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There's not much I can say other than The Thing is one of the most perfectly made horror/science fiction films in history. Some of the effects may not be holding up to time, but they are so creepy and original in design/execution, that it really doesn't matter. Monsters have never been so horrifying! The sense of dread and paranoia are perfect, with enough "down time" to get you comfortable and relaxed, before hitting you in the face with another scene of horrific alien attack. Recommended to EVERYONE who loves a good scare.
When I first saw THE THING it freaked me out. But the more I watched it the more I began to appreciate all of the incredible effort that was put to make this film. It is by far along with ALIEN the best example of the sci-fi/horror sub-genre. Everything that should go right with a film--this film does. John Carpenter's direction; the acting; and the mindblowing special effects by Rob Bottin.
As a suggestion, to fully grasp THE THING one should read WHO GOES THERE?, the original short story the film is based on by JOHN W. CAMPBELL.
This film was beautifully disturbing. There are so many scenes that make my skin crawl. I think(besides Halloween of course)that this was John Carpenter's gem. Great special efx for that time and the actors are good too. I wish he would have made a sequel but oh well. Sci fi classic in my book.
This movie is amazing, easily one of the best movies by Carpenter. The FX were amazing and had so many awesome creature moments. Kurt Russel also I think played one of his best roles to date being a badass but also trying to be a human being at the same time. All around amazing film.
Posted By: madmondo13 at 1:37pm, September 14, 2009
Theoretically a remake of 1951’s The Thing From Another World (though some, including myself, call it more of a sequel), The Thing is actually both a more accurate version of the short story “Who Goes There,” by John Campbell, Jr. and certainly a superior film. Taking place at a remote research facility in the Antarctic, The Thing tells the tale of an alien life force that assimilates and then mimics whatever it touches. A research team comes across the alien when they find a dead Norwegian team and the remains of a bizarre corpse. They take in a dog that was being chased by the last survivor from the Norwegian base, not knowing that it harbors the creature.
What follows is a tense, claustrophobic picture that beautifully demonstrates both the effects of extended isolation as well as how quickly people can turn on each other and lose trust in those they see every day. It’s no spoiler to state that the team members soon discover what it is that’s hunting them — it’s a predatory shape-shifter that imitates not only appearance, but voice and personality as well. It makes for a truly frightening, paranoid experience as the cast is picked off one by one and they try to identify who has been taken and who could be next. Starring Kurt Russell, Keith David, and Wilford Brimley among others, the cast is marvelous at depicting a group of men whose nerves have become completely frayed, terrified both of their friends and themselves. Preying on your fears of the unknown and of betrayal, it’s a visceral, riveting experience. Once unmasked, the alien manifests itself in wildly bizarre, gruesome fashion, becoming weird tentacle-and-gristle-laden hybridizations of its victims. Carpenter ratchets up the unease and terror by combining the trust-no-one theme with nerve-wrackingly tight spaces, and then preventing escape due to the ever-present threat of death by freezing outside.
The Thing belongs in the company of the great tin can movies such as Alien and The Abyss. It’s a gut-clenching piece of filmmaking that probably ties with Halloween for the apex of Carpenters achievements.
one of my all-time favorite movies! hey slasher17, you do know the thing takes shape of whatever it wants as a disguise. so the dog, various crew members are the thing. you actually see the thing 90% of the movie
This movie is pretty good. The only thing I didn't like about it is that we don't see "the thing" a lot. There is about 4 or 5 scenes that has "the thing" in it. The gore and special effects are amazing, but we don't get enough of it. Definitely worth the watch though.
Good Parts- a great horror film, very entertaining, great plot, great acting, amazing on screen killings and practical gore, very creepy and secluded setting
Bad Parts- the only thing i didn't like is that the movie started off a little slow, but as soon as it picked up it was great
Overall a great movie that every horror film fan should buy and add to their collection, it was one of the first movies i got, it is very entertaining and the special effects are amazingly gross!
