The Thing (1982)
“We're not gettin' out of here alive. But neither is that thing.” -MacReady
The Thing puts you right in the base with the crew, so much I caught myself wondering, am I really me? I decided recently that I am going to watch the Alien series since Alien: Romulus comes out in August, but Z and E told me to start with The Thing. Now, this is actually a product of Alien, as it came out 3 years after, but if this movie has any connection to Alien, I think I will be in for a treat. I really only knew The Thing was critically acclaimed, but that's about it. I will be honest, most old horror movies don’t scare me much, and this sadly didn’t. It actually one upped being scary by creating a suspense rarely found in films for me. I found myself on the edge of my seat almost the entire movie. Kurt Russell as MacReady was great. I have missed a lot of classics, and I have seen a very limited amount of Kurt, but he sold me on this. I think it falters a little as the movie made it clear that he was almost immune to the thing, but it does make sense as he was the only military trained part of the staff and he would be the natural leader.
The film's themes of paranoia and deception resonate perfectly with games like Among Us, making it even more relevant today. I think if more of our younger generation watched this film today, it could have a huge comeback. Along with the paranoia this creates, I think the addition of this being an isolated area creates that cabin-fever vibe. By being trapped, it makes a more believable story arc for each character, which helps add to its masterclass of suspense. Lastly, on top of a compelling and suspenseful story, the true star is the use of old practical effects. It looks amazing in comparison to CGI and I would love to see it more prevalent in today's films. It creates something that is real and I can get on board with and creates a magic to the film that just isn’t seen as much today. Overall, I left this movie really glad I watched it. It has been something I have thought about almost daily since and I think the ending is something more movies need to go for and forget about sequels. So, is The Thing scary? Traditionally, not so much for me. But will it make you question your co-worker and contemplate setting up a blood test station at the office? Absolutely. This film is a wild ride with amazing practical effects, and frankly, it is a masterpiece.
-J
