Julian RuncanThe Thing: Paranoia At Its Best
May 30th 2010 12:46
John Carpenter's movies have a certain quality that you really don't find in movies these days: atmosphere. While The Thing may be incredibly slow-paced, this isn't exactly a bad thing. The movie's power is its use of tension, making the audience feel just as paranoid and suspicious as the characters themselves.
The effects didn't exactly age well, but then again neither did Kurt Russell. The performances are great all-around, and the script remains just as sharp as it ever was. Some parts would certainly be handled differently if the film was remade today, but any of these changes would certainly be a detriment to the experience The Thing provides.
The Thing may technically be a science-fiction or horror film, but it treats its subject differently than those genres usually do. The audience learns little about the aliens or their motivations, and we're spared a lot of the "jumpy" moments and screaming teens that saturate most modern horror films. What Carpenter shows us is a display of humanity's capacity for trust, and how fragile it really is.
Almost everyone should see The Thing once, at least to see what can be accomplished with such a bare-bones concept. Any John Carpenter fan will certainly enjoy it, but the movie also works for anyone who appreciates tension and suspense when utilized properly.
8.5/10
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Comment by Bryn
Horrorphile
The Thing has aged like a fine wine.
Comment by Spring-Heeled Jack
Over.Exposure
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
One of my favourite thrillers to this day that still pumps the heart and delivers unforced thrills.
The FX also stand out for me as superior to much of today's because of their ferocious execution.