I don't think it's possible for me to get sick of this movie.
Part of my 2022 Sci-Fi Tuesdays
Carpenter's The Thing is as close to perfect that any sci-fi horror has any right to be. The story, the tension, the music, the effects, the acting... All top-notch. It's also one of my all-time favorite movies.
There's not much to be said about this one that hasn't already been said several times over, but one thing I will say today, is that The Thing even holds up in 4K. The practical effects are THAT GOOD.
Now...I doubt there are many that are interested in this genre that haven't seen this, but if you are one of those few, right that wrong immediately.
A horror masterpiece by John Carpenter. An absolute "must see" for all horror movie fans although the SFX are a little outdated nowadays!
I truly fail to see why this received such negative criticism when it released. It was pretty good. Insanely grotesque, but on par with Evil Dead in that respect. Definitely worth watching, especially for the cliffhanger ending.
Spectacular. There is truly nothing to be said about this film that hasn’t already been said. I'm just glad now I have finally seen it.
"The Thing" could be seen as the natural evolution of the formula that began with Ridley Scott's "Alien". The two movies have an entirely different setting and atmosphere, but share the same simple structure: a group of humans ends up being stuck in a confined space as they are chased by an unknown alien entity. However, the "Thing" manages to become something more than a beautifully designed hungry monster: it's a threat with no discernible appearance, as it has the ability to imitate the organisms it consumes and blend in with its prey. This allows Carpenter to convey his trademark cynical, nihilistic view of humanity, focusing on how easily a team of highly unlikeable characters can fall apart as they slowly get consumed by their distrust and paranoia. The "Thing" has no evil intentions and is just trying to survive, but it won't take much for the humans to end up turning against each other.
It must be said that the film takes a damn long time to get to the point, but Carpenter's "chilly" cinematography and slow camerawork manage to build the story's tension and keep us craving for more flamethrower bursts to warm up the atmosphere. As mentioned, the "Thing" never shows its true self, but in return offers a lot of grotesque "transformation" sequences that managed to turn a mild psychological horror into a true cult film. The practical effects surely aged a bit, but the art direction and design are so over the top and visionary that the final result still holds incredibly well.
On a side note, the film is supposed to be a remake of Christian Nyby's "The Thing from Another World", but is actually based on the science fiction short story "Who Goes There?" (which also inspired Nyby's film). Other than the title font, the two movies are very little in common. Just think that "The Thing from Another World" cannot change appearance, is always recognizable, and gets its ass kicked by a cohesive team of heroes.
3 Thoughts After Watching ‘The Thing’:
One of the most repulsive movies I’ve ever seen. My high rating is in part due to the extraordinary special practical FX, which still hold up since 1982.
More kudos in store for an effectively-creepy atmosphere with the score to match. Iconic horror.
I’m on the fence about the ending.
Bonus Thought: Kurt Russell was such a snack.
Haven't felt such emotional tention and curiosity for a while. The actors are great and i felt fear in every quiet suspence scene.
The setting is good, the few questionable moments can be easily overlooked.
The special effects are not only great quality but get creative with anatomy and shapes that doubles the horror/gross-out effect!
It's a great movie for its time and is a very good horror film now!
P.S.: I do wonder though how the creators managed to make the dog act so unnatural?
The Thing is an absolute masterpiece; the perfect horror film. A genuinely terrifying, claustrophobic, nail-bitingly intense experience with a killer score. The 100% practical special effects are extremely well done and still hold up 30 years later. And there are beards. Many, many beards.
All the praise this movie gets is extremely well deserved. What impressed me most though is how well done the effects were - so well done I had to check if what I had been watching was really the 80's movie and not the remake, because the effects were far more convincing than most of this year's releases! I was sure it could not be from a 30+ year old movie, but yes, it was! What a great production! And the plot, the acting, and the music were all on level with it. A truly superb movie.
Kinda confused. I sat through this movie with a dumbfounded look on my face the whole time. I even paused the movie and got up to go wash my face to make sure that my eyes were not deceiving me. But it was all true. This movie is a blatant rip off of the hit video game 'Among Us'.
I watched the credits three times to see if I could find any credit to the creators of the game but there was not.