Another movie that is just so exceedingly amazing in practically every aspect that it's hard to criticize it.
Taking place in the middle of the Antarctic with only a handful of characters, the movie heavily focuses around paranoia. The ambiguity of who's been infected and who's just trying to save their own ass is intense, well explored and unpredictable.
The effects, for their time, were astonishing. Hell, THEY'RE STILL FUCKING AWESOME. It took a really sick mind to come up with all the crazy mutations. The dog is still probably my favorite. Freaks the shit out of you right away; you were never expecting to see something like that.
One of my all time favorite movies. Carpenter's best, with Halloween a close second. I'm waiting for my copy of the collector's edition of this one to arrive in the mail...
this movie is by far a masterpiece. carpenters best by far. ive been talking about this for years but does anybody else think this one is due for a remake? the special effects are fantastic even though its 30 years old. just imagine what they can do with it now. minus the shitty CG thats starting to surface way too much in horror.
This the my favorite movie ever. It never got the credit it deserved (because of ET). I have watched this so many times. The setting is great. Cold and deserted land. The music adds so much to the dread of their situation. Great cast and the acting is excellent.
The story is unmatched by today's standards. Just straight up interesting. The first scene that grabbed me was when The Doc and MacReady go to the Norwegian camp and discover the guy that slit his own throat with a straight razor. Then finding the first "Thing" burned up.
All of the monsters are beautiful and morbid. I didn't care for the Blair Monster only because it got blew up within 30 seconds of seeing it. I love the blood test scene and the Palmer "Thing" is so crazy.
I would love to see a remake, but it will never live up to this. CGI could never match the time and effort put in to the effects of this movie.
Everyone needs to see this. John Carpenters best movie by far. It never gets old to me. I will watch it over and over.
Excellent movie, the establishment of fear in this movieis what makes it great, I liked this movie wayyy more than halloween. Not talking down on it, but I didnt think it was as good as people say it is. But the scene with the dogs was horrifying, I saw this movie when I was 17 and I had to sleep with the lights on for a few nights. Excellent horror movie. The end is one of the best endings I've ever seen
I actually think this is almost too great of a film to go ahead sully with any of MY opinions.
I will say this: this is hands down my favourite John Carpenter film for so many reasons, and believe me, I WORSHIP Halloween.
If you haven't seen it please stop reading this review this INSTANT and watch it... Go ahead I'll wait...
Ok... Now that you've come back all giddy and yet eerily suspicious of your almost 'too silent' wolf hound lets get down to business.
"The Thing" is a film that will satisfy cinephiles and fan boys a like. I don't really believe that a 'perfect film' exists any where but this one comes pretty goddamn close. In fact I love it that much more each and every time I see it.
No, There are no 'perfect films,' but there is such a thing as a 'perfect balance' and I think that just may be the reason this one is keeping me up at night with such a manic fan boy erection.
For starters the writing is, simply put, a master stroke.
The characters: all seem to have those quirky idiosyncratic touches that has worked so well in other films like ALIENS, yet at the same time they never become tripped up by their own gimmicks, in fact these little touches do the exactly the opposite and instead strengthen the believability of the characters.
The story: is literally nail biting and really the best example of truly authentic psychological fear I can think of at the moment. Again the story could have easily become gimmicky with the amount of twists and turns the plot takes but it never once becomes over the top or gratuitous.
The atmosphere: of this film is spellbinding in the very sense of the word. There are very few films that do this to me, The Shining is another great example, but the minute I see it playing I have to sit down and watch the entire thing through. It's hypnotic and it's strength lies in the fact that unlike other horror films where the entire purpose is to make you scared of the unknown waiting outside the room you've locked yourself up in, this movie sets out to make you scared of the very people locked in there with you... Or... even yourself for that matter. Ever time I watch it I wrestle with the question of whether or not I would KNOW I was The Thing and how truly fucked up and scary that is.
