John Carpenter’s Most Groundbreaking Characters
Rodolfo at CBR.com did a piece called Top 10 Groundbreaking John Carpenter Characters. You just know I’m going to play along by posting my thoughts on three of my favorite John Carpenter characters and one who didn’t make Rodolfo’s list but should have.
-
Snake Plissken. I’d be surprised if Snake Plissken wasn’t at the top of anyone’s John Carpenter characters list. Heck, Plissken should be near the top of any cool characters list. He’s the classic anti-hero: ex-military, individualist with an attitude, more than capable in any situation and played perfectly by Kurt Russell channeling Clint Eastwood. I’m surprised that there weren’t more Snake Plissken movies made (besides EFNY and ESFLA) and that Snake has become more popular in other media.
-
Napoleon Wilson. Perhaps Carpenter’s least known character with the most potential. Wilson appeared in Assault on Precinct 13 and like Snake Plissken was an anti-hero. On his way to prison, Wilson find himself and a small group trapped in an abandoned building under siege by a street gang. Napoleon Wilson was perfectly played by Darwin Joston in his most famous role.
-
John Nada. Roddy Piper was the perfect choice to play John Nada, an average guy just looking to survive in a world unknowingly under the control of aliens. Nada isn’t a specially trained soldier or cop — he’s just a drifter who discovers a secret that no one would believe and then he takes action to save the world!
-
Romero. While Romero didn’t make Rodolfo’s list, there was no way I’d leave him out of mine. Romero appeared in a relatively small role in Escape from New York. In a movie full of larger-than-life characters, Romero (as played by Frank Doubleday) was as memorable as any and more frightening than all.