John Carpenter isn't a real name. I prefer John Wick. On that subject, why are carpenters called carpenters? They don't even work with carpets. They work with wood. They should be called woodenters.
A classic for a reason. Bloody disgusting effects that are astounding to this day - and all of them practical. Top-tier creature feature that left me squirming and my jaw on the floor.
A Unique and creative film, thoroughly exhilarating and intense, with a simple, yet effective and gripping plot.
"Cheating bitch."
38 years ago, this movie both bombed and received poor reviews from critics; same thing with Blade Runner, which was released at the same time. This just confirms that even in 1982, people were complete idiots.
'The Thing' is a classic body horror thriller where the mystery and suspense kept audiences on edge for years. It's one of the best John Carpenter movie behind 'Halloween'.
This movie and Blade Runner stood the test of time as Sci-Fi masterpieces.
Kurosawa's Rashomon. Scott's Alien, and Blade Runner. Carpenter's The Thing. A masterclass category inhabited by only film's greatest achievements.
And how many horror films can leave you afraid of their antagonist after the movie's over?
I've seen this movie so many times. I own it twice on DVD, I own it on 4K, Blu-Ray and I even have a copy on the now defunct HD-DVD format. I regret not seeing it in the theaters back in 1982. I don't know why I didn't go. I was certainly old enough to appreciate it. Instead, I saw "E.T.". I got swept up in happy little alien fever. I went with the crowd. All I had to do was wander over to a different screen and watch Carpenter's creation in all its paranoid glory. Sigh...
As with all good movies, music, or books, I experience something new every time I view it. I keep trying to piece together how the Thing spread throughout the camp. I keep looking for clues. Like when Blair performs an autopsy on the recently roasted Thing. While he's presenting his thoughts on what the Thing is, he absent-mindedly taps his pencil eraser on the steaming carcass, crosses his arms and brings the pencil eraser perilously close to his mouth. Then he makes a talking point by waving the pencil in the air and ever so briefly...it touches his lip! Did he infect himself? Is it too late?!?!? Has the Thing spread itself to Blair?!?! These kinds of moments fill the movie. It so suspenseful and so paranoid. And the isolation is torture. You know they all have nowhere to go. All those nameless men. Well, they aren't nameless, it's just that it's hard to remember them all. And the strange thing about it is, we still seem to care about them. I think that's because Carpenter has done such a masterful job of building the suspense through threat and isolation that we can't help but subconsciously put ourselves into their places.
There are so many great scenes. The opening helicopter-chases-dog scene. The horror of finding the Thing in the dog pen. The death and subsequent transformation of Norris. Wow! Is it gory! And in this particular case, I think the gore is absolutely necessary. That's kind of the knock on this film. The gore has been classified as extreme. And it is. But this is a story about such a faceless, out-of-this-world beast that it all seems so appropriate. And those effects. I don't think I need to say any more than others have already posited about the very special practical effects by Rob Bottin. They have to be the best I've ever seen.
Then there's the "blood test" scene. All of the men at the Antarctic station volunteer to give a blood sample and then have it tested, while tied to chairs, to see if it reveals which of them are actually the "Thing". One by one, a heated copper wire is placed into a petri dish of blood from each one of the men. Seeing the smoke rise from the wire when it's touched to the dish of blood brings some relief. Will the next dish be Thing-free? You'll have to watch it and see for yourself. The setup and execution of this scene is one of the most intense and frightening things I've ever watched.
I am very happy that this film has found its place thanks to Home Video. It's now considered a Horror/Sci-Fi classic. It is without a doubt my favorite Horror movie, perhaps my favorite monster flick and quite possibly my top Sci-Fi feature. It's that good.
I watched The Thing for the first time today.
My review: :face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::face_vomiting::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::astonished::wolf:RIP PUPPOS.
(ps - awesome horror flick but rip puppos)
Apparently by reading the comments here and on the 2011 version, not many know the original movie was actually The Thing from Another World 1951. All being based on the 1938 book Who Goes There?.
As a child, was I scared of monsters in the closet like the Boogeyman or Freddy or Jason??? NNNope!!!..I was terrified of the goddamn SpiderHead thing under my bed... Thanks John Carpenter!!!