Last but not least my friends -
The Effects: are probably the THE best practical effects ever put to celluloid, and 1000 times better than any CG monster has ever been or will ever be. DUDE a guy goes to give his friend chest compressions and his ribcage slips open up like a row of teeth and bites his fucking hands off... seriously you can't come up with a better sequence than that. I've tried and now I just wet the bed every night and spontaneously lash out whenever I see CPR dummies.
This is one of the very few movies I'll give top marks to, for all of the reasons listed above, plus the gratuitous use of beards and of course the appearance of Wilfred FUCKING Brimley.
Posted By: Necronatalusz at 9:18pm, February 23, 2009
Great Sci-Fi movie.
Posted By: horrorfan25 at 5:27pm, February 16, 2009
After the masterpiece 'Halloween', John Carpenter still has his talent with 'The thing'. While some parts can be quite boring and slow paced, the whole project seemed to turn out good.
The thing is about a group of people that are in the blistering cold doing research on a few aspects. But when they found out that their dog morphs into a thing and other people do to they research on what this "thing" really is and they have to protect themselves.
The gore effects were splendid. Every gory scene was believable and the CGI was never over-used to the point where you got sick of it. There were plenty of memorable scenes in here such as the spider head scene and the dog scene. Just the soundtrack playing when the people walk in the cold, blistering snow is eery in itself.
While The thing has more good points than bad, there were some negative outcomes. For starters, the pace was very slow. I thought that some scenes were prolonging and could have been shorten. It takes a while to see these "things" and we have to get through say forty minutes. But that's probably the only negative outcome I could think of.
Overall, while The thing isn't good as Alien or Stephen King's The mist, or even his previous works, it still was well made. That I can't deny. Even though the movie did have it's slow parts to it, it was very good. I can guarantee you there will be at least one scene that is so bizzare and crazy you will freak out.
One of the best horror films ever made. A masterpiece in every respect and has such an incredible re-watch value, I'm sometimes astounded at how much I admire this movie. John Carpenter remains lauded for HALLOWEEN, but THE THING can stand right next to it. Rob Bottin's effects are so gruesome and creative, it makes you wish for the days of practical effects. Any given effects shot in this movie blows away anything you see the chuckle-heads doing with CGI. I love this movie and can't recommend it enough.
one of the best horror movies ever made, as well as a trail blazer in terms of practical effects. i mean look at some of the pics to the right, of the thing's mutations, that's art. cgi could never do that, and for the love of god i hope they don't try to by remaking this movie like some magazines have been reporting. the atmosphere is beautiful and desolate. i love the constant paranoia among the characters. one of the most well paced and structured movies i've ever seen. love how it's kinda questionable who the thing starts taking over first. i mean i know they have that one scene with the dog and guy's shadow against the wall, but i still think it's debateable nonetheless. i'm sure some disagree, but i think it's one of the most satisfying endings of any movie. it's rare for a movie to be satisfying within its genre, and to transcend it as well. the thing does it. it's not only a great horror movie, it's a great movie period. LOVE THIS MOVIE.
God this movie is good. One of the few films I've seen where I find absolutely no faults. The cast. The tension and claustrophobia. The special effects (no matter how good CGI gets, it will never have that real and visceral look and feel of these kind of SFX, IMHO). I just... don't even know what to say. It's a fucking great movie!
Posted By: dawnthing123 at 6:30pm, January 11, 2009
This is my favorite movie of all times, The best stop motion effects ever, great movie from start to finish, great acting, great cast, and fantasic director, john capenter did a great job one of his best films!
I consider this to be one of the greatest movies ever made. While the special effects are great, the fact that the actors can make it where you care about what happens to them without caring about them is what really makes this movie
Combining horror, suspense, and an imaginative progression that keeps the viewer guessing to the end, this movie is a timeless classic.
Unlike the slasher series of the 80's and 90's, this film balanced the danger of the "real" monster with the danger of the "imagined" monster. The rising paranoia eventually turns the humans against each other, making the viewer wonder who's really the bigger threat. For those who really think into the movies they watch, alien and human are acting with the same goal: survival, at any cost.
