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Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David ... see more see more... , Richard Dysart , Charles Hallahan , Peter Maloney , Richard Masur , Joel Polis , Norbert Weisser , Larry Franco , Kent Hays , Nate Irwin , Denver Mattson , Donald Moffat , Thomas G. Waites , Jerry Wills , William Zeman , Tony Cecere , Larry Holt , Melvin Jones , Eric Mansker , Clint Rowe , Rock Walker , Richard A. Dysart

John Carpenter's The Thing is both a remake of Howard Hawks' 1951 film of the same name and a re-adaptation of the John W. Campbell Jr. story "Who Goes There?" on which it was based. Carpenter's film ... read more read more...is more faithful to Campbell's story than Hawks' version and also substantially more reliant on special effects, provided in abundance by a team of over 40 technicians, including veteran creature-effects artists Rob Bottin and Stan Winston. The film opens enigmatically with a Siberian Husky running through the Antarctic tundra, chased by two men in a helicopter firing at it from above. Even after the dog finds shelter at an American research outpost, the men in the helicopter (Norwegians from an outpost nearby) land and keep shooting. One of the Norwegians drops a grenade and blows himself and the helicopter to pieces; the other is shot dead in the snow by Garry (Donald Moffat), the American outpost captain. American helicopter pilot MacReady (Kurt Russell, fresh from Carpenter's Escape From New York) and camp doctor Copper (Richard Dysart) fly off to find the Norwegian base and discover some pretty strange goings-on. The base is in ruins, and the only occupants are a man frozen to a chair (having cut his own throat) and the burned remains of what could be one man or several men. In a side room, Copper and MacReady find a coffin-like block of ice from which something has been recently cut. That night at the American base, the Husky changes into the Thing, and the Americans learn first-hand that the creature has the ability to mutate into anything it kills. For the rest of the film the men fight a losing (and very gory) battle against it, never knowing if one of their own dwindling number is the Thing in disguise. Though resurrected as a cult favorite, The Thing failed at the box office during its initial run, possibly because of its release just two weeks after Steven Spielberg's warmly received E.T.The Extra-Terrestrial. Along with Ridley Scott's futuristic Alien, The Thing helped stimulate a new wave of sci-fi horror films in which action and special effects wizardry were often seen as ends in themselves. ~ Anthony Reed, Rovi

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46 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: John Carpenter

Release Date: July 1, 1982

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DVD Release Date: August 28, 2001

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Stats: 9,611 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (9,611)

  • samoriley
    February 21, 2012
    samoriley
    Regardless of the fact that The Thing was unsuccessful at the box office,John Carpenter's masterpiece has truly made a great impact on both science-fiction and horror.

    For starters, John Carpenter the master of horror themed movies, such as Halloween, so the scares in this fil... read morem are expected to be rather high. As a result, he succeeds, and he fails. The main achievement of the film is creating the paranoia amongst the characters, unaware who is infected or not. Visually, the film is incredible but grotesque and can be seen more as a vomit movie than a scare movie. The film has also, like Alien, left behind several questions that have been left unanswered, such as the Norwegian camp.

    The film has also left behind such memorable yet disturbing scenes, from the mutating dog, to the spider head, to the infamous blood test scene. However, most would argue how its a poorly made film when compared to the original movie 'The Thing from another world'. In fact, John Carpenter's version is far more faithful to the novel 'Who Goes There?' it has been considered to be one of the best Sci-Fi Horrors films made.

    When it comes to a story, the script is rather strong; a group of men working in Antartica, who witness a helicopter chasing after a dog. Afterwards, the party witness some truly horrific, to the ruined Norwegian camp, to the mutant dog attack. Although all actors gave very promising roles, Kurt Russell and Keith David gave possibly something more than that.

    John Carpenter's masterpiece has not only changed two genres, it has become a rather large cult film and is one of the finest remakes, which is superior to its predecessor.

    Positives:
    Superb visuals
    A fantastic remake
    A master of creating paranoia

