Director: John Carpenter
Starring: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, T K Carter, Richard Dysart, Chris Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, Joel Polis, Thomas Waites.
This excellent review is by Adam Truscott aka maverick99sback (check out his web site if you get the chance).
The One Where I Heart The Thing, And You Should Too.
Sorry for the spoiler, but when it hits the fan, a dogs face splits into four, grows tentacles, and attacks a few startled humans.
So far as introductions go, after a steady build up, I’m not sure it’s ever been bettered. The staff at Outpost 31 are bored out of their mind. There are suggestions of drink problems, and certainly tension – so what better than a few guests?
Well, that would be fine if it weren’t two crazy Norwegians, chasing a dog in a helicopter. After it all goes belly up and they end up with just the dog, and quite a few questions, The Thing really comes into a league of its own.
As mentioned, the dog isn’t quite what he seems, and the film becomes a guessing game of who is the thing?
As set ups go, it’s so simple. The element of tension in the team at the staff is elevated, and as a viewer, we never know who is going to be taken over next.
The film is a brilliant retort to any remake doubters. It couldn’t be any further removed from Howard Hawks’ The Thing From Another World, but a remake is a remake.
What John Carpenter does so well, is deviate from that. Anyone that had seen that original would still be covering his or her eyes, because this film is so unique.
Carpenter and Kurt Russell were on a roll by now. They knew what made one another tick.
Now, no matter how much I loved Kurt Russell, my Dad was never going to be able to let me see this. So I saw it when he was out. It blew my mind obviously, as the levels of gore – but more importantly – the quality of the effects make everything seem so real. This is played straight. Like it’s science fact.
Dad would later fall back on this as a better option of cinema violence, when I became obsessed with Pulp Fiction. His reasoning was sound. The Thing was a sci-fi, and what actually happens touch wood is very, very unlikely to ever happen. Pulp Fiction on the other hand was based in reality. Watching The Thing recently, I’d take heroin any day of the week. That sounded wrong.
The Thing has memorable moments, memorable quotes, and is a film that its fans are devotees of.
Whenever people doubt or criticize John Carpenter, it’s hard not to tie them to a chair and make them take part in a blood test. The Thing is a seminal film. Its effects are untouchable, even now. It’s acting is immense, and understated. The score (nominated for a razzie??), is instantly recognizable.
It’s impossible to pigeonhole. Yeah it’s a sci-fi, but it’s pretty horrific too. It’s also darkly funny – What other response is there to a head sprouting spider legs and walking across the floor, using it’s tongue for grip?
The tagline, “Man is the warmest place to hide”, is iconic too. It’s creepy, and unsettling. Written as a statement of fact.Everything about the original makes me nervous and apprehensive about the sequel/prequel/remake/hybrid that’s due out next year.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead is in it, so I’m there on the first night, no matter what. But really… Even if it’s a great little film – what hope does it have of being canon, when compared to the original? Should you ever go back? Are some films untouchable?
I wish The Thing were more than a Cult classic. I wish people hadn’t thought it was a sequel to E.T. But then, that’s part of the allure. It’s ours. They can have E.T; nothing will prepare them for this.
A good friend would tell you some films should never be remade. But I liked the remake of Dawn Of The Dead, so sue me.
I asked last week what was better? Dawn Of The Dead or The Thing?
There have been loads of zombie films. There has never been anything like this. Before or after.
The Thing v Dawn Of The Dead = Flawless victory for The Thing, with a K.O
Anyone that disagrees… “You gotta be fucking kiddin’ me”.
Now, how about the much mooted Escape From Earth, JC?
