The Thing (1982)
1982
R
109 Minutes
Horror | Science Fiction | Mystery | Thriller
Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
User Review
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WHAT I LIKED: Horrors come in many shapes and sizes, but the best movies put the viewer in the characters' shoes and allow them to understand and relate to the horrors that are on display. John Carpenter's 'The Thing' succeeds there in a number of ways, though primarily does so through its bolder, more mysterious take on the original story that now further hacks into the very basis of human survival and instinct to test its characters to the max. This brings sheer desperation for one, and when you couple that with the unravelling fear of the constantly un-known and un-explained, the result is a film that has you hooked ten-fold right up to the final frame. That tension is built masterfully too as great cinematography, special effects and a very effective score make for properly nail-biting build-ups, but the real beauty of 'The Thing' shines in the moments when tension is briefly released. Here, great whit and excitement furthers our likeable leads and builds a film that doesn't take itself too seriously all of the time, but also has every right to do so when it needs to.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: This is a gripe I've always had, but it is kind of significant. When they first make their discovery, the overall reaction is unbelievably subdued. When everything else is so well-built, this really takes you out of the moment.
VERDICT: A near-perfect thriller that grips and excites; 'The Thing' is frankly nothing short of a masterpiece. I love this thing.1 member likes this review.