While gruesome at times, this film demonstrates how it's possible to shock an audience without having to resort to a barrelfull of blood with every kill. The kills themselves are truly imaginative, if only for how "clean" they are (in truth, the humans make a bigger mess than the alien does!).
The special effects of the creature's transformations are truly impressive. Although nowadays many would consider them cheap - even campy - they lend an air of "reality" to the scenes that CGI simply wouldn't be able to match, even with today's technology.
<Spoiler ahead>
Best of all, the film ends on a note almost never seen: You don't know for certain if the hero of the film is himself a monster or not. No sly looks or innuendos, no "gotcha" moments.
You. Simply. Don't. Know.
This movie had some of the most creepy and creative creatures to ever be in a movie. The teams paranoia of one another also made for an interesting movie
Posted By: AshWilliams95 at 6:59am, December 27, 2008
This movie was the best sci-fi movie I have ever seen. This movie was packed with randomness and some of the weirdest monster designs ever. The whole movie was bizzare in a good way. The scene where they try to revive the guy by using the electric paddles was awesome. When the guy goes to put the paddles on his chest his whole body opens up into a huge mouth and chomps his hands off. Then they try to burn it with a flamethrower and his head gets ripped from the body, hits the floor and grows insect like spider legs and crawls around. Got 2 words for that scene: BAD ASS. The fact that the alien is inside one of them without anyone knowing is tense, suspensful and ends up with the group turning on each other. If I was in that situation I would probably kill everyone. The special effects are awesome and the end battle kicks ass to the max. The thing and halloween are john carpenters true gems and I love both of them to death. The acting in this movie is pure brilliance, and the cast was perfectally chosen. The setting and atmosphere just make this movie even more loveable. It dosen't get much better than out in the middle of the artic snow land. The storyline and script is wicked and the ideas are original, funny and pureley entertaining. The end result of this movie is mad and the ending leaves you shell shocked and wanting more, but knowing that sequels usually suck, it's best to leave it as it is. Overall this movie beats star wars or star trek anyday which are considered great by so many fans but I think they're shit boring. George lucas seems like a little bitch compared to the legendary john carpenter and I rate this movie a terrific 10/10.
Posted By: horrorking95 at 2:27pm, December 24, 2008
This film is way too over rated it's ok but not as good as i had hoped it to be, I was having really high hopes for this film but it didn't turn out so great. Some scenes were very slow but it did have a good story so i rate it
***
out of
*****
This movie is must own. You don't what your missing out on if you don't own it. The movie is a masterpiece. I Have seen it 10 million times and it still keeps me on the edge of me seat with all the thrills and chills i love it if you don't like this movie or don't own it. First your dumb if you don't like it and second GO FUCKING BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted By: BK's Finest at 10:22pm, December 13, 2008
Very interesting movie with suspenseful moments. Somewhat boring and slow at times, but that's normal given the time the movie was made. However the gore was amazing, and the effects were good compared to most horror films made in that era .
Great flick, one of the few instances where the re-make is better than the original (The Thing from Another World). Kurt Russell was fantastic, great scares & suspense. The chair scenes are very well done. Highly recommended viewin'!!!
Posted By: tom holiday at 4:01am, December 10, 2008
Another classic by John Carpenter. What John does so well is capture suspence. Hear he does it again just like he did with halloween. Strong characters against an evil they Must fight. The movie just keeps building until the final reel. The ending is very unexpected. You don't know wheather the next person is the thing or not. Very well done john. Keep up the good work.
The best Carpenter film next to Halloween!!! What makes this film so great is the premise of alien actually being inside you and no one knowing , thus ramping up the tension and paranoia all the way to the roof. Remarkable special affects, there's something about body horror and the ickiness of it all that makes it so much more disgusting and gross as aposed to watching someone getting knifed to death. Great isolated setting , great cast, music , great everything! As the poster says 'The ultimate in alien terror'. A must see !!
