Stephen King’s Only John Carpenter Collaboration Is 1 of the Most Underrated Horror Films of the ’80s

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When two great horror directors team up, the results can be amazing, especially when Stephen King is involved. He famously worked with George A. Romero on the cult classics *Creepshow* and *The Dark Half* in the 80s and 90s. Several of Romero’s films were based on King’s stories, and Oz Perkins’ recent film, *The Monkey*, was a big success despite its low budget. In 1983, King also collaborated with John Carpenter, a legendary horror director, to adapt *Christine*, a novel King had just published.

Carpenter only directed one film based on a Stephen King story: *Christine*. He was originally going to direct the 1980s version of *Firestarter*, but he dropped out when the studio reduced the budget after some other Stephen King adaptations weren’t successful. Years later, Carpenter composed the music for the 2022 *Firestarter* remake with his son and Daniel Davies. Aside from *Christine* and the *Firestarter* soundtrack, Carpenter and King never collaborated on any other projects.

Christine Was Liked Well-Enough by Critics and Fans, but Not Stephen King

Despite being a popular book and one Stephen King believed would make a great movie, *Christine* received mixed reactions from readers. King intended it as a tribute to classic cars, but some found the story awkward and the dialogue weak. Nevertheless, the film adaptation performed well in theaters, earning more than twice its $9 million production cost.

While “Christine” didn’t receive rave reviews upon its release, it’s now a beloved cult classic, currently holding a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Stephen King himself was notably critical of John Carpenter’s film adaptation, naming it as one of only two adaptations of his work that he found unengaging.

Stephen King was disappointed with the movie adaptation of *Christine*, feeling it didn’t live up to the story’s potential. He admitted he’d prefer a flawed film over a dull one. While some believe the movie could have been improved by exploring the car’s history more fully, many viewers actually found the mystery surrounding its possession to be more frightening.

Christine Isn’t the Best Stephen King Adaptation, but it May be His Most Underrated

As a huge Stephen King fan, I’ve seen a *lot* of his books turned into movies. It’s tough to pick the *best* one – titles like *The Shining*, *The Green Mile*, and *The Shawshank Redemption* always come up. But honestly, I think *Christine* is seriously underrated. For a movie that’s over 40 years old, it still holds up remarkably well, and I wish it got more attention!

Keith Gordon delivers a standout performance as Arnie Cunningham, convincingly transforming from a shy, awkward kid into someone powerfully possessed. While a relatively unknown actor at the time, he shared the screen with a talented group of seasoned veterans like Harry Dean Stanton, Robert Prosky, and Roberts Blossom (known from *Home Alone*). The film’s music, entirely composed and performed by John Carpenter, is also exceptional – a hallmark of his best work. The *Christine* soundtrack is considered one of his finest and was re-released on vinyl in 2017, later included on his *Anthology* album.

John Carpenter’s *Christine* features impressive special effects, notably involving the destruction of around 17 cars – a process that consumed about 15% of the film’s total budget. Beyond the fiery crashes and crumpled metal of numerous Plymouth Furies, a clever effect was achieved in one scene using hydraulic pumps and cables to crush a car, then filming the sequence in reverse to create the illusion of the car repairing itself.

Even without explaining how the car became possessed, the film effectively convinced viewers of its sentience. It used the radio and lighting to create a personality that felt jealous and vengeful, ultimately leading to several deaths throughout the story.

Will Christine Ever Get a More Faithful Adaptation?

Christine remains a standout story, and a modern remake could be very successful. While John Carpenter’s version was well-made, a new film with improved special effects and a deeper exploration of the characters and original novel – similar to Mike Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation of Carrie – could really resonate with audiences.

In 2021, plans were underway for a remake of the film *Christine*. Bryan Fuller discussed his ideas on the *Kingcast* podcast, explaining that his version would be a more accurate adaptation of Stephen King’s novel compared to John Carpenter’s original. He’s submitted the script to King for approval, but there haven’t been any recent updates about when—or even if—production will begin.

Currently, the only confirmed directing project for Fuller is his debut feature film, *Dust Bunny*, which brings him back together with Mads Mikkelsen (from *Hannibal*), Sigourney Weaver, and David Dastmalchian. It’s still uncertain if Fuller will direct the planned remake of *Christine*, but either way, watching the original *Christine* movie is a pleasure.

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2025-10-09 07:08