I've watched this far more than just the one Trakt recorded instance but I've lost count of how many times. NOTHING about this film ever gets old: from the opening sequence to the final dialogue, I still love this movie and can probably call it my all-time favorite horror movie. I don't think there was a single unmemorable character here: from Clark and his dogs, to Doc, to the high-strung Garry, to Kurt Russell's McReady character, they were all great and all added to a great blend of chemistry. The remote location where all the events took place just added (IMO) to the horrific effects, as there was no hope whatsoever of any kind of "rescue": what happened was going to happen and nothing could stop it except the handful of men there at the station. I've watched it numerous times and will - in all likelihood - watch it again soon; it just never gets old. It's not for everyone simply because it's sci-fi horror and of course by today's standards, a lot of the effects (courtesy of Rob Bottin) seem a bit outdated, but a lot of movie sites claim that John Carpenter's The Thing has a "cult following" and if that's true, then you can count me as a die-hard member of that cult. Love this movie!
The Thing is pretty much the most terrifying monster out there. The fact that it can be hiding in plain sight and than eat your head is crazy. The effects really are great and gross. Kurt Russell was fantastic and his bread was especially great.
Simply the best sci-fi horror and psychological horror movie ever made, along the Alien franchise.
And both the excellent novelization by Alan Dean Foster and the videogame are as tense and diabolical on your nerves enough to make you paranoid for life (specially the game!)! Absolutely worth trying everything... if you have the nerves.
A great story that works as both sci-fi and psychological horror, creepy and very immersive soundtrack that's spooky to the bones, a great direction that keeps you paranoid wondering who's the thing (and when the assimilation happened!) until the very end, lovely acting (MacReady FTW!) and realistic setting...
This is the movie that introduced many to the love & nightmares of the horror and sci-fi universes and inspired many writers out there.
The thing is a one of a kind horror movie. Genuinely scared me. The story is amazing !
I don’t like horror movies, but this is actually pretty good! The effects don’t really hold up, but I was still very surprised by how much I liked most of it.
John Carpenter's filmography does include a few misses, but alongside 'Halloween', 'The Thing' is certainly the director's greatest masterpiece.
Numerous elements that make for an almost perfect movie contribute to this. The sets and the setting are fantastic. The basic premise, in which an isolated group of people is threatened by an entity that has infiltrated them, has been used thousands of times in films and TV shows for a reason. It is unmatched in its simplicity and ensures a high level of tension throughout, while the individual members of the group become increasingly suspicious of one another.
However, the practical special effects are probably the film's biggest selling point. Even in the year 2024, they are still unbeatable. I was lucky enough to be able to see 'The Thing' at a re-release in a theater with an audience, and the reactions definitely did not disappoint.
Meanwhile, the actors are also good. The cast is not necessarily diverse; it is exclusively male. But all the actors are convincing, especially leading man Kurt Russell. The characters are mainly stereotypes, but that doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. The great score, which includes music by Ennio Morricone as well as works by Carpenter himself, also contributes to the dense atmosphere.
Overall, 'The Thing' is not exactly a hopeful film, which is probably why it flopped at the box office in the early 1980s. But I like it precisely because of the resolute way in which it is told right to the end. It's a timeless classic and one of the best horror films of all time.
It’s surprising, in retrospect, that The Thing wasn’t better received by contemporary reviewers. Granted, it faced unusually stiff theatrical competition in E.T. and Blade Runner, both less than two weeks old, which certainly stole a great deal of its thunder. At the hour of The Thing’s opening, Spielberg’s family-friendly blockbuster had already established a popular, positive outlook on alien relations (basically the antithesis of The Thing’s overwhelming nihilism), while Ridley Scott’s sci-fi opus was exploring equally bleak tones and mature, ambiguous themes. There’s no room for three films to coexist at the top, particularly ones with such similarities. Public sentiment agreed that John Carpenter’s small-scale saga of a fierce, faceless extraterrestrial attack in the Antarctic desolation couldn’t hold a candle. Fortunately, hindsight has been more forgiving.
