The star of “The Factor” was a well-recognized face to director John Carpenter. The position of R.J. MacReady would mark the third time in three years that Kurt Russell would star in a John Carpenter movie (“Elvis” in 1979 and “Escape from New York” in 1981 had been the opposite two, adopted by a fourth in 1996, “Escape from L.A.”). Solely this time, it wasn’t simply Russell within the starring position. The movie known as for an ensemble solid.

The group included Wilford Brimley, Richard Dysart, and Keith David. In a 2016 interview with L.A. Weekly, Carpenter admitted that he discovered the expertise intimidating. The director, who had beforehand solely labored on smaller productions, stated:

“Typically I’d encourage them to do what they wished to do. [The scene where they discover the blood bags opened up] was additionally complicated. I used to be intimidated by what number of actors I needed to work with. I would not be intimidated at the moment, however I used to be a younger man then. Nicely, a youthful man.”

The filmmaker had lots to be intimidated by. “The Factor” was his first true studio movie, partnering with Common Studios with a price range of round $15 million, his greatest on the time. The manufacturing concerned quite a lot of particular results and since it was set in Antarctica and Norway, it was shot on two refrigerated units.

“The Factor” didn’t carry out nicely on the time of its launch, however would finally turn into one of the vital revered movies of its period. That ensemble solid that intimidated Carpenter offers the director all of the credit score for its legacy.