“There is no such thing as paranoia. Your worst fears can come true at any moment.” - Hunter S. Thompson
Every horror movie has its point of focus. If it’s a slasher, it’s about the violence. If it’s paranormal it’s about the unknown. Of course these movies naturally cross pollinate using elements from every sub genre. The Thing is sci-fi horror focusing on violations of science, like body horror. But beyond what could be considered its main focus, by the very nature of its story it heavily relies on paranoia and in the most extreme manner possible, it is a whodunit of sorts only the true terror is that the very identity of the killer can change without reason or notice.
From a visual standpoint, the body horror is the most gripping and lasting element utilizing legendary practical effects featuring practically every technique available to the creators at that time. They used hand puppets, marionettes, radio controls, wires, hydraulics and pull cables just to list a few things at their disposal. At the center of the madness was Rob Bottin, The Thing’s special make-up effects designer.
At only twenty-three years of age, Bottin was already beginning to make a name for himself. Having previously worked on Joe Dante’s The Howling and John Carpenter’s The Fog, he was quickly establishing himself as one of the best. However, for the dog kennel sequence, it was the master himself, Stan Winston, who created the mutated hairless dog. As for Bottin, he would go on to forge his own legend in the movie business working on such features as Joe Dante’s Explorers, Ridley Scott’s Legend, Paul Verhoeven’s Robocop, David Fincher’s Se7en and many more.
When it comes to the story, paranoia is the name of the game. The thing in question is cunning, manipulative and ruthless. Its origins are unknown as are its original physical traits when taken into consideration that such an organism of extraterrestrial descent could have assimilated hundreds if not thousands of species before it ever crashed onto our planet.
To quote R.J. MacReady -
“This thing doesn't want to show itself; it wants to hide inside an imitation. It'll fight if it has to, but it's vulnerable out in the open. If it takes us over, then it has no more enemies. Nobody left to kill it. And then it's won.”
Antarctica, the most southern landmass on Earth. Average temperature: -60°F. Summer population: 5,000/ Winter population: 1,000. It is mainly researchers and support staff. It is the most isolated continent in the world. The alien being discovered beneath the ice has been trapped for millions of years. Researchers discover its ancient wreckage and the thawing process begins. Like the isolation of space in Alien, it becomes obvious that help is nonexistent in this place.
What goes from a mystery of what happened to the Norwegian crew that first discovered the organism, discovered dead, turns into extreme survival as the American team realizes whatever attacked the Norwegians has infiltrated their own basecamp. It is now a game of cat and mouse. Failure to play - everyone dies. Fail to find the organism - everyone dies. As the organism survives it learns and adapts, becoming deadlier by the second. The longer it survives the harder it is to kill. Who do they believe? Who do they kill? It could be anyone at any time from anywhere. For a place so isolated with a dwindling population, death has never been so omnipresent.
Some things in this world feel so significant, so complete that it’s comparable to lightning in a bottle. The Thing was a perfect confluence of events starting with John Carpenter at the helm. A brilliant cast was assembled featuring Kurt Russell of course, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur, Charles Hallahan and many others. The story naturally creates mystery, with only death as the consolation prize. There is unbridled paranoia spreading like a wildfire. The mystery is maddening, the reveals shocking and the creature, in moments of exposure, is relentless and perfectly, practically designed.
There is a chill in the air and it isn’t just the ice and snow.
Hailed as one of the greatest creature feature films of all-time, The Thing is John Carpenter at his best. The terrifying premise of the enemy hiding among its victims is brilliantly executed with phenomenal practical effects and superb pacing allowing for paranoia to set in as much as possible only to unleash unimaginable body horror upon an isolated group of unfortunate researchers. Kurt Russell is certainly the face of the film but the story never lets on that anyone is safe from the entity’s wrath. So much of the runtime feels hopeless that even if they somehow defeat it, they can never truly be certain it’s dead without exterminating everyone present. The only true way of knowing is for everyone to perish and how harrowing is that?
I don’t think I need to sell this one. As the saying goes, if you know you know. The Thing is brilliant at deception of its characters but of the audience as well. It pulls you in, forcing you to participate in the world’s worst game of Never Have I Ever. It is a story of possibilities, all more dire and threatening than the last. It’s endlessly scary, technically genius and effortlessly effective.
Rated R For: graphic bloody violence, disturbing imagery and language
Runtime: 109 minutes
After Credits Scene: No
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Starring: Kurt Russell, Keith David, Wilford Brimley, Charles Hallahan
Directed By: John Carpenter
Out of 10
Story: 10/ Acting: 9/ Directing: 10/ Visuals: 10
OVERALL: 10/10
Buy to Own: Yes.
Check out the trailer below:
Comments