Turner Classic Movies is heading into The Carpenter Zone next month. The classic film channel just announced its programming for July, and amongst its Independence Day celebrations and traditional iconic marathons is a celebration of all things John Carpenter, as he curates a two-night programming event that he’ll co-host for TCM.
The marathon includes six classic science-fiction and horror films from the 1950s that influenced John Carpenter’s work, which he’ll share introductions to in addition to offering commentary on those that shaped his love of genre filmmaking. The lineup includes The Quatermass Xperiment, Them!, It! The Terror from Beyond Space, The Curse of Frankenstein, The Mummy, and Curse of the Demon. We’re surprised that The Thing From Another World, which he remade with Kurt Russell in 1982, isn’t on the list, but it’s a good group nonetheless.
The Carpenter Zone is just one of many offerings TCM will be showing throughout the month of July. Their star of the month feature will also highlight “Singers as Stars,” featuring films with musicians who decided to give acting a try. Among them are Dolly Parton in 9 to 5, David Bowie in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, and Cher in Moonstruck, as well as numerous other musicals, dramas, cult favorites, and more.
Also on offer next month is TCM Spotlight: American Independents, which celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and “traces the evolution of American independent filmmaking through a collection of groundbreaking films made outside the traditional Hollywood studio system.” Among the many pioneering artists featured in this special showcase are Ed Wood, George A. Romero, John Waters, and David Lynch, as well as other beloved (but less horror-adjacent) favorites.
For more information on TCM’s full July lineup, you can check out their website.
