Reviews: The Thing (1982) Movie Review
Subgenres: Aliens, Creatures, Body Horror, Cult Classic, Sci-Fi
This in-depth review of The Thing (1982) explores its story, characters, and scares in detail, offering insights for every horror fan.
Specific visuals will always be scorched into my memory. I see the space shuttle launch, the Statue of Liberty from the B train, and the videotape of my birth. Why would you film that, Dad!? And from such a low angle! But, when I think of the most vivid images in my now cobweb-laden memory, they’re all from horror movies. And at the top of those movies is John Carpenter‘s classic The Thing (1982).
The Thing is a terrible movie about a crew of researchers that come in contact with an alien species. This alien species has a peculiar capability to replicate and contort into any lifeform, becoming living camouflage. After this shapeshifting creature takes out several crew members, they must band together to survive. But, they can’t get too close to each other, as they never know who’s human or The Thing.
I rarely consider anything to be perfect. I write reviews on the internet; obviously, I’m a pestering nitpicker. But I won’t beat around the bush here. This movie is perfect. Don’t you think it is? Well, that’s what the comments section is for.
Seriously, what’s not to like here? The cast is incredible. The music is evocative. The direction is flawless. And the special effects are 100% what nightmares are made of. Have you ever dreamed of a man’s torso turning into a monster and then chomping your arms off? No? You’re going to.
But, let’s slow down all this hyperbole and talk about why The Thing is one of the best horror movies ever made. John Carpenter is a master when it comes to tone. Even at its most optimistic points, The Thing has a cold, damp dread seeping through each scene. You know something terrible will happen but are unsure when or how. This tone keeps the element of surprise fresh and makes you yearn to see more. I don’t think there’s a person in the world who would turn this movie off out of boredom. I can understand someone stopping it out of fear or nausea, as the special effects are pretty disgusting. But, no one should ever get bored while watching this movie.
Next, the cast. You’re making a movie in the 80s; you need a hero. He can’t be too charming, and he needs to be grizzled. Clint Eastwood is already too old. You need Kurt Russell, and damn it, you got him. Tell me you didn’t want to watch The Thing after seeing Russell in The Hateful Eight (2015). The guy works in the snow! He plays the reluctant hero so well. He’s in it for himself but will help others if he can. He’s everything I want to be. And you are speaking of mustaches, Wilford Brimley. Please give it up, people; this is the best movie ever. All it needs is a badass co-star that can hold his own against Russell. What’s that? Keith David? The man with a golden voice that can make you sh*t yourself? I’m watching this movie till the day I die.
We have to talk about the movie’s biggest star, Rob Bottin. Who? Don’t worry; I had to look him up too. Rob Bottin was the special effects creator and designer of The Thing. He’s the dude that made going to sleep a chore for you. Rob Bottin’s horrific creations don’t stop at The Thing. He also worked on The Howling (1981), Legend (1985), Robocop (1987), Total Recall (1990), and the list goes on and on. Though he created some of the best special effects in movies, The Thing is his triumph. From the torso monster to the head spider, The Thing owes Rob Bottin all the credit in the world. He created something extraordinary that holds up to this day, a rarity in the world of practical effects.
And finally, the man who brought it all together, John Carpenter. He’s loved in the film/horror world but is disgracefully underappreciated and unknown by the average movie watcher. The guy has brought us some of the best movies in American cinema; he deserves recognition.
The Thing is a perfectly acted, shot, and directed film. I believe it should be studied and dissected just as the organism in the movie was. This movie is a legendary film that will never be successfully recreated, and God helped those poor souls that were tasked to do so.
Here is a list of horror movies like The Thing to watch next.
If The Thing isn’t on one of your lists to watch yearly, it must be. I prefer to watch it as a Christmas movie. Because just like Christmas, it’s full of treats, snow, and the occasional human turning into a dog monster hybrid. Please watch this movie, and if you already have, watch it again.
5 Disgusting Dog-Things out of 5
Featured movie quotes for The Thing are here.
Similar films like The Thing can be found in monster movies sub-genre(s), check them out for more movies like The Thing.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Thing Rating Scores
- Our Score: 10/10
- Overall Score: 8.35/10
- IMDB: 8.2/10
- MetaCritic: 5.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 8.5/10
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