Night 16: ‘The Thing’ (1982)

This is part of the ‘31 Nights of Horror Classics’ series, which I’ll be doing for Halloween 2017. Every night of this month, I’ll be watching a horror film made before the 90s and I’ll be posting a short review here.

Paranoia, distrust and one of the most horrifying creatures of the genre, are part of this horror classic by director John Carpenter.

A member of a nearby Norwegian facility attacks a group of American researchers while he tries to hunt a dog. After bringing him down and taking the animal in, they discover there’s much more to this seemingly random occurrence. An inhuman creature with the ability to look like anyone is hunting them, and they must face it alone, while completely isolated in the snowy mountain.

I have heard and read a lot about Carpenter’s The Thing. Many consider it one of the best horror movies ever made. Others will add that it’s one of the few great horror remakes –a term that makes me iffy, since it’s misused so often.

Since I’m not familiar with the 1951 version, I must judge it as a standalone. And boy is it a good one!

Although it’s undeniably gory, the movie is really about a clever and exhilarating cat-and-mouse game that keeps you on the edge of your sit. Like the characters in the film, you can’t help but distrust everyone and try to put the pieces of the puzzle together in order to figure out who is the Thing.

The creature itself is possibly one of the most horrifying and effective villains ever created. It can take the likeness of anyone, imitate their behavior, and it’s only interested in absorbing all of them. No explanation of its origin is neither needed nor wanted. It’s absolutely chilling for what it is, what it can do, and its incredibly disturbing design.

The special effects used to create it are simply stunning. It’s grotesque, and it feels all too real, making you uncomfortable the moment you see it.

But even during the gore-free moments, the movie captures your attention. The Thing has an amazing cinematography and great atmospheric music that creates an almost claustrophobic mood. You feel like you are there, hopelessly trapped with the characters.

If there’s just one downside, is the characters themselves. It took me a while to like MacReady (Kurt Russell), who was just too repellent and emotionless for me to care about him. Also, although the amount of people in the facility gives it a sense of realism, it also means some of the characters are easy to confuse, and many just serve the role of ‘person the monster will kill’.

Still, The Thing is one of the best horror classics I’ve watched for this series of reviews. Even though I’m not a fan of alien-based horror, this one will definitely be joining my Halloween must-watch list from now on.

Grade: 9/10. Get ready to be scared!

Scare Factor: high! Including a few jump scares.

Gore/Violence: If you have a weak stomach: skip this one!

Nudity/Sexual Situations: none.

Previous Night: ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’ (1931)

Next up: ‘Phantom of the Opera’ (‘43)