“The Thing” is the reason why my aunt is a medical examiner. She was about to flunk out of med school because she was afraid of cutting cadavers, so my dad took her to see “The Thing”. After that movie she had no problems because (in her own words) “Nothing I will ever see, will be scarier than that movie”
It was the sheer downbeat feel of the movie that gave it the horror. "We're not gonna make it out of here alive. But, neither is that thing! " Chills the blood knowing that you're doomed and your end is humanity's only hope.
I see it as a happy ending. John Carpenter even saw it the same way: These men were brave and clever enough to save humanity. They sacrificed themselves to do so.
@@guthax30 Yeah, I always saw the movie as being very upbeat in it's view on humanity. It is a bleak as hell situation and the men are breaking down, but in the end when it becomes apparent that they are not getting out of the situation alive they don't hide in some room drinking or getting into the morphine supply. They try to save humanity.
John Carpenter with this film showed filmmakers how to genuinely build tension. Another great film he made I feel is underappreciated is in the mouth of madness
I've never seen that movie. Have you seen his other great film called The Prince of Darkness? I consider that movie to be just as a classic as The Thing.
I first saw John Carpenter's The Thing when I was about 12 years old. My little brother and I started it at around 11 at night, and we got so scared, we actually stopped it halfway in and put in the other VHS we'd rented and already got done watching before The Thing, which was Last Action Hero.
This movie was one of those on constant repeat when cable came around in the mid 80s and I have loved it since then as a kid. I just wish it was a bigger hit in theaters because it deserved it
I remember there was an interview Guillermo Del Toro did where he's basically fanboying about the film on a series called 100 Scariest Movie Moments and he was like "That blood sample scene is one of the top 10 scares of my life. I never understood why the film was successful, in Mexico, it was successful! I saw it in a packed movie theater in Mexico and we were all screaming like a soccer match!"
Windows: "Childs! What if we're wrong about him?" Childs: "Well then we're wrong!" That exchange between them two shows how the situation had gotten to the point where friendly fire was the only option. Plus the weird narration on tv broadcast version was unnecessary.
When it comes to the ending, I think Childs is human. Mac could barely move when Childs walked up to him, had no weapons and looked defeated. If Childs was a Thing, he could have taken him right then and there when he was at his most vulnerable and helpless. That's why I think Childs is human.
I can see that, and I’m not sure Why ThingChilds didn’t pull the trigger, but I think he was the last Thing. On that last scene between Mac and Childs, Mac’s breath was clearly stealing from his mouth, while Child’s was not. That is why, I think he was not human.
According to the supposed sequel treatment idea they both were the thing, Macready found a way to control it while childs was running around infecting everyone. I think the comics took that idea.
@@seventhkeyomegasghost8233 in the comics child’s and Mac were human at the end of the movie and child’s gets turned at the end of the first storyline of the dark horse sequel comics.
It still blows my mind that John Carpenter is the man behind The Thing and Halloween and Escape from New York AND Assault on Precinct 13 (very underrated and worth seeing/revisiting)
As a guy who's seen horror films of all kinds, everything from J and K horror, found footage, 70s and 80s giallos, New French Extremity, Cronenberg flicks, Vincent Price classics, and so many more, at the end of the day nothing really beats this John Carpenter masterpiece. I don't think it's quite the scariest horror film, but it's definitely my favorite.
Fun Fact: The 2011 prequel WAS actually going to use practical effects for the creature and its transformations. As a matter of fact, most of the film had actually been shot with real costumes, animatronics, and makeup. However, after watching an early cut of the final product, the studio said it "didnt look good/scary" and had them slap the dated CGI over everything they had made at the last minute. Poor practical designers didnt even know about the change-up until seeing the movie in theaters. :(
The director's commentary on this movie with John Carpenter and Kurt Russel is also great. They're having so much fun while doing it, and they do a great job of going over the various details and some expanded themes within the film.
I love the commentary and how both Carpenter amd Russell don't know if Childs or Mccready were both human, or if one was The Thing, or both. And I love that because in the comics one was The Thing and in the video game the other was The Thing making either ending possible.
@@lich109 What? You're totally wrong - It is a direct sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film of the same name, the story focuses on Captain Blake, a member of a U.S. Special Forces team sent to the Antarctic outpost featured in the film to determine what has happened to the research team. The game was endorsed by Carpenter who said the story is canon and who has a cameo appearance in the game. "The videogame isn't really related to the movie" yeah, that's BS right there.. The game begins at U.S. Outpost 31 in Antarctica, a short time after the events of the film and you discover what happened to Childs and MacReady
@@wes8723 I said it's not really related to the movie because it isn't. The first level is related to the movie, but beyond that it goes in a wildly different direction and changes virtually every aspect of the movie itself, up to and including how the alien actually works (turning it into a virus rather than a connection or organisms). You can also kill some of the smaller things with bullets rather than fire. I have played it, and the connections are extremely thin, not to mention the ending contradicts the movie's ending.
