The Thing

“Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone.”

8.1

1982

1h 49m

HorrorMysteryScience Fiction

Director: John Carpenter

Overview

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

Trailer

Official Trailer Official

Cast

MacReady

Kurt Russell

MacReady

Childs

Keith David

Childs

Blair

Wilford Brimley

Blair

Nauls

T.K. Carter

Nauls

Palmer

David Clennon

Palmer

Dr. Copper

Richard Dysart

Dr. Copper

Norris

Charles Hallahan

Norris

Bennings

Peter Maloney

Bennings

Clark

Richard Masur

Clark

Garry

Donald Moffat

Garry

Fuchs

Joel Polis

Fuchs

Windows

Thomas G. Waites

Windows

Reviews

John Chard

Flips the scenario round from the original to great effect. John Carpenter shows how much he loves the 1951 original by giving it the utmost respect that he possibly could, the only difference here is that Carpenter chooses to stick to the paranoiac core of John W Campbell Jr's short story. The secret to this version's success is the unbearable tension that builds up as the group of men become suspicious of each other, the strain of literally waiting to be taken over takes a fearful hold. Carpenter then manages to deliver the shocks as well as the mystery that's needed to keep the film heading in the right direction. Be it an horrific scene or a "what is in the shadow" sequence, the film is the perfect fusion of horror and sci-fi. The dialogue is laced with potency and viability for a group of men trying to keep it together under such duress, while Ennio Morricone's score is a wonderful eerie pulse beat that further racks up the sense of doom and paranoia seaming throughout the film. The cast are superb, a solid assembly line of actors led by Carpenter favourite Kurt Russell, whilst the effects used around the characters get the right amount of impact needed. But most of all it's the ending that is the crowning glory, an ending that doesn't pander to the norm and is incredibly fitting for what has gone on before it. Lets wait and see what happens indeed. 10/10

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fenicka

It was a good and original movie but some parts were still too boring, am i the only one who thinks like this?

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Wuchak

Stuck on a remote station in Antarctica with… The Thing RELEASED IN 1982 and directed by John Carter, “The Thing” stars Kurt Russell as the helicopter pilot of an eleven-man crew at a research station in Antarctica who encounter a ghastly shape-shifting alien that perfectly replicates the appearance of its victims. This is basically a sequel to the 1956 film and even includes footage from that classic sci-fi/horror. The creature is unconventional to say the least and this adds an eerie component to an already otherworldly and confined Antarctic setting. There are no females and therefore no romantic complications. The characters are thin so the story focuses on the thing and how the crew tries to track it down and eliminate it, if they can. The nature of the gruesome entity, how it functions and how it can or cannot be killed leaves you with a lot of questions. The ending is haunting. “The Thing” may not be as great as gushing devotees insist, but it’s solid sci-fi/horror with some pretty horrific scenes, although only one really creeped me out (the blood scene) while another made me bust out laughing (the torso jaws). THE FILM RUNS 1 hour, 48 minutes and was shot in Alaska & British Columbia. WRITER: Bill Lancaster. MISC. CAST: Keith David (Childs), Wilford Brimley (Blair), T.K. Carter (Nauls), Richard Masur (Clark), Thomas G. Waites (Windows), Donald Moffat (Garry), etc. GRADE: B

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