Simplistic and Intense
Rating: 10 of 10 
Carpenter movies are amongst the most effective and direct of all: Not only cost-effective, although that's a major plus of his films, but also highly effective concerning characters, story, suspense. There is no unnecessary ballast, no unnecessarily neat effects which would draw the audience's attention; Carpenter movies are about storytelling. He doesn't need a famous cast, he rather seems to favor less known actors or those who'd usually not play the lead - so at first sight, the appeal of a cheap movie with little effects and nobody from the upper Hollywood actors league seems rather small.
But once the film has started, the first thing capturing the audience is the score. Being of the same innate simplicity as all the other ingredients of his movies, it is nonetheless gripping and captivating: Being of a compelling intensity, it throws us right into the action. The music promises what will be fulfilled by the climax, but at first, the buildup leads us consequently into the lives of the main characters. Ordinary people mostly, doing ordinary things. Suspense, however, exists by the musical theme reminding us of the conflict yet to come, and various events upping the ante: At a certain point, the critical mass of groundwork is reached and the action sets in, and it is done rather obviously and drastically. In 'Assault', the scene which regains the pace, the ice cone, is amongst the most shocking of all; and then, hell breaks loose. Not in an overdone manner, but carefully and poignantly.
Beauty, horror, suspense and sublimity (as in the paper-shooting scene) necessitate a common ingredient: Economy. As soon as something is overdone, greatness is lost and reduced to a pathetic chasing effects - here, the suspense lies in the small scope with infinite terror and tension: A situation which the audience can relate to, simple but crucial dialog, no unnecessarily blown-up discussions, reminiscent of great American Westerns like 'The Alamo'. Carpenter needs no mediator, his movies can translate directly into experience. Simplicity over pathos.
March 13th, 2000
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