Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Masters of Horror was a really good idea – some of the greatest horror movie directors direct individual short movies of their choice that act as episodes of a TV series. It'd be cool if they did something similar for the crime genre, action genre, film noir etc. The only problem is that apparently Masters of Horror is pretty poor apparently. It's a shame and really makes the series feel like a wasted opportunity. I decided to skip the series as a whole because of this and instead chose to watch a single episode, John Carpenter's Cigarette Burns, since it's made by one of my favourite directors and apparently is the best of the bunch. Well I can safely say that Cigarette Burns is well worth watching. In fact, I don't think it's crazy to state that this TV episode is better than any of the films that Carpenter made from the 90s onwards. I find it to be a superior version of In the Mouth of Madness, also directed by Carpenter. The story revolves around a troubled movie theatre owner who's hired to find an existing print of a legendary film wrapped in mystery, said to have driven everyone who had seen the only screening murderously insane. Cigarette Burns is far more restrained and mature than any of Carpenter's campy films from the 90s. He deals with the suspenseful dialogue scenes very well and, when violence occurs (trust me, this film is bloody) it is in your face and shockingly graphic for a TV episode. Kudos to the makeup department as they did well to keep up with what Carpenter needed to pull of his visual scares. The tone is bleak and nihilistic, and Cody Carpenter provides the film with an appropriately chilling score. Freakish, disturbing and guaranteed to stay with you for a while, Cigarette Burns would be a worthy reason to say John Carpenter had made a comeback…had he not directed The Ward a couple of years later. Best Scene: The film's tense build up leads to a satisfying and gruesome climax

This episode of "Masters of Horror" was incredible. With John Carpenter directing it, I knew it would be good. Boy, was I sure right! I would of definitely liked to see this as a full length film because it was that good. Norman Reedus (Blade 2) who played "Kirby" was very believable on his quest to find the only copy of this extremely rare and only viewed once film called, "Le Fin Absolue Du Monde". At the only showing of this film, many deaths followed, within that theater! The only known copy of this film was then taken by the government and burned, or so it is believed. Although, the character of "Bellinger" believes a copy still exists. Bellinger, played by Udo Kier needs to get his hands on this film at all costs! He is obsessed with this film. The cost, comes to $200,000, which is exactly what Norman Reedes needs to pay a debt he owes on this theater. But, is putting his life on the line to find this film worth the price? Time will tell. Udo Kier who I've always liked since "Blade" did a great job portraying his character: sick, twisted, and creepy. As Bellinger gets closer to discovering the film reel, more dark and mysterious secrets are revealed, or should I say, relived! Hats off to John Carpenter and I hope he does more films like this. This is a must see! Great pace and suspense. Now the only thing I wish is that I could see "Le Fin Absolue Du Monde"! Even if it means death!

"Cigarette burns" is the second MoH episode that I watch, after "Imprint". It follows the owner of a movie theater who is still haunted by his past, and by his late girlfriend's father, who gave them the theater as a loan and is asking for his payment. The theater owner is contacted by an eccentric movie buff millionaire, with an extraordinary request: he must retrieve for him the original copy of an obscure movie called "Le fin absolue du monde", which is said to imbue in those who watch it instant and violent insanity. As the search for the elusive and sinister movie goes on, the young protagonist becomes more and more trapped by the evil aura that the movie and all the history around it exude...While it certainly reminds of movies like "Ringu"/"The ring", from what I have read (and as my personal conclusion, too), the mysterious and ill-awakening movie is only an excuse to tell a tale of increasing depravity and madness, and of how the effects of pure evil transcend the object that first contained or provoked it, as everything and everyone about the movie seems as damned and insane as the roll of film itself. In fact, you can see how the characters who as much as hear about the movie become infected with the evil that it radiates. Also interesting is the Bible-based detail about how, in order to make the movie, humans kidnapped an angel and tortured him, which unleashed God's wrath and punishment.The movie is well directed, and above all the suspense is extremely well built and paced. The ending also makes sense and the whole story is well resolved. It is also very gory and contains very disturbing imagery, but if you're used to watching horror and gore, this won't make your eyebrow go up.

I'd first like to echo some of the other postings here by saying I found this to be John Carpenter's best work in years, it had me glued to the screen.There are so many things to like. The script and particularly the dialogue are quite sublime, building up upon the sense of foreboding established early on. All the actors put in quality performances, this is well directed work. The shocks and moments of gore work effectively, if this had been released in the UK during the 80s it would have been banned as a 'video nasty'.Is this too plagiaristic? I don't think so. While it has similarities to earlier presentations (such as The Ninth Gate), I think there's plenty of room in this genre for more horrors in this style. Rather this than more 'body count' and/or 'torture porn' movies. Like others, I'd have been quite happy to see this (expanded) as a full length movie.And excellent addition to the series, possibly the best. Highly recommended.