My favorite carpenter film! I think the thing was so much better then halloween. Im not saying I hate halloween and it is a classic but I think halloween was more marketable with the character of michael myers and thats why it is more known then the thing. This movie has the human horror element in it and also has the most outrageous creatures in a film to this day. The human horror plays off emotions of all the characters in the film, know one knows who to trust and it works so perfectly in an atmosphere where its a blizzard and no can excape the THINGGGGGGGG
Posted By: gorehound62 at 5:49pm, November 18, 2008
one of my favorite films. john carpenters masterpiece. near perfection. lots of great actors, kurt russel is great. wilford brimley acts like he's on the set of a western. some of the coolest special/gore effects put on film. the crawling head scene is a classic. warning: wait awhile after you eat to watch that part, though. its pretty intense.
Posted By: Ralph Wiggum at 8:34pm, November 12, 2008
If you don't love this film then you don't like horror.
After reading the outstanding review given by BD, I had high hopes for this film and wondered if it could really live up to the hype. Make no mistakes, this film will rock your socks off!
It's no wonder that X-Files and several other features have been inspired by this film because the arctic desolation makes for such an incredible backdrop. What do you do when escaping into the wilderness is not an option?
Although firmly planted in the horror genre, the film creates a deep sense of psychological torment akin to the mantle of thrillers. Throughout the film my mates and I were excitedly arguing over who would be the next 'possessed' and why.
Acting by all cast members was impressive, although perhaps most impressive were the pre-CGI special effects. The 'making of' feature in the extras menu highlighted just how creative the FX team were when having to rely on craft skills and puppetry to achieve such an outstanding result.
Get off the couch and see this film, it truly delivers where so many others fail.
Great, Classic, just found a great sight with some of the best classic horror films that I've been meaning to see forever, this was one of them. some of the most psychadelic effects ever used in horror. Just a plain wierd idea and storyline. The infected incarnations were some of the most terrifying images created in modern cinema and the acting was top notch
Posted By: flesheater123 at 6:22pm, October 29, 2008
I miss movie's like this. Movies that actually scared, The Thing is an amazing movie diving you into madness. Worth the time to see.
Also check out the last winter another amazing movie, in my words.
It's an insult to call this a remake since The Thing From Another World was very dissimilar to the original story Who Goes There while this uses all the elements that made the story so striking. It has a wonderful cast, far better than they'll be able to get for any remake. Plus the monster isn't a man in a suit but a fully realized entity unlike anything seen before it. There's few ideas scarier than an alien taking over the entire planet without ray guns or any of the other accouterments we see in sci-fi, but by becoming us. It's almost biblical: the world won't end with a bang, but with a whimper.
Posted By: rameses7878 at 11:26am, October 23, 2008
The Thing is a brilliantly directed and acted movie that trancends it's time. It is a genuinely creepy movie involving the elements of paranoia, terror, and suspense. I have watched this movie many of times and it still impresses me. It's amazing how The Thing can keep passing the test of time. It's more than we can say for most of the horror movies that ccme out these days. This movie, in my eyes is John Carpenter's best work!
Fucking excellent, I haven't seen this since i was about 10 years old and just watched it for what feels like the first time again last night at age 22. I've always had a great disdain for the obvious CGI-to-the-max movies, but this movie makes me hate them even more. How the fuck!! hahaha.
Let me get this out of the way: I am not a biased fan of this movie. I did not grow up with it, I did not see it once, get scared, and then love it when I was older, and I did not watch it with any hype or weighted opinion whatsoever. I’m not really a John Carpenter fan. I am a hardcore horror fan who has seen the majority of what the genre has to offer. I am an adult, and I watched this last night, 9/17/08. I’m not sure it’s possible to find an opinion that is more unbiased than mine when I say: The Thing rocked.
