Product Description: SCIENTISTS IN THE ANTARCTIC ARE CONFRONTED BY A SHAPE-SHIFTING ALIEN THAT ASSUMES THE APPEARANCE OF THE PEOPLE THAT IT KILLS.
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
Classic sci fi This is one of the coolest looking movies out there. The special effects are all props, no cg except for the very first stupid shot. It looks great and is still scary after all these years. Decent direction, but slip shod editing and poor acting at times mar this one. Other than that, a classic all around.
Just how I remembered it.... I really enjoyed the gore although the movie was a bit short but still good.
moderately satisfied didn't really mind that there was no cover (i think that was in the details that I didn't read) but it took a week longer than it should have to get here. I needed it for a project so I ended up having to buy another copy at best buy. Only reason I'm not more miffed is that I needed another copy anyway.
One of my best purchases !!! Perhaps one of the best sci-fi movies ever. The commentary with Kurt Russel and John Carpenter is awesome. I highly recommend this.
If You Liked 'Alien,' You'll Like This This intense sci-fi film is almost horror in nature, a la "Alien" as it features a tremendous amount of suspense. In fact, if you liked "Alien," you'll probably like this, the main difference of the two films being the different setting and a different cast.
The cast may be different but the characters are the same: scientists-heroes who are all profane low-life-types who you would never see in professions and positions like this. Only in the world of film do you see sleazy people like this in high-tech intelligent positions such as astronauts or scientists. Who better to exemplify this in the 1980s than self-proclaimed macho man Kurt Russell?
Back to the positives: besides the great suspense, the story is an involving one that hooks you in fairly early and never lets go. I have a widescreen VHS copy which looks nice, too, since the visuals definitely warranted a widescreen viewing experience. I suspect a Blu-Ray verson of this would really look great.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
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