Letterboxd Drama: Carpenter Sets the Record Straight

John Carpenter is known for his straightforward critiques of his work, but he won’t be sharing his thoughts on Letterboxd.

Recently, an account claiming to represent the iconic horror director appeared on the movie-review platform, gaining traction for its honest reviews of Carpenter's films. This account celebrated classics like Halloween and The Thing, while also criticizing lesser-known works such as Memoirs of an Invisible Man and Village of the Damned. Some reviews defended films that had not received much love from audiences, including Ghosts of Mars and Vampires.

However, Carpenter's publicist confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the now-deleted account was not affiliated with him, stating, "It was a fake account." Carpenter himself dispelled the rumors on his actual social media, humorously asking, "What the hell is a Letterboxd!??"

The filmmaker typically uses social media to promote his music, share his favorite video games, and cheer for the Golden State Warriors. Observers noted a mismatch in tone between his official posts and the now-discredited Letterboxd account, which included more personal stories and detailed insights into his movies.

While it may seem unlikely, many filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Michael Mann, have joined Letterboxd in recent years. Younger directors like Sean Baker and Josh Trank also enjoy a following on the platform, with Trank famously criticizing his own film, Fantastic Four, in a viral review.

Notable celebrities using Letterboxd include Ayo Edebiri, Sarah Sherman, Rachel Sennott, Christopher McQuarrie, Mike Flanagan, Paul Scheer, Hari Nef, Lee Unkrich, and Timothy Simons.

Since directing The Ward in 2010, Carpenter has shifted his focus to music projects, contributing to the soundtracks for the Halloween sequels and the Firestarter remake. Last year, he directed an episode of John Carpenter's Suburban Screams without leaving his home, joking, "It was filmed in Prague, and I sat on my couch and directed it. It was awesome."

For those seeking Carpenter's genuine opinions on his films, his social media history offers a glimpse. He has previously joked about being "sworn to secrecy" regarding the identity of the Thing from his 1982 film and dismissed the idea of an alternate Halloween ending where Michael Myers dies as "total bulls---." He also remarked that the 2011 prequel to The Thing had "one improvement": "they have a babe, a very talented actress."