October on the Criterion Channel Features John Carpenter, Body Horror, Edward Yang, Hong Kong, and More

      Having moved from the '70s through the '90s, the Criterion Channel is set to logically continue its October lineup with “2000s Horror,” which includes popular titles (The Others, What Lies Beneath), arthouse films (Trouble Every Day, May), and some late-period entries (Ghosts of Mars, Toolbox Murders). Ghosts will also feature in Criterion’s extensive John Carpenter series, allowing a fresh look at his 2001 work, Vampires, and Memoirs of an Invisible Man—all deserving of recognition. Additionally, the “Body Horror” selection showcases the essential works of Cronenberg along with Hiroshi Teshigahara, Ishiro Honda, and William Friedkin’s Bug.

      The horror theme carries on with a six-film collection from Jean Rollin and Criterion Editions of The Others and Altered States; this series also includes To Sleep with Anger, Pierrot le fou, A Woman is a Woman, My Winnipeg, plus two titles that have been out of print longer than many individuals have been alive—John Woo’s The Killer and Hard Boiled. These films are part of what is undoubtedly the month’s most impressive offering: “Hong Kong Action Classics,” which includes various recent restorations from Shout! featuring Woo, Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam, and the Chinese Ghost Story trilogy (the latter incorporated into a broader Hong Kong horror program) along with films by Yuen Woo-ping and Johnnie To. Compiling all these films in one collection is arguably the most effective use of the streaming model since... well, I can't even say.

      In addition, recent restorations of Edward Yang’s Mahjong and A Confucian Confusion will be available to stream alongside Yi Yi, A Brighter Summer Day, and Taipei Story. On the restoration front, October also presents several films by Charles Burnett, Christiane F., Robina Rose’s significant find Nightshift, and Claire Denis’ lesser-known, exceptional No Fear, No Die.

      Below is the complete lineup along with additional information at the Criterion Channel:

      [•REC], Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza, 2007*

      Altered States, Ken Russell, 1980

      Among Grey Stones, Kira Muratova, 1983

      The Annihilation of Fish, Charles Burnett, 1999

      Assault on Precinct 13, John Carpenter, 1976

      The Asthenic Syndrome, Kira Muratova, 1989

      A Better Tomorrow, John Woo, 1986

      A Better Tomorrow II, John Woo, 1987

      A Better Tomorrow III: Love & Death in Saigon, Tsui Hark, 1989

      Big Trouble in Little China, John Carpenter, 1986

      Brief Encounters, Kira Muratova, 1967

      Bug, William Friedkin, 2006

      Bullet in the Head, John Woo, 1990

      By the River, Sofía Camargo, 2019

      Les carabiniers, Jean-Luc Godard, 1963

      Change of Fate, Kira Muratova, 1987

      A Chinese Ghost Story, Ching Siu-tung, 1987

      A Chinese Ghost Story II, Ching Siu-tung, 1990

      A Chinese Ghost Story III, Ching Siu-tung, 1991

      Christiane F., Uli Edel, 1981

      Christine, John Carpenter, 1983

      City on Fire, Ringo Lam, 1987

      The Cockettes, David Weissman and Bill Weber, 2002

      A Confucian Confusion, Edward Yang, 1994

      Dahmer, David Jacobson, 2002

      Dark Star, John Carpenter, 1974

      Daughters of Darkness, Harry Kümel, 1971

      The Descent, Neil Marshall, 2005

      The East Is Red, Ching Siu-tung and Raymond Lee, 1993

      Escape from L.A., John Carpenter, 1996

      Escape from New York, John Carpenter, 1981

      Evil Cat, Dennis Yu, 1987

      Fascination, Jean Rollin, 1979

      The Fly, David Cronenberg, 1986

      Ganja & Hess, Bill Gunn, 1973

      Ghosts of Mars, John Carpenter, 2001

      The Glass Shield, Charles Burnett, 1994

      The Grapes of Death, Jean Rollin, 1978

      Hard Boiled, John Woo, 1992

      Heroes Shed No Tears, John Woo, 1984

      Hooligan Sparrow, Nanfu Wang, 2017

      In the Mouth of Madness, John Carpenter, 1994

      The Killer, John Woo, 1989

      Lake Mungo, Joel Anderson, 2008

      Lips of Blood