he approached it in a professional manner. Because Carpenter is a master of the horror genre, even when he's simply fulfilling his duties on a film, he still has the ability to create something of lasting value. While Carpenter may not believe that Christine should be regarded as a classic, there are certainly many who would argue against his opinion.

Source: Total Film (via GamesRadar)