By Joseph "Skull Vault" Walter
Although it's a remake of a much older (but still great) picture, The Thing from Another World (which makes an appearance in the original Halloween), this version takes the core of the source material and mutates it into a form that is both chilling and filled to the brim with such psychological horror that it's difficult to find another genre film to compare it to.
Admittedly, the movie starts off somewhat shakily with an oddly goofy (but blessedly brief) scene featuring a cheesy flying saucer hurtling through space and crashing onto Earth. Thankfully, it's quickly followed up by one of the eeriest title sequences I've ever seen (way up there with Alien), and it's more than enough to wash out the weird taste left by the somewhat out-of-place opening.
The already-considerable effectiveness of this sequence is bolstered even further by Ennio Morricone's terrifying musical score, which is unrivaled in its ability to generate and maintain the purest feelings of dreadful uncertainty for the entirety of the runtime, giving life not just to the images you can see on screen, but also the ones you can't, such as giving form to the underlying themes of the picture itself.
The helicopter soon touches down, with the pilot and rifleman emerging in a feverish state, desperately screaming incoherently at the Americans and wildly brandishing their weapons (including explosives!) against them. Unsurprisingly, this results in the Norwegians getting eliminated by the unsettled US researchers. The dog, having survived the whole aerial pursuit ordeal, is quickly taken in by the lads.
Throughly shaken up by the incident, MacReady (played by the always-cool Kurt Russell) and Childs (played by the criminally underrated Keith David) begin discussing the disconcerting event, while the base's resident radio man attempts to make contact with both the nearby Norwegian station (where the helicopter, its crew and their target hailed from), along with anyone else who might be out there and able to help. Of course, no signal gets through anywhere.
With no other options, an expedition is sent to the Norwegian headquarters, only to find that it's littered with corpses and practically burned to the ground. As the investigation continues, it becomes evident that the Norwegians had been excavating something from the snow, but as mystifying as that might be, it pales in comparison to what the team discovers next: the rotting, charred carcass of something that could barely be defined as human, animal, or anything from this Earth.
Returning to base with their discovery, they begin studying the grotesque remains in hopes of discovering what (who?) this malformed, rotting entity was, and what exactly happened at the Norwegian camp.
Before they can come to any firm conclusions, though, chaos and carnage break out in the dog pen, thanks to its newest tenant. It turns out that the thing the Norwegians were so frantically hunting wasn't just some dog... or even a dog at all. It was something far worse. In a disgusting display of viscera and mind-bending puppetry, the animal's body erupts into an unearthly being which violently lays waste to the other dogs in the pen before being incinerated by a flamethrower, deftly wielded by Childs. (Fun Fact: this canine's horrific mutation left a permanent, scar of sheer terror on my Dad's psyche when he first saw the movie. He's not over it yet, and I don't blame him.)
This moment is particularly fantastic because it's your first real indication that this isn't going to be one of those horror movies where the people act like idiots. Nope! In The Thing, when these people see something dangerous and horrific, they don't fuck around; they go right for the flamethrower!
Weaponized fire and smart characters aside, an autopsy of the creature is performed, and a terrifying discovery is made: this thing is some sort of alien life form that, at a cellular level, is able to absorb and perfectly mimic any living being.
Then the obvious question is asked. The question that defines the rest of the movie and sets up one of the most bone-chilling premises for any film. A question that increases the terror level from shock and gore to one that's deeply psychological: If this "thing" can easily mimic any living being, is one of us not who they say they are? Is one of us "The Thing?"
The sense of dread is unyielding and unending. It permeates every second of every minute of the runtime. I can only think of a few other scary movies that managed to accomplish this feat, but even then, there's just something about The Thing that sets it apart.
The way it makes you think. The way it lingers with you for days after seeing it. The way it's able to make you nervous in a way that's far too realistic for a piece of fiction
The characters are believable and intelligent. They are not passive victims, but actively defiant. They fight their enemy. They make hard decisions. They rationalize, they study, the plan and they strategize. They are unrelenting in their pursuit of both the enemy, and furthering their knowledge.
The atmosphere is so heavy that it's practically tangible. Throw Morricone's anxiety-inducing music into the mix, and you can toss "practically" into the trash.
A great deal of the film's thematic success can also be attributed to its exceptional classic setting and scenario: A group of people, stranded in the middle of nowhere in a dangerous environment, being hunted by something. However, the twist is that instead of your typical monster or slasher, it's one of them. Or us, in this case.
Just take my word for it: this movie is terrifying. And see it now if you haven't before.
The last thing I'll mention is just how fantastic of a film this is. It's a genuine masterpiece. The level of filmmaking on display is sincerely incredible. You can practically feel the magic from your seat!
Normally, that's a nice thing, but, in this case, the magical sensation is far more disgusting than it should be, thanks to the elite artistry of the masterful special effects team. Their work alone is enough to cement this film as a classic for all eternity, even if it was stripped of its superb writing, storytelling and acting. The effects are that good. (and I purposefully didn't include any images of the monsters.... that weapons-grade nightmare fuel is better off being experienced in action.)
... actually, you know what, I better make this the actual last thing, because it really does deserve the spotlight. It's pretty important!
To put it mildly, the monstrous creature effects, skillful puppetry and fully-realized aesthetic of the various forms "the Thing" takes are, no pun intended, out of this world. They are the most twisted, disgusting, gruesome, slimy, obscene entities I've ever laid my eyes upon, and no matter how many times others try to mimic or outdo the work that was accomplished here, nothing ever comes close.
The puppetry, in particular, is truly jaw-dropping, and it definitively makes the case for how much more effective practical effects are in comparison to digital. The sheer terror of knowing that the grotesque and malevolent "Thing" is literally right next to the actors in physical, tangible form genuinely sells the scares in ways that can't be matched.
Okay, with that out of the way... let's actually wrap this up for real.
With its masterful storytelling and lingering, deep-cutting terror, you'll find yourself utterly entranced by The Thing, and while the beginning is kind of hokey, the ending is nothing short of legendary. You'll be excitedly talking about it about it for days!
So, whether you're a horror fan, gorehound, SFX freak, intellectual enthusiast, art connoisseur, sci-fi fanatic or someone who just likes frozen environments (you're not alone) ... simply wait for a nice, frigid night, get some brews, light up the fire pit (flamethrower not required), and prepare yourself for an evening of psychological terror as you come face to face (to face) with "THE THING!"
For the above reasons, and the many more I purposely left out, The Thing is more than deserving of its perfect score. Long live the king of smart scary movies.
Final Score:
4/4
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