Review of The Thing (1982) by Tim S — 07 Feb 2017
John Carpenter has managed to make several films that I keep coming back to over and over again: Halloween, Big Trouble in Little China, Escape from New York, They Live, and his 1982 remake of The Thing.
This is one of the most creative and well-put together horror movies out there. The plot is pretty generic nowadays (and perhaps even then), but when it's been done right, it's memorable - and this one certainly is.
The acting and the dialogue are about what you'd expect from Carpenter. Nothing award-winning, but it gets the job done. The real showstopper here are the special effects. Jawdroppingly awesome, they're some of the best practical effects we're ever likely to see.
They are absolutely disgusting but done so ingeniusly that I was awed throughout. The score is a refreshing change of pace for Carpenter too. Instead of the synth themes we usually get from Carpenter's movies, Ennio Morricone comes in with a lovely symphonic score that is both moody and dark.
It's a shame that the film suffered due to the popularity of E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial during its initial theatrical run. Thankfully, the film has stuck around thanks to home video and I'm happy to say that this is one of my favorite horror films full-stop.
This review of The Thing (1982) was written by Tim S on 07 Feb 2017.
The Thing has generally received very positive reviews.
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