The Thing Collector's Edition Review
Written by: Dirigible
A Classic Horror film if I've ever seen one. Albeit a swear word in film, a remake, it stands on a peak with few films of its kind. It's a brilliant film, story, and of course the special effects.
The opening lettering, a famous title in Horror was so simply done and in such an awesome way. A fish tank, some cut-out lettering, a couple of garbage bags and a lighter. Cut out letters in one garbage bag, burn garbage bag behind said lettered bag all inside an empty fish tank and voila! One of the coolest opening titles in film history. From here we see an ominous looking view of the Earth and a U.F.O. The rest of the film spends its time in an equally cold but much less inviting setting, that of the Antarctic (in reality Stewart, BC, Canada) where a group of U.S scientists are performing testing. From the very beginning you are on your toes as the action is nearly instantaneously brought to you by way of a bunch of crazy Nords chasing a rogue Husky, running across the frozen tundra, in a helicopter with a high powered assult rifle in hand. Our hero is the charasmatic MacReady, played by the equally charismatic and awesome Kurt Russel, is the U.S bases Helicopter pilot.
Right away he comes across as the distinctive leader even though the base has a bonified U.S military Captain in charge. The film follows MacReady and his U.S cohorts as they soon discover by way of a trip to the Nords base camp that an alien spacecraft landed on Earth over one-hundred-thousand years ago and those unlucky Odin-ites dug up the ships pilot and accidentally thawed him out.
What ensues is classic horror that goes back to the days the film was originally conceived. The members of the U.S outpost find themselves being stalked and picked off one-by-one by the would be E.T U.F.O pilot who has infiltrated their base. Similar to a film like 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers (c1956)' this film is based around the fears of the unknown. An alien taking on the forms of things we see on a daily basis that we have no fear of. Our faithful pet dog. Our best friend. All the while this creature lurks beneath the facade waiting to kill you next. The Thing has one of the most impressive, stand-the-test-of-time, special effects shots that comes to mind. The thing takes over the form of one of the members of the science team when MacReady and crew realize it's "master plan". In an attempt to destroy the thing, special effects guru Rob Bottin brings us one of the most fantastical and amazing looking effects of film history.
What results is not only a great effect but a very killer looking monster slithering off on the hunt once more. This film has an explosive ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat.