John Carpenter is a legendary auteur. A celebrated composer, you’re probably more familiar with him as a director and the “master of horror.” Sure, most people know him for his iconic classics such as Halloween or The Thing, but he actually has quite a varied amount of directorial credits under his belt. Thanks to Scream Factory, now home audiences can now enjoy three very different films that showcase three very different sides of John Carpenter: In the Mouth of Madness, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, and Someone’s Watching Me, which arrived today on Blu-ray.

Someone’s Watching Me!

Looking at his work in chronological order, Someone’s Watching Me! (not to be confused with Somebody’s Watching Me) is his earliest of the three new releases but comes after his classic Assault on Precinct 13 and at the same time as the legendary Halloween. A straight thriller rather than a supernatural spectacle as he would later be known for, Someone’s Watching Me! is peak Adrienne Barbeau (who provides an interview, as does Charles Cyphers) and is a quintessential example of a primetime TV movie. While it certainly appears dated to even some of his other earlier works like Big Trouble in Little China, this flick is a must-see for film buffs interested in the evolution of a titan director. From humble beginnings comes greatness.

Summary: “For Leigh (Lauren Hutton), it’s the beginning of terrors that escalate from anonymous calls and gifts to lights that mysteriously flicker to prove that someone watches every moment of her life. Leigh fights back, matching her tormentor’s obsession with her own relentless drive to uncover his identity. The prey is now predator – and that escalates the stalker’s game to a deadly new level.” The new Scream Factory release features a new 2K scan of the interpositive, TV promos, interviews, audio commentary from author Amanda Reyes, and “John Carpenter: Director Rising” featurette.

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

An action sci-fi comedy starring Chevy Chase may be the film furthest removed from the rest of John Carpenter’s pantheon, but it’s still ultimately relevant if for nothing else than witnessing the evolution of visual special effects to bring an invisible man to life. I remember watching this as a kid and was disappointed because I was expecting a Christmas Vacation Chevy Chase. Though there were certainly moments of humor, it isn’t the focal point. However, Chevy Chase and his baggage aside, Memoirs of an Invisible Man stands on its own as a unique twist of a familiar story.

This 1992 film’s rerelease delivers a 2K scan of the interpositive, outtakes, trailer and TV spots, and the interesting featurette “How to Become Invisible: The Dawn of Digital FX.” In addition to Chase, viewers are treated to Daryl Hannah and Sam Neill. The tagline on the cover sums up the plot perfectly: “Women want him for his wit. The C.I.A. wants him for his body. All Nick wants is his molecules back.”

In the Mouth of Madness

Another film featuring the talented actor Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) is the most recent film in this Carpenter trilogy (1995) and also the one most familiar to fans of the director. Viewers will mirror the main character and ask themselves what’s real and what isn’t in the Lovecraftian horror In the Mouth of Madness. This 1995 film wasn’t on my radar before, but the new Scream Factory edition has made me a fan. Neill’s descent into madness as an investigator tracking down a Stephen King-esque author who disappeared shows his depth as an actor and with supporting help from master thespians John Glover and Charlton Heston, it may be the most over-qualified cast he directed.

Whether because this is the newest of the three films released today or because it happens to be the most celebrated of the three, In the Mouth of Madness is loaded with special features. The Blu-ray includes a crisp and clear 4K scan of the original film, new audio commentary with Carpenter himself (and producer and wife Sandy King Carpenter), new location featurette, trailer and TV spots, and interviews with actress Julie Carmen and make-up effects artist Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead). I’d pick up all three, but if you had to choose only one, this is my pick.

(Disclaimer: I received copies of these titles for review purposes. All opinions are my own.)