First and foremost, the reason The Thing works is because it does not bash your over the head with a block of cheese, unlike most “classic” horror movies. Some of the effects are a bit outdated, despite what the lifetime fans would have you believe, but not so much as to look cheesy. At all. There is very little gore—nothing that the average parent wouldn’t let a 8-year-old see—and the gore effects are also outdated, but it doesn’t take away from the movie. I just found it downright refreshing to watch a movie that didn’t try to kick me in the balls. I’ve watched so many ultra-gory movies lately, The Thing made me remember what it was like when movies didn’t use gore to make the viewer feel like crap, but instead used gore as part of the actual story. It’s the perfect movie to watch on a snowy night with your girlfriend/wife or your kids.
The reason The Thing isn’t cheesy is because it submerges you in atmosphere and suspense and mystery, then it punches you. The creatures are not generic whatsoever, and some of them are downright weirdly awesome. (Spider-head, anyone?) The plot is pretty generic, if you can even call it a plot at all. Here is one of the greatest movies of all time, and it does something that you wouldn’t expect: it doesn’t really have a plot. No, The Thing is true survival horror. There is nothing here except the desire to survive, and that is the only plot. The opening scene hints that the creatures are aliens, but, really, the movie never says much about their origins other than that. Watching this movie is almost like watching people in an arena try to survive—you don’t watch it for the story. What makes The Thing original and different from the other movies like it is the small details, like setting, the creature designs, the characters, the ending, and so on.
People who get bored with this movie don’t understand suspense. I can understand that, because in the generation that we live in, suspense is dead and buried. Suspense has been replaced with either (1) lame action, or (2) lame dialogue scenes that “build characters”, even though the characters are pure clichés. Suspense is the feeling of “I know everyone is going to die . . .” that you get before anything happens. I can count the amount of movies that get suspense right on one hand, but The Thing honestly pulls it off. If you’re a fan of suspense movies—and no, I don’t mean Wolf Creek, I mean like Alien—I do not know why you haven’t seen this movie already.
Then there is one more thing I need to mention: The Thing isn’t Alien. It never will be Alien. It is not quite as good as Alien, though it has more action. It is, however, the only movie I would ever mention in the same breath as Alien, because it does come very, very close.
Overall: This is by far the best Carpenter movie I’ve seen, and one of the few movies I’ve ever seen that understands suspense. It’s easily one of the best horror movies of all time, and I’m saying that as someone who find most “classic” horror movies pure cheese. Watch this movie. Watch it now.
One of Carpenter's best, besides Halloween. This is one of my absolute favorite alien films. The story is 100% fool proof, the acting was absolutely great, the music added to the suspense and the filming locations were genius. Kurt Russell was a vital character in the film, and did a fantastic job. The creature designs were freaky and awesome at the same time. I absolutely loved this film. Recommeded to everyone.
OMG! "The Thing" is John Carpenters masterpiece! I watched this movie fore the first time last night; alone, in my darkened basement and it scared the living hella outta me! This movie ROCKS! Somehow, "The Thing" always eluded me. I never knew much about it and never really had an interest in it until I started doing a little research on the internet of horror/sci-fi movies I had not seen.
First off, "The Thing" holds up marvelously 23 years after its release! In fact, this movie could probably be re-released today and make a ton of money. It's just THAT good. With so many of our classic horror movies being re-made these days; I doubt that this film will ever be re-made anytime soon because it just still plays so very well.
Well written, acted, & shot, "The Thing" is one heck of a gore fest. The graphic violence in the "The Thing" is just amazingly shocking, realistic, and awesome! Quick plot summary: A US research team working in the Antarctic comes across a Norwegian base that has been deserted. They find a dead and deformed body and take it back for research. The end up learning that something has attacked the Norwegians and is somehow shape-shifting with detailed precision into a predatory killer. By researching the evidence left behind by the Norwegians, they find a space ship that looks like it crashed in the snow some time ago.
