X
- 1982
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 49 m
- 1982
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 49 m
Summary A research facility in Antarctica comes across an alien force that can become anything it touches with 100% accuracy. The members must now find out who's human and who's not before it's too late.
Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Bill Lancaster, John W. Campbell Jr.
- 1982
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 49 m
- 1982
- R
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 49 m
The Thing
57
8.6
Where to Watch
Summary A research facility in Antarctica comes across an alien force that can become anything it touches with 100% accuracy. The members must now find out who's human and who's not before it's too late.
Directed By: John Carpenter
Written By: Bill Lancaster, John W. Campbell Jr.
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
57
62% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
15% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
23% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 13 Critic Reviews
57
62% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
15% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
23% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
The Thing is paranoid, bleak, uncompromising, and thankfully devoid of a traditional Hollywood happy ending. Led by Russell, the ensemble cast is outstanding, but the real star of the film is Rob Bottin's imaginative creature effects.
The menace of the dark polar night and the claustrophobic confines of the base are utilised to raise the fear, tension and paranoia to unbearable heights. This is a creature that doesn't just hide in the dark, but could be your friend, your colleague, or the girl beside you whose hand you are breaking in a terrified vice-like grip.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 354 User Ratings
8.6
91% Positive
321 Ratings
321 Ratings
5% Mixed
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
5% Negative
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 354 User Ratings
8.6
91% Positive
321 Ratings
321 Ratings
5% Mixed
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
5% Negative
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
Carpenter creates an atmosphere in Thing; it's a weird one, an odd landscape and clearly alien territory, but it's entertaining nonetheless. And for those who have not been to a creep show in the last couple of years, The Thing has some very nasty surprises. [25 June 1982, p.D1]
A paranoia-choked atmosphere is the primary reason why The Thing works as well as it does. The setup is standard stuff, establishing that the characters are isolated and can expect no help from the outside. The realization there could be an alien among them, and any one of them might not be human, is what launches The Thing into a spiral of escalating tension.
John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a wretched excess. It's not that originals are too sacred to be reinterpreted. They're period pieces that would have to be tinkered with to appear contemporary. They've simply been unlucky with their tinkerers, who haven't spruced up the pretexts without laying waste to the accompanying human interest, wit and thematic suggestiveness. [25 June 1982, p.C3]
There's a big difference between shock effects and suspense, and in sacrificing everything at the altar of gore, Carpenter sabotages the drama. The Thing is so single-mindedly determined to keep you awake that it almost puts you to sleep. [28 June 1982, p.73B]
The Thing is too phony looking to be disgusting. It qualifies only as instant junk.
I knew from the beginning that I watched watching something very special and good special effects and lighting and the camera angles just makes it go to a level. I have not seen in a horror movie in a while. I was sitting on the edge of my sed and was enduring every meeting in of it the acting is that kind you can only see in a John Carpenter film where it is at the same time grounded and over the top at some point.
And I was really heavily surprised that the movie was only an hour and 40 minutes. I cannot tell you how much this is meant for me because I think that movies are best when they have this general it's length.
It doesn't waste your time. The movie is really nerve-wracking at some points. Just a slow burn kind of nerve-wracking and a death march in the last half. It was really fun.
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when the movie came out, it was despised by "critics" - like those people who do those "independent" 10/10 reviews here for **** games and movies when they are paid well to do so...
but i liked it then, and love it even more now, since its one of the movies like Alien 1979 - thirty years later and all modern ones falling too short to reach that mark...
even more appreciation for the movie was done by hard work - both brain and physical, to do special effects, that are much much better than average CGIs
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The film looks successful for the year of production. You feel the tension from time to time. I loved the atmosphere. It ends with question marks, but if you watch carefully, it is possible to catch a clue. You have to give this movie a chance.
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an annihilated breach with an "in and out" agenda..
The Thing 2 And A Half Out Of 5
The Thing is plot driven horror feature that is more blame game than poetic as it aspires to be. The concept isn't as smart as the makers think and the scrutiny isn't loud enough to bang its way out of the screen; it stays with you but maybe you don't want to keep it. It is short on technical aspects like background score, art design, visual effects, sound department and editing. The writing is weak on terms of creativity for it completely relies upon its concept and never even attempts to outgrow it which fades away its specific chareacteristics after the first act. The screenplay by Bill Lancaster is gripping if not smart, for it contains all the essential ingredients that a mandatory commercial cinema does, to draw in most of the attention from the audience. John Carpenter; the director, is not in his A game as he lacks better execution skills or maybe isn't focused on the vision that is aspired to set and is enjoying a bit much of it to breed sincerity. There isn't much range offered to any of the star cast to factor in effectively on terms of performance although Kurt Russell is giving all he can from the allotted part. The Thing is an annihilated breach with an "in and out" agenda that is similar to its characters; one-dimensional.
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Awards
Jupiter Award
• 2 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 2 Nominations
Razzie Awards
• 1 Nomination
