The Thing (1982) Review

The Thing

Release Date: 20th August 1982 - Australia


Production Companies
Universal Pictures
Turman-Foster Company

Distribution
Universal Pictures Australia

Genre: Sci-Fi/Horror

Rating: MA15+ (Not Suitable

for Young Children)

Runtime: 109 minutes


Budget: $15,000,000

Box Office Gross: $20,880,612 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary

In an Antarctic research outpost, twelve men discovered a 100,000-year-old frozen extraterrestrial life form. After the researchers thaw it, the creature shapeshifts and begins terrorising the station.

Cast

Kurt Russell - R.J. MacReady

Wilford Brimley - Dr. Blair

Keith David - Childs
Donald Moffat - Gary
T. K. Carter - Nauls
Richard Masur - Clark
David Clennon - Palmer
Charles Hallahan - Vance Norris
Richard Dysart - Dr. Cooper
Peter Maloney - George Bennings
Joel Polis - Fuchs
Thomas G. Waites - Windows

Norbert Wessier - Norwegian

Larry Franco - Norwegian Passenger with Rifle (Cameo)

Nate Irwin - Helicopter Pilot

William Zeman - Pilot

Adrienne Barbeau - Computer (Voice) (Uncredited)

John Carpenter - Norwegian (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Jed - Dog Thing (Uncredited)

Bill Lancaster - Norwegian (Cameo) (Uncredited)

Dick Warlock - Norwegian (Cameo) (Uncredited) 

Crew

Director - John Carpenter
Based on the Story "Who Goes There?" - John W. Campbell, Jr.

Screenplay - Bill Lancaster
Associate Producer/First Assistant Director - Larry Franco
Executive Producer - Wilbur Stark
Co-Producer - Stuart Cohen

Producers - David Foster and Lawrence Turman

Production Designer - John J. Lloyd

Art Director - Henry Larrecq
Set Decorator - John M. Dwyer
Special Makeup Effects
Creator and Designer - Rob Bottin

Special Makeup Effects Coordinator - Ken Diaz
Additional Makeup Effects - Stan Winston

(Uncredited)

Makeup Artist - Ken Chase
Director of Photography - Dean Cundey

Camera Operator - Raymond Stella

First Assistant Cameraman - Clyde E. Bryan

Production Manager - Robert Latham Brown

Second Assistant Director - Jeffrey Chernov

Stunt Coordinator - Dick Warlock

Animal Trainer - Bob Weatherwax
Special Effects - Roy Arbogast

Special Visual Effects - Albert Whitlock

Matte Photography - Bill Taylor
Visual Effects Designer: Main Title Sequence,

VCE - Peter Kuran
Miniature Supervisor: Main Title Sequence,

VCE - Susan Turner
Dimension Animation Effects Creator: Animation
Effects Sequence - Randall William Cook

Editor - Todd C. Ramsay
Special Sound Effects - Alan Howarth

(Uncredited)

Supervising Sound Editors - Colin C. Mouat

and David Lewis Yewdall

Sound Re-Recordists - Gregg Landaker,

Bill Varney and Steve Maslow

Music - Ennio Morricone

Review

1982 was an excellent year for movies, though some underperformed at the box office due to heavy competition from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Two other landmark science fiction movies opened that same day. The first movie is Blade Runner, which has since gained a cult following and stands as one of director Ridley Scott's best films. The other movie is THE THING, which was unsuccessful at the time and only gained recognition later. I have heard of John Carpenter elsewhere. I've only seen one of the director's features and haven't seen any others, such as THE THING.

For a science-fiction horror movie, it's not bad or great. I can't expect it to be that scary. Still, it should give us shivers with its claustrophobic mood, especially since this film remakes the 1951 sci-fi classic The Thing From Another World, which itself was a direct adaptation of the novel. Carpenter pulls it off with first-rate directorial skill, keeping the film gory yet never boring.

THE THING is renowned for its brilliant makeup imagery, which heightens the gruesomeness and fear and set a benchmark for practical effects at the time. The acting is spellbinding, as Kurt Russell starkly portrays a good character, revealing a cynical edge. This movie helped make him a big star, a status he maintained throughout the 80s and 90s.

Many people consider THE THING one of the greatest horror movies. On the other hand, I have a different opinion on this nightmarish classic. I enjoyed it, but in good taste.

Star rating: (7/10) Good Movie

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