What a ride this is. Carpenter leans hard on the suspense, skillfully employing the locale’s smothering isolation as amplification in much the same way Scott did with Alien, just a few years prior. The nature of the beast, as an invisible, corrupting force, is a brilliant device for this type of story. Nobody’s safe and nobody can be trusted, not even oneself. Late in the crisis, when the team has finally developed a reliable blood test, that fear is palpable. We can see it in their widened eyes and held breath: what if I’m already infected? Their uncertainty intensifies our own, heightening tensions to unbearable levels. In this, Carpenter teaches a master class, and the payoff - a series of lumpy, repulsive creature effects from Rob Bottin - are worth the price we pay. When the alien mass sprouts from its living host, the results are car-crash grotesque, all melted flesh and unnatural deformity. Appropriately powerful and haunting, alien but also eerily familiar, they shock and disgust, every single time.
There’s no two ways about it: this is a classic. An intelligent, potent, thrilling example of science fiction and horror that's right up there with the best of each genre. Tragic that the poor initial reception had such a negative impact on Carpenter’s career.
One of my favorite horror movies! Not really a horror movie these days though paha (by the metric of making me scared). This last watch felt more like a murder mystery who-done-it than anything else. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat for its entire duration, the characters all likable (to a point hah), and good glory the REAL FX and prop work... marvelous. Imagine where we would be today if humanity spent money on technologies to further FX rather than CGI?
Anyway, this is a definite recommendation from me, for anybody. Especially great during the spooky season, but man, just put it on if you want a good movie to grace your eyes.
There are films that are so good that, due to the emotional response you receive as a viewer, you never forget the first time you experience them.
The Thing is one of those films!
As a 15 year old, watching The Thing on a rented (may have been a bootleg) VCR tape in 1984 was a sublime, awe-inspiring and mind-blowing affair. The edge of the seat drama, the melodic soundtrack and, oh my, the special effects! Effects so good, so well done, I had to watch and then watch again just to take them all in.
It really is hard to describe the joy I experienced that day. I felt like I had watched something that would change my life. The adrenaline I had pumping through my system by the end was amazing.
I didn't know it at the time, I didn't really understand it, but I had just watched a film where all the people working on it were at the top of their game. I tip my hat to them all.
The Thing was one of the classical horror movies that I had not yet seen, in all fairness my expectations were not that high, given that none of the pioneering horror movies made much of a connection with me. Well... this one was also not too different.
Most of the characters and their development as protagonists in the viewer's eyes just did not exist. Without going into too much details, it felt as if there was no conscience or remorse when they had to take hard decisions, which made the moments less impactful and more action like.
Story was not too special if you are watching in present time but it was pretty influential back thenvso extra points for that
It was not boring nor bad, it just had flaws and lacked a bit of emotion. 7/10
Still my favorite horror/sci-fi movie of all time. Just finished watching it again for the umpteenth time, and it still doesn't fail to deliver the goods. The suspense, the overall vibe of the movie, the acting, the storyline from start to finish, there's just nothing I can find wrong with this version of The Thing . Even at 41 years old, the special effects by Rob Bottin are superb…maybe in one or two places they might be seen as a bit dated but still so amazing with what he did back in the days before CGI. This was fun watching it all over again, and undoubtedly it won't be my last time! Sitting at #4 on the 20 Best Horror Movies Ever Made, According to Redditt and I think they got it wrong: This should have been crowned the champ.
I'd been meaning to see this for a while and my brother got me to do it. I was expecting something more think-y and less body horror-y for some reason. Even given the initial absurd premise there was quite a bit of hard to explain behaviour and a little too much exposition but in the end it still trundled along in an absorbing enough way. Given the lack of CGI nearly 40 years ago the monster special effects are particularly impressive if you like that sort of thing.
I think I might have to see The Thing from Another World next to see whether it's that version of the story that I would like instead. Would make a good double-feature with Alien, from which it clearly borrows.
The Spider Head scene left me with a mix of fascination and a sudden urge to grab a powerful bug spray due to the spider phobia it stirred up inside me.
Master of horror John Carpenter delivers an intense and terrifying tale in his classic science-fiction thriller The Thing. The story follows an Antarctic research station that is infiltrated by a shape-shifting creature. Kurt Russell teams up with Carpenter once again, and delivers another great performance. The creature effects are especially good, and are remarkably frightening and horrific. And, the themes of paranoia are captured exceptionally well by Carpenter’s directing. The score is also quite powerful, and does an amazing job at heightening the suspense and intensity. The Thing is a dark and nihilistic film that strikes terror and fear into the heart of the audience.