They soon realize they are being stalked, and it could be anyone of the team. They began to lose all trust and confidence in each other and quickly began to turn against their colleagues.
Will they find WHO amongst them is a "Thing"? Can anyone kill this creature before it wipes them all out and infects our entire civilization? Kurt Russel rounds out a very nice cast of actors in this fantastic thrill ride. I was very impressed and satisfied with John Carpenter's "The Thing".
one of the best horror films of all time, i love the kurt russell & john carpenter collaborative movies, really great stuff. i always wanted to see a good potential prequel to this and see what happenned before the events of this one.
Posted By: roostergore at 9:20pm, September 27, 2008
Probably one of the finest remakes ever done. Kurt Russell at his best(other than Big Trouble).
Posted By: bigmo_402 at 12:46pm, September 27, 2008
This is as good as it gets. The music is just as creepy.
Posted By: fathermalachi at 12:00pm, September 24, 2008
I guess all I really have to do is score it a perfect ten. If you want to know what I think just read the review a few posts below from TheDeadMayTasteBad.l Perfect film.
Posted By: uriah369 at 12:10am, September 21, 2008
The Thing is a John Carpenter Classic, There's not much to say, its about guys in the arctic who are compromised by an alien disease that replicates what someone looks like so you never know who's human or an alien ready to eat you. It's from 1982 so there's not hardcore computer graphics just good old makeup and props. Overall it delivers a fun scary night for any bored viewer regardless of your favorite genre.
One of best horror films of all time. Atmosphere and suspense by the bucketload, fantastic cinematography, haunting score, paranoia, blood, guts and gore by the barrel and no happy ending!
Fantastic!
I hear that it is being remade for next year. I just hope that Rob Zombie isn't doing it because he ruined Halloween!
Posted By: Doc Clockwork at 12:24am, August 18, 2008
Just an awesome, awesome movie. Nothing more really needs to be said about this fantastic film that hasn't already been said, but I still felt the need to kiss this movie's ass. Definitely Mr. Carpenter's best film to date.
what a classic one of the best films ever done and a MUST for any dvd collections , the effects stand up even now a true horror from a time when there was alot of crap being thrown at us . I was young when this came out and i remember it iveing a real scare , must be watched in the dark with your girl friend just to laugh at her when she shits her pants
Posted By: StrangeJorge at 12:32am, August 4, 2008
"If you 're not reading this comment just to feel assured that there are other people in this world who share your good taste in films, do yourself a favor and watch this movie immediately. This would have probably been the best horror movie ever, if it wasn't for Ridley Scott's masterpiece (Alien). But I would say, "The Thing" really gives "Alien" a run for its money, we are talking about the cream of the crop of the horror/sci-fi category. It also easily qualifies as one of the best movies ever, regardless of genre. John Carpenter is a master of horror movie-making and here we find him at the pinnacle of his creative powers (although I consider "Starman" to be even better, but this isn't a horror film and it's another story). Top-notch performances from the all-male cast across the board, a-grade screen writing, stunning visuals and cinematography, and of course Carpenter's impeccable direction combine into a spellbinding, nightmarish tale of a would-be apocalypse unlike any"thing" you have seen before.
When I first checked to see how "The Thing" was doing on the IMDb scoreboard, back in 2001, I was disappointed to see it was hovering somewhere about 5.9 - 6.0. Most of the comments where not very good either, with a few exceptions. I was more than pleased to see this movie gaining more and more appreciation over the years. As I see now, it is among the top 250, with a score above 8.0 and with a good reason: It is certainly one of the greatest horror movies in history, which went under the radar for many years, until it finally achieved the cult status it deserved in the first place.
I was about 9 year old when I first watched this movie, late at night on TV - perfect conditions and age group to watch a film like that. Needless to say, I was scared to death! It took a long time until I watched it again, but the way I could remember all key scenes was a sign of the profound impact it had on me as a kid. Right from the haunting title sequence (which I think was later also copied in "Predator") to the spectacular gore scenes, to the chilling sense of isolation and impending doom created by the gloomy score.
