The Thing (1982) Review

 

The Thing (1982)

Still have yet to dislike a single John Carpenter film that I’ve seen and this is certainly no different.
The Thing follows a group of scientists in Antarctica after an alien life form starts assimilating and taking them out from the inside one by one.

This horror classic, ironically directed by John Carpenter after the 1951 version appeared in Halloween, is an excellent case study into the human psyche. It uses paranoia, fear, and an uneasy sense of mistrust among the team, to cause friction and cause them to turn on themselves, letting them do most of the work for the things. That level of story is complemented by some of the best practical special effects in cinema history, creating terrifying, disgusting, and all too real feeling monsters that when given the chance, can look just like us (I should also state, they hold up remarkably well even today, with them looking far better than the CGI mess of the 2011 prequel). This fact makes the whole movie have a tense mystery quality to it, with it being a phenomenal blend of horror and sci-fi. It also boasts a really good musical score by legendary Western composer Ennio Morricone that gives off a chilling and alien like feel with each passing moment that makes every tense scene, feel gut wrenching.

It’s rounded out by great cast that is spear headed by a grizzly looking Kurt Russell, featuring great performances from Keith David, Wilford Brimley, and T.K. Carter. So much of the tension comes from Russell and David, who create such a great, back-and-forth dynamic which always has you second guessing who the real alien(s) are.

All of that is complemented by such a stellar ending, that diverts expectations and strays away from your usual happy endings, giving us an ambiguous and questionable send off, that leaves you guessing. Carpenter’s The Thing isn’t just a remake, but a far better interpretation that is frightening, unpredictable, and chilling, especially in the desolate and lonely Antarctic where no one can help them or hear them. Therefore, it rightfully earns it’s place alongside some of the best horror movies of all time.

10/10