    Negatives:
    Visually very disturbing
    Not mentally terrifying
  • allan913
    February 18, 2012
    allan913
    This is Director, John Carpenters masterpiece, the best film he has made next to Escape From New York. A bone-chilling edge of your seat thrill-ride filled with blood-soaked suspense and amazing special effects that surpass most horror films of the 80`s. Kurt Russell gives a stro... read moreng and outstanding performance.
  • fb100000257973100
    January 17, 2012
    fb100000257973100
    I will be honest and say that I feel very terrible for this film. The reason why is because this film was released around the same time Steven Spielberg made his famous film ET: Extra Terrestrial and that film set in the minds of people that aliens were cute and cuddly little cre... read moreatures that are misunderstood. Then comes this little horror film that basically destroyed all of those idea and made aliens completely terrifying creatures that are hell bent on taking over.
    John Carpenter's THE THING was subjected to numerous critics that ripped on and disowned this film. Some saying that it is an unneeded re-adaption and remake of the film The Thing From Another Planet. Some that say that the special effects are bad. Me, I have nothing but respect for this film due to how it, over time, changed the basis for claustrophobia films, horror films, and special effects. And to think that some of these stunts were done by puppets and not CGI.
    Okay, the first good thing about this film is the atmosphere. Carpenter is known for setting the mood for films, and this is one in which he nails it almost as perfectly as he did in Halloween. The use of the music, the completely isolated cold, the fact that all of the men in this film (no female characters at all. Thank God) can not trust one another, it all works.
    Now, as I said, this is just a retelling of the story of a group of scientist that get stuck in the arctic and has to figure out who is the alien and who is not. The original was pretty good for it's time, but today, it just seems dated and bad. I love older films, but that one bores me to death. Here, you have the same story only told much better, feels like it was made during this day and age, and still able to scare the life out of you. That is what a horror film should be and this is one of Carpenter's greatest examples of that.
    Kurt Russel is something of an idol to me in terms of an actor. He has stared in countless films, some good like Elvis, some terrible like Sky High, and some that are out of this world like Grindhouse: Death Proof. Here though, he gives his all time best performance to date. He embodies all of the fears of not trusting anyone yet the courage to take control and to figure things out. Russel gives one hell of a performance that outshines the rest of this excellent cast and it is a crime that he, being Russel, got no awards for this performance. He is truly outstanding.
    Then you have the special effects. As I said, this film is remembered due to the disturbing yet realistic effects that, to this day, still look impressive and wonderful. One thing I love about horror films is that it takes a lot creativity to think of ways how to scare your audience. With this film, they come up with a few tricks that includes a dog's head being split open, testing people's blood, and the complete creation of the creature.
    In the end of the day, this is still a wonderful horror film that, while now it is honored as the masterpiece it is, was sadly turned a cold shoulder on when originally released. The only other thing I have to say is that: if you get scared or disturbed easily, then I don't recommend this film. There is a reason why Carpenter is known as the master of horror, people!
  • shauna1354
    December 9, 2011
    shauna1354
    Atmospheric, engaging, utterly creepy, a stone cold horror classic. The Thing in my opinion is John Carpenter's finest hour. His direction is superb, every shot is meticulously crafted, Carpenter masterfully creates growing suspense and paranoia. Thematically it may be an alien h... read moreorror but at its core, and what makes the film so fascinating is the human element, the characters decreasing trust in one another. Kurt Russell leads the cast with a very strong, low-key performance (his most iconic role in my humble opinion, though Snake Plissken is a close second) as RJ Macready the level-headed helicopter pilot who is the epitome of masculinity. There is not a weak link in the whole cast. A timeless and refreshing chiller, in my top five of all time.
  • phubbs1
    December 7, 2011
    phubbs1
    Total remake of an old horror/sci-fi film using an age old idea/fear of an alien creature infiltrating a human base and then humans themselves, suppose to make your skin crawl.

    A bit of a failure at the box office upon release but this was mainly down to the tough competition of... read more 'Blade Runner' and the friendly alien 'E.T.', despite that the film came into its own once hitting the video market and became something of a cult.

    Personally I think its a good solid film but its never appealed greatly due to its shape shifting alien that is simply surreal to the extreme. Of course the effects are the main showcase of the film and back in 82 they were pretty special, by today's standards on a recent viewing they have aged badly and do look (of course) rather plastic and fake BUT they do still hold up as, unlike cgi, they are actually real.

    The imagination of Bottin is clearly let loose big time for the alien as he goes way off the wall coming up with all manner of combinations aimed at making you feel uneasy, and it does work. Utilizing spider forms, snake/eel forms, things growing or under the skin, being violated and having something germinate within you etc...all good stuff to make you squirm. The suspense and bleakness is handled well by a young Carpenter (much like 'The Fog') and examines how quickly people break down and turn on each other. All the set work is cruel n cold looking, good location work and with nice elements of 'Alien' used throughout including the isolated oddball crew at the base which does remind you of the 'Nostromo' crew.

    Its definitely a thriller of a ride with some stand out moments which leave you wanting to know more about the creature and its background. The film just loses its wallop near the end as the creature doesn't look quite as cool as previous incarnations, edging down the B-movie route a touch but the one thing I do like about the film is the way Carpenter bookended it. Its pretty much open at both the start and finish leaving you to think about what came before and what happens after, the final sequence with Russell and David is quite original and unique as the heroes/main leads pretty much fail.