I hate chess computers. RIP Jed
Other than 2 minutes of opening credits, this is damn good.
The characters aren't super fleshed out (probably due to time constraints), but it kind of works with the film.
They don't know who to trust, and in the same way the audience doesn't either - partially because we don't know them.
The designs are still great after 40 years (honestly, the only thing dating this movie is the ancient tech they use)
The story is a slow one, but it's quite compelling the entire time.
The open-ended conclusion is also the perfect ending for the film imo. There's a series of comics that takes it further, but having the audience piece everything together and try to figure out whether or not one of them is infected was a great choice.
It's a definitely a must-watch if you're into horror and/or just want to know why this movie has a cult following.
Some great technical craft and directing in this; the horror, atmosphere and music are excellent, but emotionally I didn’t care that much. The characters are empty (Carpenter seems to think that giving everyone a single quirk is enough to make you care), the plot is basic (really could’ve used more plot twists or some deeper layer) and it takes too long to get going. There are so many scenes in the first act that don’t contribute anything to the characters or the story, you could take those out and tighten up the pacing. On the other hand, the second half has some very memorable scenes and some great gore. Overall, it does just enough, but I don’t see anything that screams ‘classic’, to me it’s always been a more boring version of Alien.
5.5/10
Having only seen the remake of the movie, I was never overly anxious to watch this movie. After seeing it on nearly every “Greatest Horror Movie” list, I had to get to it eventually. It is easily superior to the remake, despite being very similar. John Carpenter has the magic touch with horror, and this one is still very good 40 years later…even if I still don’t love it enough for “Greatest” lists.
Rating: 3.5/5 - 8/10 - Would Recommend
It has some oversights, but it remains a movie based on a simple and straightforward but effective concept, with a decent acting including some argute jokes.
Alien at the south pole.
Well, now I know that Alien did it better.
Suspense went out of the window fairly quick. Characters and their dialogue were interchangeable (that was probably the point, but it didn't do any favours to the film), I didn't fear for them, I wasn't scared of them. Theme was pretty weak.
Effects, set designs, some script choices that avoided the most annoying pitfalls ("You have seen dog turn to WHAT?! Clark, you're too drunk/high/stressed/crazy") and poster, which in hindsight meant very little. Start of the film was way more promising than it's ending. And I have zero problems with the film not having some sort of happy ending.
Only John Carpenter could have made this movie.
Although I have seen this film numerous times, it never gets old. A true classic and staple in the horror genre.
I remember watching this as a kid about 30 years ago, and loved it, and now I just watched it again 30 years later with my wife, and what a classic movie.
“THE THING”: A COMMENTARY
:heart:100% :thumbsup:41 :thumbsdown:0 = Masterpiece!
The Thing isn't a very complicated or deep narrative, nor does it need to be; it establishes the setting and the character quickly before beginning o build-up to the main event while keeping things firmly grounded. This plot development is confident and effective. What makes the plot thick even more than the mysterious alien creature hiding in plain sight is the paranoia, fear and uncertainty spread among the base crew, driving some of them mad and making others angry, scared or catatonic. The characters are forced to work together to understand the alien and how it's defeated, been though they cannot trust each other - this makes for a tense atmosphere and good stuff to fuel the narrative.
The film's ending is, as we all know, both infuriating and mysterious, with the full truth of the matter left unresolved as the two surviving staff members wait out for the fire to consume them.
With such a simple plot, The Thing can put focus on its different characters and allows time to bring out their different character traits. None of the characters is particularly deep, and most o them exist just to be killed off, but they are believable enough to carry the film. All actors do a great job in their respective roles, but the standouts are A. Wilford Brimley as the mysterious senior biologist; Donald Moffatt as the station commander and Kurt Russell, the de facto lead and helicopter pilot. Russell's character is the hero of the day and much like Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley in Alien, he mostly blends in with the rest of the cast and doesn't become the hero u til the circumstances force him to.
