The Thing (1982) Dir: John Carpenter
- Ridley Coote
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
Instagram post:
There are some horror films that stand head and shoulders above the rest, and this 1982 classic, from iconic horror director John Carpenter, is absolutely one of them. Arguably Carpenter's masterpiece, it has been one of the most beloved and influential creature features for the last four decades. One thing I always forget, is that this film is in fact a relatively loose adaptation of the 1951 classic sci-fi horror; 'The Thing from Another World', which I am yet to see, unfortunately. It had been a couple of years since I'd last watched this version, but I could not wait to see it again.
The first thing that simply must be noted when talking about this film is its iconic and tremendous practical effects. I can remember watching this film for the first time as a teenager, and finding those effects a little goofy, but the older I've become, and the more I've watched this film, the more I appreciate how brilliant they really are. They're terrifying, realistic looking in the context of the film, and oh so goopy and gross. It's Carpenter at his very best. I should also at least briefly mention the soundtrack, composed by Ennio Morricone, because it is just so excellently haunting and suspenseful.
The story is superb, despite its incredibly simple premise. It plays on the classic human fears of the unknown, of aliens, and of the idea that a monster is not only hidden among us, but appears to actually be one of us too. The fear, the paranoia, the guessing, and the shocks - it's all so well-built, so tantalisingly tense, and unwaveringly freaky. Those of us who have seen the film before know that I need only mention the ending - it's as iconic as it is absolutely riveting and scary in its unshakable ambiguity.
Kurt Russell's rough-and-ready, typically 1980's, protagonist is always awesome to watch. He has all the charisma in the world, despite his relative lack of dialogue for the bulk of the film. The supporting cast might comfortably play second fiddle to Russell, there's still some very decent performances amongst the cast list. Keith David and Wilford Brimley always stand out the most for me, but T.K. Carter, David Clennon, and Richard Dysart, all deserve a mention in their own right as well.
Overall, I think it only takes somebody one viewing to realise why this is such a beloved film. It's arguably the quintessential horror film of the 80's for good reason. It has everything; mystery, suspense, a brave 'man of few words' protagonist, and a hell of a lot of goopy practical effects. In many ways it's a perfect sister film to the original 'Alien', which might help to explain why I adore this film so much.
Comments