Honestly this is my favorite horror movie of all time. I’ll never forget shitting my pants when I saw that scene in the dog cages. Such an amazing movie
@@DrQuagmire1 I'd argue The Thing is scarier. The Xenomorph is a hulking monster, and while it can sneak up on you and kill you, you'll know it when you see it. The Thing could literally be anyone. That person you were having a friendly conversation with could be it and you wouldn't even know it. Hell YOU could be infected and you wouldn't know it.
*Man people in the 1980s were WEAK back in the day for giving this movie low reviews. This is the best Science fiction I ever seen in my life. The paranoid feeling is unlike any other
That wasn't the sole reason though, it came out the same time E.T: The Extraterrestrial 1982. That's why it flopped badly but now it gained a cult status and is loved by people who hated it originally and millenials.
@@jusrarsh4109 That's why I kinda hate it. The Thing is the best 80's horror movie for me but I can understand the massive impact of E.T. In that it's still referenced in all almost half the kids shows nowadays.
I know Corey and Martin usually say human monsters are the scariest and that's probably true on some level but I think monsters and supernatural horror films are usually more fun cuz you can do more stuff in them. the thing was so imaginative in all the ways that it manipulated practical effects
@@pheunithpsychic-watertype9881 also human monsters are scarier because human monsters are real but you don't keep that fact in mind when you're watching a movie about a monster you fall into the illusion and when you're watching a monster movie the monster seems real and they're usually monsters are based on human fears like disease and spiders and darkness common phobias people have
I'm with you all the way on this. Still one of my Top 10 movies, maybe even Top 5. One aspect of this movie that always impressed me is how it ACCELERATES. The characters are in control of a situation, everything seems fine, everything is quiet... and then within a matter of seconds things get completely out of hand, people are getting killed, and the panic level goes from simmering to completely boiling over. The dog kennel scene, the defibrillator scene, the blood test scene, it's insane how fast Carpenter can ratchet up the tension into an explosion of terror. I also love it because at the end of each scene where the Thing attacks, you almost want to _laugh_ at how batshit everything turned out over those previous 60-90 seconds. Palmer's "You gotta be fuckin' KIDDING!" at the spider head walking out the door is a spectacular coda to an otherwise psychotic scene, because it's shock, horror, disbelief, and almost laughable all at once.
My dad took me and my older brother to see this. I'm dating myself , it was a double feature: The Thing/Poltergeist. I had no business seeing this at the age of 9, and I didn't sleep at all that night. But in high school I mustered the courage to see it (The Thing) on video and today, it's a part of my top 10 favorite films. John Carpenter has done his job quite well. And I also agree, nothing beat practical effects. And , and..I like how they have the casting of blue collar character actors. One of the best scenes in the film is after Childs is human, CHILDS "Get me outta here, come on, cut me loose dammit!" - I love that! _its' like ok, I'm human hurry up and get me away from Gary who might be infected.
Some times I don't understand the movie critics. They didn't like The Thing. But yet it's praised by the fans. Same thing with The Eternals. Critics hated the movie, but fans loved it. And most people waited for The Eternals to arrive on Disney plus and after watching it people loved it. John Carpenter's The Thing is a well loved movie a classic.
I like how even though Kurt Russel was the main star the other actors were not merely window dressing. Things happened without Russel so it was really more an ensemble cast. Seriously Brimley steels every seen he is in.
Bonus:. When they check on DOC in the toolshed (post-meltdown) & he's peacefully eating his food, telling everyone he's DOING MUCH BETTER & asking if he can come back inside the compound, A NOOSE can CLEARLY BE SEEN hanging from the ceiling next to him. ....
John Carpenter movies were mostly failures when released, but are now some of the most popular films! In the Mouth of Madness was his last good film, and was the worst of the Apocalypse trilogy! I love that it sacrificed the head-thing to try and save Palmer-thing!
The special effects here are top notch. Unfortunately...the prequel, which is good was directed by the studio to instead use visual effects instead. The body horror here is some of the all time greats. Take Escspe from NY, Big Trouble in Little China and the Thing and you have a mean triple feature for you and your friends.
Easily one of my favourite movies ever made. I never tire of watching it. Completely understandable why it bombed when it first came out given the gore, nihilistic plot and downbeat tone - but it’s aged like a fine wine. I love introducing people to this film, particularly when it gets to the end. This is a high Full Price for me.
I'm with Martin about the ending. I feel it's more powerful if neither is the thing and it's just the 2 of them still dealing with their paranoia, it perfectly sums up the movie. Them sharing the drink feels like a callback to the scene where Fuchs tells Mac they should all prepare their own drinks and meals, meaning that Mac sharing the drink was him letting his guard down a little.
