The Thing Review

Written by: alex1176   

Repulsive special-effects are the major higlights of John Carpenter's remake of "The Thing from Another World". Kurt Russell leads the cast as a blowhard helicopter pilot who is stationed at a scientific research base in Antartica. The movie is basically "Alien" meets "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" with a high squirm-factor due to the grotesque monster creations by Rob Bottin (Mission: Impossible).

This film is frightening because of its isolated snow scenario and the paranoia that is induced because of the creatures' ability to transform into its host. The scene in which McReady (Russell) tests the team's blood with a hot wire is a classic. And so is the "operation" scene in which a dead man's head falls off to become a spider-like alien. The movie is filled with grossout scenes, but is ultimately an effective chiller. Ennio Morricone's omnious score also heightens the film's tension.

While it doesn't exactly rank up with "Alien" or "Halloween", "The Thing" is one of Carpenter's better efforts. It's a must-see cult classic for fans of horror.