John Carpenter, who hasn’t released a film since 2005’s “Ghosts of Mars,” (a Screen Gems release that underwhelmed at the box office), is back with “The Ward.”  There are some that think that John Carpenter’s best days are behind him, though as far as I am concerned he remains a brilliant director.  Sure, he tends to carp about money a bit too much–especially since he has probably received more than many people will see in their lifetimes–and comes off just a little bit arrogant.

Then again the man has been on this earth a bit longer than sixty years now, so he’s earned the right to display some ego and irritability. Besides, such traits are hardly uncommon among the Hollywood set, though I give him credit for stating what he feels upfront, as opposed to acting as if such things don’t matter to him.

Though, what matters most is if he can still craft scenarios that allow us to suspend our disbelief (if only for just a moment) in oftentimes fantastical situations.  If he can, if for just a moment, take us away from what we believe to be comfortable, and immerse us up to our necks in unrelenting horror?

If he can still do those things, I can care less about his ego or just about anything else, because he would have earned the right to be smug.