    Best moment in the film for me has to be the Norris chest bursting sequence revealing a large razor toothed maw where his torso once was, highly original and, at the time, quite surprising.
  • fb1664868775
    November 8, 2011
    fb1664868775
    Amazing special effects and suspense with minimal breaks, this film grabs you and doesn't let go.
  • fb619846742
    November 5, 2011
    fb619846742
    A shock-fest galore concerning a group of researchers (led by Kurt Russell) who unknowingly let a monstrous being into their camp, where it wrecks havoc on their trust in one another as it takes living in one of the scientists, only they, nor the one it possesses, is aware of it.... read more Carpenter's creativity when it comes to letting the gore rip, coupled with the film's realistic, assured plotting, help compensate for its lack of character development, as well as firm explanation as to why these scientists are here to begin with. Still, Russell's workmanlike performance is perfect considering the film relies more on action and scares, and the ending is satisfying and definitely explosive. Still, it has its problems, but not enough to say it isn't worth the view. Horror film fans will be in Heaven while watching this.
  • fb100002384654145
    October 31, 2011
    fb100002384654145
    John Carpenter in his finest hour. This film makes great use of its isolated Antarctic setting that gives the feel of isolation and no escape. The effects used for the monster are spectacular for its technicality and repulsiveness. If you have a weak stomach, this movie is not... read more for you. The monsters different transformations and forms are creative and hideous to look at. The story may be a bit slow for some, but the story is loaded with suspense and intrigue. The film greatly benefits from a strong cast of characters, especially from Keith David and Kurt Russell. Kurt Russell plays a tough guy hero, but gives enough down-to-earth personality that his character never comes across as cliche. The music is like hearing your own pulse, it gives a really dark ambient atmosphere that compliment the Antarctic setting beautifully. The Thing offers great sci-fi horror thrills while also offers a compelling insight into the darkness of the human mind.
  • axadntpron
    October 27, 2011
    axadntpron
    Atmospheric, full of mystery, superbly directed, and fantastic make-up and effects. This folks may be one of Carpenter's best. It features an ensemble cast of some of the best character actors the 80's had to offer. And yes, what review would be complete without discussing the ma... read morein man himself Kurt Russell. He is brooding, seething with rage, and his nihilistic attitude is nothing to fuck with. All in all, a real treat for fans of horror and sci-fi.
  • fb733768972
    October 16, 2011
    fb733768972
    As scientists journey into the arctic, they discover a creature which they presume to be dead. On their way to find it, it provides many winks to the audience as it reflects the 1951 original film. It serves as both a remake and a potential sequel if some audiences give it the le... read morea-way that it needs. I found this film to be a fantastic update on what was already a classic horror flick. It has some of the most disturbing images I have ever seen on screen, and the bone-chilling creatures will make your gut turn. The characters are likeable even though, like any horror movie, you come to hate some of them. The terror is brilliant, the creatures are grusomly frightening, the story is brilliant if you have seen the original, and the film definitely earns it's R-rating. "The Thing" is a fantastic (not perfect) film with an open ending that I was very unsure about, leaving the audience with that much more suspense. This film is awesome!

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Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr
May 25, 2011
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Carpenter's direction is slow, dark, and stately; he seems to be aiming for an enveloping, novelistic kind of effect, but all he gets is heaviness. Full Review

Variety Staff
June 6, 2007
Variety Staff, Variety

If it's the most vividly guesome monster ever to stalk the screen that audiences crave, then The Thing is the thing. On all other levels, however, John Carpenter's remake of Howard Hawks' 1951 sci-fi ... Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Because this material has been done before, and better, especially in the original The Thing and Alien, there's no need to see this version. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Mr. Carpenter has demonstrated that he can make good, comparatively plain, old-fashioned scare movies and effective suspense thrillers, but he seems to lose his own head when he combines two or more g... Full Review

James Berardinelli
July 1, 1982
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

This is one of those rare remakes that remains faithful to the premise of the original but does something unique with the concept. Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh
October 27, 2011
Sarah Boslaugh, Playback:stl

...stays truer to its source material, John W. Campbell, Jr.'s 1938 novella Who Goes There?, than the 1951 Howard Hawks-Christian Nyby feature The Thing from Another World. Full Review

Josh Larsen
October 7, 2011
Josh Larsen, LarsenOnFilm

...reading this as a Cold War allegory is doing the movie a very big favor. In reality, this is a film about tentacles and teeth and eyes and orifices and goo, goo, goo. Full Review

Walter Chaw
July 13, 2011
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

I discovered what it was to love a movie that was relentless in its desire to be unpleasant Full Review

Adam Smith
May 25, 2011
Adam Smith, Empire Magazine

The Thing is a peerless masterpiece of relentless suspense, retina-wrecking visual excess and outright, nihilistic terror. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
January 13, 2011
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's a paranoid masterpiece, and that rare remake that improves upon the original. Full Review

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    • Palmer: I was wonderin' when El Capitan was gonna get a chance to use his popgun.
    • MacReady: Someone in this camp ain't who what he appears to be.
    • MacReady: Someone in this camp ain't what he appears to be.
    • Windows: It's Bennings!
    • Nauls: So what is it going to do, come after us?
    • MacReady: I think that we should heat things up a little.
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