Since then I have re-watched it many many times and I have to admit, it is perfect material for repeated viewing. More than a quarter of a century after its first (failed) release, witnessing the quality of what was supposed to be a b-movie of the 80's really puts most films shot today to shame. The detail and attention that went into the production design is truly amazing. The whole antarctic environment is replicated with tremendous accuracy. You can feel the cold and isolation of this barren white wasteland where the story is taking place and this is pivotal in creating the menacing, paranoia-inducing, claustrophobic atmosphere that permeates the film from start to finish.
The story itself is quite unconventional, based on an acclaimed novella from 1938. A team of scientists stationed in Antarctica face an alien life form, found buried in the ice, which upon thawed has the ability to consume other living organisms (including people) and imitate them perfectly. The film concentrates around the fear, mistrust and communication breakdown that ensues between the members of the team, once they realize they are isolated from the outside world, unable to get help and with one or more of them possibly not being human. The way the dynamics of the team is presented and the realistic depiction of their reactions makes the movie transcend its original premise as just a horror/sci-fi film and become something much deeper and profound. I am always amazed by the realistic behavior of each member, despite the unrealistic setup. You see people be afraid and some even break down, but you don't get you regular unstable guy who freaks out and tries to kill everybody. Kurt Russel gives a career-making performance, while the rest of the cast also does an excellent job. All around, a terrific ensemble piece.
There is also a large amount of carefully timed quality gore, that is utterly mind-blowing. Rob Bottin, the man mainly responsible for the animatronic (although also Stan Winston was also involved in the animatronic work) and make-up redefined the state of the art of what was possible, producing some of the best gore sequences ever that remain unmatched even today. What's more, these effects are really terrifying because they look and feel real and life-like. CGI is nemesis for a horror movie and "The Thing" is living proof that if you plan to shoot even a remotely scary scene, make sure you stick to good old latex and makeup.
Special mention should also go to Ennio Moriccone's haunting score... Overall, I cannot recommend this movie more strongly. It is a rare combination of unparalleled atmosphere, unconventional story and inspired visuals which has stood the test of time admirably. " --gheremond, imdb.com
This by far is neck and neck with the orginal Halloween for me amazing film there isn't an element about this film that I DON'T LIKE! Rob Bottin did a great job on the special effects and definetly ahead of it's time. I don't have a bad thing to say about this film not to mention you can't beat Kurt Russell leading this cast nothing short of amazing!
Mega badass! You have all the elements...Kurt Russell, explosions, multiple Axe wielding scenes, remote location, A debilitating element OTHER than the monster/killer/plauge/etc. (in this case, the cold), terrific effects, terrific effects, terrific effects, awesome one liners; "I dunno what the hell's in there, but it's weird and pissed off, whatever it is," "Yeah, fuck you too!" and my personal favorite: "I just wanna get up to my shack and get drunk..." You have rollerskating cooks, "voodo bullshit," multiple doggie deaths to piss of your girlfriend (or squemish pussy boyfriend...), and did I mention the TERRIFIC EFFECTS?
I'm gonna zap off a 1/2 skull for the semi-disapointing mega battle between Mac (Kurt Russell) and The Thing...which was neither mega or a battle, but unfortunately was one of the least cool monter puppets and very short indeed..but tthe one liner and quick ending saved the day.
I feel so underpriveledged because I saw this flick for the very first time...20 minutes ago!! I'm gonna call my mom and yell at her.
An ultimately bland, dull, and pointless exercise is what comes to my mind when thinking of this movie. Carpenter's "masterpiece" is slow, talky, dull, and punctuated only by over-the-top silliness that shows his puerile obsession with gore-puppets. Your best bet is passing on this one, and checking out Check Howard Hawks film. He re-wrote the monster into a simple marauding, though intelligent being, which resulted in a film that built a sense of menace and a hurtling momentum to its story.
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