Amazon.com: Director John Carpenter and special makeup effects master Rob Bottin teamed up for this 1982 remake of the 1951 science fiction classic The Thing from Another World, and the result is a mixed blessing. It's got moments of highly effective terror and spine-tingling suspense, but it's mostly a showcase for some of the goriest and most horrifically grotesque makeup effects ever created for a movie. With such highlights as a dog that splits open and blossoms into something indescribably gruesome, this is the kind of movie for die-hard horror fans and anyone who slows down to stare at fatal traffic accidents. On those terms, however, it's hard not to be impressed by the movie's wild and wacky freak show. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice, and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley. They're all playing standard characters who are neglected by the mechanistic screenplay (based on the classic sci-fi story "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell), but Carpenter's emphasis is clearly on the gross-out effects and escalating tension. If you've got the stomach for it (and let's face it, there's a big audience for eerie gore), this is a thrill ride you won't want to miss. --Jeff Shannon
To Gory?? ..For Who? For you? I know that the Gore factor, in this woundrful movie is always of concern or judgement of this movie....lets see..oh yes, B&W Romeros Dawn Of The Dead Classic has Zombies eating raw intrails from a former victim and another chewing on a hand or body part..NOW that IS GORE. The so called Gore in The Thing, I thought was State of the art speciall Effects, like never seen before or since because, like another reviewer said.. today it would all be GCI..But the challanges met by the special effects artists/team was masterful and awe inspiring! (Note I said ARTISTS, as called back then)..Now its Special Effects Tec. or direction, because thats all it is today, just techical creations off a Key Board Pad and PC. Viewers/critics back then were not prepared for the realistic horror unlesashed in their Cinamaplex... Not since The Exorcist had vieweres eperienced true dreadful fear,..and it was created by Special Effects ARTISTS, with Pea Soup..tubes..hydraulics..and fantastic Makup by Makeup ARTISTS!....For me, a wanabe Special Effects Artists, this movie was the real deal and right on.. Fear..Dread, and Paranoia.. The Critics after viewing this movie, and after a change of undereware, were totally blindsighted on its release, and dubed it as TO GORY!.."Well, Boo Hoo, I want my mommy"..The THING, succeeded as it wanted to do...To scare the hell out of you! Kudos John Carpenter!!
Every year I watch this movie every year in the month of January. I love this movie. This is one of the few remakes that is better than the original.
Somewhat light on the extras for a "collector's edition" Although this DVD does come with a few extras, such as a short history slideshow explaining the development of The Thing, and a commentary voice-over with Kurt Russell and the director, John Carpenter, it leaves something to be desired in what was released as a "Collector's Edition". I point to examples such as the Collector's Edition of Aliens (the second movie) as a comparison.
That said, it's a great movie and worth adding to any horror/sci fi/Kurt Russell collection. It doesn't get much gorier than a John Carpenter flick, as any of his fans can tell you, but at the same time Carpenter's movies are often written and cast so well that they transcend the camp value of B-movie horror flicks and end up being something much more memorable. "MANOS: The Hands Of Fate" this ain't, folks.
It's macready, man, HE'S the thing! All the way back from the early 80's, John Carpenter's "The Thing" was the hottest Sci-Fi/horror film to be seen. I remember seeing a copy of Cinefex magazine, dealing with the production of the film. There was a ton of imagination and special effects that went into the making of "The Thing".
What makes "The Thing" so creepy is the nature of the "Alien" menace. A creature that attacks and "takes over" it's intended victim at a cellular level, in essence becoming an exact copy of it's victim! What is perhaps it's most disgusting and surprising trait, is when it is either surprised or found out (identified). The laws of nature are thrown out the window, and you are witness to some of the most shocking mutations to ever come from a sick and depraved mind. To this, Carpenter puts into the mix a group of men who have undergone extensive psychological testing, just to be able to work in an isolated environment (no one wants these men going koo-koo a couple of months into their stay). Well, let's just say that it wasn't enough. Once the menace is identified, little by little, these men come apart at the seams! It's every man for himself (itself?)!
"The Thing" is LOOOOONG on suspense! At times, it's well, nigh unbearable. This is John Carpenter's best film. Rob Bottin's special effects deserved an Oscar. Kurt Russell was just coming out of his "sqeaky clean" teenage image that followed him from his early films. There is one thing I find curious. On some copies of this film, a Stevie Wonder song is being played in the kitchen scene, and on others, it's different music. Also, there are copies with narration! Perhaps it was added when the film went to cable. This film, like Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho", are must-see (if not must-own) films for the horror fanster!
Best (and nastiest) shapeshifter ever Okay, you've read all the praise, and it's all true, this is a helluva scary movie, well-made, the effects are outstanding, and it holds up well over time.
But that's not all there is to it.
We've all seen morph effects, one critter transforming smoothly into another, we were pretty bored with them by the early 1990's. Big deal.
But this was made before cheap, cheesy CGI morphs. There's nothing smooth about these transformations. Much the opposite. What's so monstrous about this Thing, is that everything about its transformations is so WRONG. This critter has a rather nasty disregard for the rules, it doesn't care that heads aren't supposed to sprout legs and walk off on their own.
Anything Goes Trivia
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