The Thing immediately opens up with scenes that establish the barren and isolated setting, the small crew and a seeming madness spreading in nearby bases - something is amiss, and we don't know what. The music and slow, calculated direction combined with the empty setting and the constant fear of the unknown means that this film maintains an extremely high dose of tension and suspense at all times.
The body horror thrills are used sparingly, but when they arrive they provide guaranteed chills - this film is not for the faint of heart! The real tension is maintained in the constantly growing unease among the staff, leading to loads of pointless accusations and sacrifices. Few sci-fi flicks, thrillers or horror movies are this good at maintaining a high level of tension that somehow still keeps growing, right up until the explosive finale.
Visually, this film is a mix of simple, but effective sets and some of the finest, scariest and most convincing practical alien effects I've ever seen. Director John Carpenter goes all in from the very start, showing the glorious and horrific creature the characters have to deal with and bringing it to life in ways that are, quite honestly, magical. Just look at the twisted, horrifying bodies of the dead people - they look like absurdist Picasso paintings! Carpenter's handiwork is steady, evocative, and fantastic. He's not trying to lean on too many tricks, but keeps the cards close to his chest until the last moment, to make the most out of the material he has to work with.
Ennio Morricone's score is low-key and ominous, and it should ostensibly keep you glued to the screen, expecting to be surprised by an unseen attacker at any time!
Random Observations:
Is it just me, or do the opening titles purposefully hark back to another classic sci-fi horror, Alien? It sure feels like that!
The big question we have been asking ourselves all these years is this one: is Kurt Russell one of the aliens, in a clever, evolved disguise? There is evidence towards this, but also evidence that suggests that he is human. We will likely never know!
THIS MOVIE IS SUPER FRICKIN AWESOME AMAZING AND ONE OF THE BEST HORROR MOVIES EVER MADE AND EVER TO BE MADE.
IT'S A CRYING DAMN SHAME THAT THEY JUST DON'T MAKE EM LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
THIS IS A TRUE MASTERPIECE IN HOW TO CREATE SOMETHING SPECIAL AND TIMELESS.
THOSE PRACTICAL EFFECTS WOW...JUST....WOW
SOME IF NOT THE BEST I HAVE SEEN IN ANY MOVIE AND I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF MOVIES, NEVER MIND ALL THIS MODERN DAY CGI BULL-CRAP
NOTHING WILL EVER TAKE THE PLACE ARE EVER BE AS GOOD AS PRACTICAL EFFECTS, THERE IS JUST NO SUBSTITUTION TO REPLACE PRACTICAL EFFECTS AND IN MY OPINION THEIR NEVER WILL BE. IT'S THIS FILM AND OTHER'S LIKE IT
NIGHT OF THE CREEPS
PHANTASM
DEAD ALIVE
SOCIETY
AND MANY OTHER'S OF THIS TYPE THAT MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH HORROR AND WITH MARVEL BEING MY FAVOURITE EVER GENRE
HORROR COMES STRAIGHT IN AT A VERY CLOSE SECOND TO THE POINT I HAVE A MASSIVE MASSIVE HORROR COLLECTION ON
BLU RAY AND
THE THING IS RIGHT UP THERE IN ONE OF THE TOP SPOTS. AND TRUST ME WITH THE SIZE OF MY MOVIE COLLECTION THAT IS NO EASY FEAT.
IT'S DEFINITELY A VERY STRONG 10/10
ALL HORROR MOVIES SHOULD DEFINITELY USE THIS MOVIE AS A BLUEPRINT, no way they could go wrong.
This is how you do a HORROR movie you don't pull your punches and you commit and go all out.
(God it's so messy
and I bloody love it).
The Thing works for a few reasons. Most impressive to me is the various horrifying manifestations of the monster...make-up and special effects are amazing. Then there's the terror of being isolated with no help on the way. Finally, the suspense of not knowing who's good and who's not. Nearly forty years old and still a great one.
Story: 7...great premise but lots of plot holes and a pretty deflated ending
Script: 8
Performances: 8
Misc.: 9...John Carpenter and team flexing
Influence: 8...if not in the "classic horror" category, it's darn close.