I never watched The Thing until recently, and I gotta say it’s easily one of my favorite John Carpenter films, behind Halloween, Christine, and Escape from New York. I love the how contained it is, which only facilitates the paranoid atmosphere and keeps you guessing which character is an imitation. Also, the score by Ennio Morricone is un-freaking-real.
This is the greatest horror film of all time for me. The practical special effects are still the gold standard to this day. You feel like you know enough about every one of the characters without a ton of individual development or screentime. The paranoia is always palpable all the way to the final shot. The blood test scene is in the discussion for the best executed jump scare of all time. I could go on forever on this one. Lol
My favorite film of all time. I had got an ex to watch this, and afterwards she literally said " I feel like I have bugs crawling over me" I guess the film did it's job? Lol
The Thing is so gory, it’s beautiful. You don’t see that nowadays. Everything is CGI to the point that it doesn’t feel scary. It’s the reason why I love 80’s horror movies like The Blob. It’s those practical effects that scare the shit out of me. I agree with what you said about body horror. Gotta say, that’s the genre that entrails me way more than the standard slasher. It’s way more of a painful demise than just getting stabbed.
One of my favorite times rewatching this movie was bonding with my daughter. She was older, late teens, and it was evident she would be a sci-fi nerd like her Mom. She grew up with CGI and gore was common place. However, the practical effects here are some of the most disturbing put to screen. At one point she looked over with wide eyes and asked, “WHAT, do you have me watching?” Effects almost 40-years old shook her more than anything she’d seen!!!
John Carpenter will be one of the most important, most influential and most creatively talented directors of the recent century. CENTURY. Love John and he heavily influenced me as a film maker.
Easily my favorite and scariest horror film I've ever seen, followed very closely by Alien. The Thing takes the themes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and ramps it up to eleven. Also, this movie's practical effects still hold up 40 years later.
I love that Carpenter is such a talented film maker that even his own friendly 👽 movie Star Man (a mid 80's cult gem about an alien going on the run and finding love with Karen Allen from Indiana Jones in the form of her dead husband (played by Jeff "The Dude" Bridges) was smarter, more mature and all around better then ET was a revenge play that wound up being a masterpiece.
I seen The Thing when I was 6 in 1982. And then I was on the edge of my seat watching that movie loved the Huskies scene and the head popping out of the body and biting his hands off giving the defibrillator pumps. I was addicted to horror from then on
Growing up, I really didn't hang out with kids my age. Had 3 uncles who put me on to music and films of their era. The Warriors, Goonies, Halloween, etc. And of course The Thing. Grateful they did so because I developed such an appreciation for the practicality, plot twists, etc.
❤️ that you reviewed this classic guys. Rob Bottin’s makeup is genius. The sound of the wind throughout gives it a chilling atmosphere, you can really feel the isolation, I can go on and on. Oh and I wish I had Mcreedy’s hat.
I saw an article last week that Fathom Events put this back in theaters for the 40th anniversary and utterly ruined it. They used a poor digital transfer with incorrect aspect ratio so whole parts of scenes were cut off the viewing area. For a film with such amazing visuals, that was utter disrespect and as a result I will never see another Fathom Event as long as I live. I urge all others (especially fans of The Thing) to do the same. They were also cancelling showings with no notice and not honoring refund requests nationwide.
I don't think the score is bad but I hardly know it's there save for that scene where they circled the red head but that just sounds ripped from the warriors. Tangerine Dream's Phaedra even from the album cover feels like it nails more of what the movie score is going for despite coming out years prior
At one point blumhouse was said to do a remake with JC involved, using more material from the book but apparently that got swept under the rug or put on the shelf
The Thing is one of my favorite horror movies, not because it is scary, because it really isn't, but it is so much fun, atmospheric, and the practical effects are amazing.
The Thing gave me true raw fear. I love this film because. The Thing alien lives rent-free in my headspace. The only The Thing and first Elm Street can scare me.
Just showed my gf this for the first time, and she loved it. The effects are so gross and mindblowing, and the tention is so high from the first frame. One of the greatest movies ever made
I didn't become a fan of the movie till a few years ago, never grew up with it like others but I've got to say the movie is fantastic and one of the best horror/monster movies of all time. The atmosphere is eerie and creepy, the special effects are top notch and Kurt Russell is excellent as the lead protagonist!
Between Blade Runner, 48 Hrs. (Which is as edgy and relevant now as when it came out IMO), Tootsie, Tron and more there's A LOT of socially/culturally relevant movies from 82 that are prime for retrospectives.
