“Christine” Puts A Spell On You!
It’s Halloween season, and that means a chance to re-watch some great cult horror – and great Directors like John Carpenter!
In 1983, Carpenter took Stephen King’s new horror novel “Christine” and turned it into one of his most enduring films.
The Director has admitted that after the failure of his 1982 classic “The Thing”, he needed to take a project that could reestablish him…so why not take a brand new Stephen King novel and create a world of a “killer car?”
Keith Gordon stars as a nerd who is being bullied at school…but when he buys a car that has an evil personality, he comes under its spell and vengeance begins.
Check out the trailer:
The film has a “Stand By Me” feel to it: King also wrote that novel, which Director Rob Reiner made into a classic “coming of age” film…which is what “Christine” is as well – with a horror element that takes it to the next level!
Keith Gordon stars as a nerdy who is bullied at school, with only one good friend, who is with him with he see a battered and beat up “Christine” and buys it! But, he soon begins to change as “Christine” takes over…
Two soundtracks were released for the film, one showcasing the music written and composed by John Carpenter and Alan Howarth, the other a collection of great songs from that era.
When we open the film in the car assembly line, what song is playing as “Christine” is revealed? “Bad To The Bone.”
Later in the film, as Gordon’s girlfriend – played by Alexandra Paul – is trapped in the car choking, the radio plays “We Belong Together”.
The second soundtrack is Carpenter and Howarth’s original score, with synthesizers, electronics and moog organ heard throughout. It’s subtle and atmospheric, setting a tone of dread…an echo of Carpenter’s iconic “Halloween” score is there as well.
Scenes like Christine’s fiery attack on Gordon’s bullies is worth the price of a rental alone!
“Christine” is a great “coming of age” horror film, and Carpenter infuses it with just the right amount of horror and thrills…
This Carpenter film is worth being analyzed – as all of his films do, because he is such an inventive Director…and this is a gem of a Stephen King adaptation…
Of course, “IT Chapter 2” was a recent Stephen King adaptation – but I also took at look at seven of the greatest films that came from Stephen King books…
You can click here to see my entire list – and leave a comment and let me know what I missed!
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Let me know what you think of “Christine” – leave a comment!
Categories: Books / Media, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Great Films, Halloween, Horror films, Movies, Music, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
I had both of those soundtracks in high school and they were constantly in the tape deck of my “Baby”, a 1966 Plymouth Valiant. I particularly liked when she would play Ritchie Valens’ “We Belong Together”, “Keep a Knockin” by Little Richard, and “Rock and Roll is Here to Stay” by Danny and the Juniors.
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You made my day! I love this movie! 🙂
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So glad…it was a lot of fun to watch again! Thanks for commenting!
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I’ve always loved King’s outcasts and Christine is the ultimate revenge book/movie.
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Exactly…I forgot how much of the bully storyline was in it…his car got revenge form, but unfortunately he got carried away! Thanks for the comment!
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That was one of my favourite SK novels, John. I wanted that car so bad! 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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The novel was enchanting! To have a car like Christine Hmm 🙂
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Oh, yes! I still want that car, Karolina. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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Indeed!
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It’s a fun 80’s movie, to me a bit of “Stand By Me” meets “evil car!”
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I think it was a fine adaptation of King’s novel. 🙂
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Oh, wow. I haven’t thought about that one in years 🚗
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Christine, I remember reading the book and watching the movie. I was pretty young when I did both.This has never been one of my favourite King books, I think that is because I like vampires and ghosts more than cars. I didn’t like Cujo that much either.
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What I found interesting is that it has a lot of “Stand By Me” elements, with an outcast being bullied, etc. But then of course he buys an evil car and that changes everything! I’m not a fan of these normally, but it was fun to take part in the blogathon, and this film had a unique 2-part soundtrack!
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I enjoyed the book of Stand by Me, it’s called something else but I can’t remember what right now. I haven’t seen that particular film, and, yes, I do see the correlation.
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It was a novella called “The Body”….
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Yes, that is the one. Thanks John.
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