Overall: 8
The Thing is probably my favourite horror movie, and might as well be my overall favourite. Everything works in perfect sync: the absolute isolation, the outstanding sound design, the performances, the incredibly masterful pacing. It's a movie with desolate, yet powerful imagery, a sense of tension and horror like no other and an antagonist that is often laid bare for the audience to see, but still remains an inscrutable, otherworldly threat. Outstanding practical effects and iconic scenes are just the cherry on top of a masterwork that grips you and never lets go. Without a doubt, a classic and a powerful reminder that "the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown".
oooo my god..this movie is so fucking classic..i saw it around 1998 and now bluray..cant wait to watch it on UHD (3weeks to release) that effects looks so good and kurt is best..blair thing is coolish and that simple bass soundtrack is mindblowing...instant CLASSIC - TOP10 best horror movie ever..
The parts with the dogs were difficult to watch, but it was worth it for the rest of the movie. I personally thought the CGI in the prequel was pretty good (though the practical effects in the original cut of that film were AMAZING, and it's a crime that so many of them were overridden with CGI), and had a fluidity to the movement that kept me from thinking about it as CGI; the puppetry in this one just didn't have that. The cuts between different states of practical effects were jarring to me, in 2021. For a movie from 1982, though, the entire thing was flawless.
"First goddamn week of winter."
I saved the best for last. There is nothing I don't like about this movie. The music, the pacing, the story, the practical effects, the cast, the paranoia, the ending.. I love it all. Kurt Russell is so cool and the creature haunted my dreams when I first saw this, and is still creepy on a rewatch. Sucks that it was not popular when it first came out, because I would've loved to see this in theaters. The Thing might be my favorite horror movie of all time.
What a brilliant atmosphere with super visual effects and great horror scenes.This movie never gets old 8.3/10
How will we make it?
Maybe we shouldn’t.
Wow, this is a masterpiece!
It's so nice to have some change of environment in horror movies and here we get snow, and it fits so well with the plot. The atmosphere created is amazing, the sense of isolation and paranoia is huge, the landscape beautifully shot makes you even feel the cold while also appreciating the view. And speaking of paranoia, this is the element that's always present. You know the thing is in there with the survivors, you don't know where, you may not see it, but you sure can feel it. From the start to the very ending (what a great ending by the way).
We are presented to a large number of characters and in just a few minutes we already know the basics of each ones personality and their names, the characters are memorable, that's impressive. Mac is a great protagonist, Kurt Russell did a fantastic job, not only him, but the other actors as well.
This film is so well designed that you can sense the deadly and at the same time beautiful plains of Antarctica and its vastness. Whereas in the research base where the characters are located you get a claustrophobic and unpleasant feeling increased even more by the horrifying situation they're facing.
The creature is so well designed, it is simply grotesque and gross, it assumes a lot of creative and different shapes. The whole makeup and special effects are surreal, I have no idea how they did that, but I'm glad they did. You can take the best CGI today and it will not transmit to you such repugnance and terror. And that assimilation process is just absurd. Rob Bottin and everyone else on the crew, including Stan Winston (that was called to help to create the dog-thing), you guys rock!
Enio Morricone's score is as great addition to what it is already fantastic, making it perfect. It is minimalist, instigating, dark and terrifying. So immersive.
All of that makes this Carpenter's best film and probably my favorite horror movie ever. Also, The Thing's poster is the beeest and so iconic.
I interpreted this movie not only as what we see, but also resembling the Cold War. Not just by the cold obviously, all the paranoia and tension created represents that moment in our history. People at that time were so scared of something that could happen and never knew who or where the enemy was.
This movie is timeless.
You just know when a film is special whenever you rewatch it and it still gets better each viewing. One of those films for me is John Carpenter's The Thing. I love the setting, the cast, the soundtrack, the tension, the practical effects and that damn ending. It is one of those perfect films that I can watch multiple times a year and enjoy it each time.
Best time to watch it is at the beginning of the night though. In complete darkness on a rainy day like today. Damn, it was another one of those great watches. I know it is expensive but horror films these days need some of those great practical effects of the 80s!
If you haven't seen this one yet, what are you doing? Go watch it ASAP!
This movie has brilliant writing as we have to give credit to the writers of thinking of such concepts and that to in the 1980s which was a marvelous feat to achieve. And Thanks for A Grotesque movie.
