Director: John Carpenter
Released: 1982
Labels: Monster|Sci-Fi|1980's
Continuing our current theme of Universal Studios horror with milestone special effects, we decided to feature John Carpenter's The Thing.
A re-working of the 1951 film The Thing from Another World
based on the story Who Goes There?
by John W Campbell Jr, The Thing is set in as about a remote place as you can get, the Antarctic. A group of scientists become cut-off from civilization as events unfold and are preyed upon by a shape-shifting alien life-form. The "thing," as it becomes known, is able to take on the appearance of it's victims and gives our team at the base the secondary terror of not knowing who is human and who is the Thing!
based on the story Who Goes There? by John W Campbell Jr, The Thing is set in as about a remote place as you can get, the Antarctic. A group of scientists become cut-off from civilization as events unfold and are preyed upon by a shape-shifting alien life-form. The "thing," as it becomes known, is able to take on the appearance of it's victims and gives our team at the base the secondary terror of not knowing who is human and who is the Thing! John Carpenter's films are famously hit and miss (Halloween
is a must-see but films like Christine
and The Ward
really don't live up to the promise) but 'The Thing' has got to rate as one of his best.
is a must-see but films like Christine and The Ward really don't live up to the promise) but 'The Thing' has got to rate as one of his best. The film impresses with its incredibly bleak look and sound, a low bassy score by genius film composer Ennio Morricone adds to the claustrophobic tension that builds throughout. Much like the characters in the film you are kept guessing as to who has been infected by the Thing and in-fact you never really know what happens to a few of the characters, and rather than an oversight this is entirely intentional as it gives you a taste of the confusion in the base. You can't even say for certain if our hero, MacReady (played perfectly by Kurt Russell) is infected or not!
The special effects by Rob Bottin (The Howling
, Witches of Eastwick
, Se7en
) and his team may look a little dated 30 years on but are still very impressive nonetheless. Plenty of slimy shape-shifting, body-ripping gore and teeth and tentacles will keep you squirming but it in no way lessens the dramatic impact of the film.
, Witches of Eastwick, Se7en) and his team may look a little dated 30 years on but are still very impressive nonetheless. Plenty of slimy shape-shifting, body-ripping gore and teeth and tentacles will keep you squirming but it in no way lessens the dramatic impact of the film. 
Universal Studios Orlando Horror Make-up Show
A really well detailed feature on the creation of these effects can be found at the excellent fan-site Outpost #31.
The Thing performed poorly at the box office and was not well received critically, apparently audiences weren't quite ready for this level of body horror, and because of this it has remained relatively unknown in this genre in comparison to films like Alien or Predator
. It is good news that this year they intend on releasing a prequel (confusingly also entitled The Thing) which we are told will reveal what happens right up to the opening credits of the original and remain true to all that has been told thus far, and in addition will also give some conclusion to the original film. We just hope that this new movie will re-kindle some interest in the original and allow many more horror fans to experience this excellent film.
. It is good news that this year they intend on releasing a prequel (confusingly also entitled The Thing) which we are told will reveal what happens right up to the opening credits of the original and remain true to all that has been told thus far, and in addition will also give some conclusion to the original film. We just hope that this new movie will re-kindle some interest in the original and allow many more horror fans to experience this excellent film.
The Thing theatrical trailer
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