The Roger Corman movie John Carpenter called “irresistible”
The works of John Carpenter are admired in a very unique way. What his films lack in philosophical and thematic insight, they more than make up for in outright action, horror, and thrilling tension. Carpenter is rightfully considered one of the true masters of the genre, having made serious contributions to horror throughout his career.
The likes of Halloween, Escape from New York and The Thing have cemented Carpenter into the annals of cinematic history, from where he can never be erased. There’s always a touch of the “guilty pleasure” when it comes to Carpenter’s films, so it’s no surprise to learn of his passion for ‘The King of Cult’ Roger Corman.
Carpenter once expressed his admiration for Corman when he chose his 17 top guilty pleasure movies, although he admitted that the list could have extended far on from there. Out of all of Corman’s works, the one that sticks around in Carpenter’s heart and mind is the 1958 action-adventure horror film The Viking Women and the Sea Serpent.
It tells of a group of Viking women led by Abby Dalton’s Desir heading out to sea in order to find their missing men. However, in the middle of the ocean, the women come across a giant sea serpent who destroys their ship, and they are soon washed ashore on a strange land and taken captive by a vicious tyrant.
Or, as Carpenter explains the plot and meaning of the movie: “A bevvy of Viking babes in Bronson Caves. Abby Dalton, Susan Cabot and a troop of blondes in buckskin battle a rubber sea monster. Richard Devon leads the bad guys in a massive fur coat and hat. Lots of fight scenes. Lots of spear throwing.”
“Some of the matte shots don’t fit,” he added. “The Viking women want their captured men back for obvious reasons. Corman broke his setup record on this one: over sixty-one camera setups in one day. Irresistible.” Given his description of the film, it’s no surprise to learn that Carpenter perceives it as something of a “guilty pleasure”.
Carpenter has never been afraid of admitting his love for a guilty pleasure movie or two, and in the shape of Corman, he has the perfect director on which to feast. The American pioneer of low-budget independent cinema made some rather ridiculous movies, but as far as they are hated, they are loved, and top of the pile for Carpenter comes Corman’s 1958 sexy adventure.