Truly terrible. What justifies the ratings? Are people putting this in the so bad it's good category?
Swiss cheese plot.
Scientists that have IQs lower than Antarctic room temperature.
Character motivations and reactions that seem more at home in your average daytime soap opera.
Laughably bad effects even for the era.
Not the least bit scary or even tense.
This is the type of movie that gives horror a bad name.
Phenomenal! One of the best. This is horror at its finest. Say what you want, this is tense, atmospheric and has one fantastic ending. One of the best remakes.
Starting to show its age, but still a good movie.
GAME CHANGER AT EVERY LEVEL FOR THE ENTIRE GENRE
Yes, a classic. But can we just think about it? Just because it is old and raked in money it does not need to be a classic that should be watched. Imagine this is a movie from today... You would laugh about the dialogues, you would cringe about acting and probably leave the cinema early. I never want to see that again. Oh, and zero scary bits. The scary stuff was revealed way too early. Like a crime drama where everybody knew everything upfront and it was just about chasing the culprit. Literally every potential ohhhh we don't know was revealed within seconds or upfront.
It's been awhile since i last watched this classic... Trust no one, even the ones that are close to you.. It reminds me of reality ha I love this film, great horror from john carpenter... some good cast specially Kurt russell... the ended as always makes you think... mystery... but i did read something up not long back that you can tell... eyes.... but i won't say anymore... i thought the prequel was okay.. but glad it wasn't a remake because the film didn't need one.. not many good horrors out there, but this one should be on your list to watch.. worth it ;)
Great movie, a classic of horror, anxiety, distrust, being isolated in a remote location
Great movie, it is definitely a classic, it really defines the 80s genre of horror. If you really want to know who the thing is well, it's child. In the last scene of the movie when Childs and Macready are talking to each other one is breathing and the other is not.
The king of horror movies with a monster theme. #ShiftvW8
So this is just another reason to never go to Antarctica. Nothing good comes out of that place. What is good though, is everything about this movie. Start to finish, I love every moment and think the talk it gets frequently as one of the best horror films is legit.
Aside from the great tension and story, this thing (heh, that was unintentional) has some flat out amazing creature effects. The alien's design(s) are just disgustingly great. Probably my favorite part takes place when they're testing blood. What the viewer gets out of that is tension followed by a jump in heart rate and blood pressure.
Also, great job by the dog trainer. That one trying to get out of the cage does such a great performance.
Watched this for the first time in 2015. Ahead of it's time for sure. It was a great movie, very entertaining.
Very good indeed...A classic and a must see.
First time watching, in 2014, and yeah it really holds up well. Glad I finally checked this out.
This is one of my all time favorite movies. The special effects certainly indicate that it was released in 1982 but the movie itself is still one of the best alien/horror/thriller movies ever made. The 2011 prequel was good but the original was much better.
Very intense, it's a must watch
Review by Simon MasseyVIP 11BlockedParent2017-03-18T15:46:40Z
There are a lot of qualities that make The Thing work so well as a horror film. It has been rightly lauded for its set-piece moments and striking practical effects, but what keeps this timeless are the same elements that can be found in a similar classic film of the time, Ridley Scott's Alien - the beautiful yet harsh outdoor locations photographed to stunning effect, creating a sense of scale and isolation that remind the viewer how cut-off the characters are and contrasting sharply with the claustrophobic interiors ; the minimalist score from Morricone that adds to the tension ; the great production design that ensure the setting feels like a realistic working environment ; the memorable characters, notably of course Kurt Russell's Macready ; the efficient script that introduces the personalities of the main group quickly and the camaraderie between the characters that ensure the audience believe in the group as a working community and care about their survival. But this is no mere retread of another film - the alien presence here working from within to split the group apart rather than bringing them together. Unlike Alien, the central villain is harder to define and from the opening moments, Carpenter creates a sense of unease and paranoia that permeates the whole film right through to the final frame, ensuring the audience like the characters themselves are never quite sure who to trust. The effects may have dated to a modern audience (though the tangible feel to the practical work is creepier than anything that could be created in CGI) but it's the quieter set-piece moments of tension and mistrust that remain just as strong as ever and make this Carpenter's best film.