This review is nearly a week late! The movie officially 40 years old as of last Saturday Still one of my favorite horror movies and one of Carpenter's finest, he actually sticks closer to the original short story by John W. Campbell Jr The screenplay was by Bill Lancaster, the late Burt Lancaster's son Kurt Russell is amazing next to Wilford Brimley and Keith David Taps into the fears of our own extinction with themes of mistrust and paranoia There could also be an AIDS allegory Love the fantastic practical special creature effects by Rob Bottin along with the late Ennio Morricone's haunting score Watching The Thing in the time of Covid provides the film an added relevancy Particularly as cases and related fatalities in the UK are both on the rise once more Someone you know and trust is carrying an agent that attacks you on a molecular level and, in a very messy fashion, could stop you being you It's a shame it tanked at the box office and wasn't met with the best reception But over time it has gained much more appreciation and remains big with fans Plus it inspired such acclaimed contemporary filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, J.J. Abrams, Neill Blomkamp, and countless others So happy they made a video game sequel 20 years ago The film continues to reflect man-made apocalypse anxieties (like a literal Cold War between man and alien)
I thoroughly enjoyed this review. I don't know when the last time was when I heard a "Better than sex" rating. Also, I think I like the prequel only due to the spill over love I have for the original. While I wish they used more practical effects, the CGI was still imaginative, in my opinion.
Excellent review, but I gotta comment on something. Childs going after Blair was suspicious but not the nail in the coffin. That scene cast doubt on Childs' character but also created more tension that brilliantly moved the plot forward. The fan theories about Childs' 'breathless' performance with MacReady have been debunked. We must remember that the alien's tactic was to create hysteria and paranoia amongst the humans. It worked.
The 1980s was awesome in filmmaking glory days especially horror. It turns 40 this year and a good way to reviewing that flick again. Got the Scream Factory Blu-ray edition and it’s worth every penny. Without the bodies being goretastic. Lol. Great review. Happy 40th Anniversary, the Thing.
11:50 Honestly if you listen to the score it has the same beats as Jaws suspenseful and a quiet horrifying undertone. It sounds like the steady beat of a resting heart beat🙀
Still hoping for The Thing vs. Alien crossover in my lifetime. What would happen if the Thing assimilated an alien queen Xenomorph? And what would happen if alien eggs opened while The Thing was hibernating? What if a bunch of humans just dropped down in the middle of a Thing/Alien War?? And what the Predators just sit this one out, “Naahh, we good.”
If I had to make a list of my favorite horror movies, The Thing would be right up there on my top 5. The atmosphere is so disturbing throughout and the practical effects are amazing. Still holds up to this day.
The thing is my favorite horror movie.....it's honestly rewatchable characters acting rational at times sometimes irrational. There's not many movies like it. As the other guy said give is the top 5. In no particular order I do the same ngl but #1 for me is always the thing 1982 (:
@@danielportillo1349 "You've got The Shinning!" "You mean Shining?" "Shhhh! You want to get sued?" Sorry, I couldn't resist with the way you spelled the movie. 😂
True Story: Hideo Kojima nearly got sued by CanalPlus, the Escape rightsholders for plagiarism but Carpenter stepped in at the last minute to intervene since he was friends with Kojima. You can probably imagine the serious trouble Kojima and the Metal Gear franchise would have been had the studio taken legal action.
Here's a fun fact: Apparently the moment the dog thing splits open that flower appendage comes out it is meant to be a ring of dog tongues with teeth but it's also an actual prop from Carpenter's first film, Dark Star. It's supposedly the feet of the alien in that movie
The Thing is only the first in a magnificent trilogy. The Apocalypse Trilogy. Yes, I know. No real connections. But the shared theme of something about to end the world. Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness are also great. Overshadowed sadly, by The Thing.
Not only do I love this film but you don't even realize how influential John Carpenter has been until you list his movies and show what they inspired. Halloween gave us slasher movies which are still done today. Snake Pliskin helped birth Solid Snake from Metal Gear. Seeing the way Kurt Russell plays his character in Big Trouble In Little China gave us how the Thor movies are done today which are successes. So yes Carpenter is a very underrated director, a man ahead of his time in many ways.
A few things I need to point out. #1 The Metal Gear Series were never a Rip off of John Carpenter's Escape Series.. they were an Homage to it. So much so that Hideo Kojima actually wanted Kurt Russell to voice Snake on The PS version. #2 I have a lot of Respect for Puppetry and Physical Special Effects. THIS movie was not one of them. Every time The Creature Transforms for the sake of whatever is written on The Script.. I kinda giggle a little at it's transformation. It's almost like, it can do WHATEVER it needs to do to kill everything in The Room in order to save itself.. but never does. Because they're constraint, not only by The Script/Plot. But also by their own Special Effects Capabilities. Last but not least. Some people may call 2011 stupid, but I honestly prefer it over this one. I honestly think a lot about MAE (Multi Adaptable Entity) whenever I see this franchise. It honestly feels kinda, this franchise. Here's MAE. Trapped from in Ice.. after crash landing on some planet. First Group of People you come across, take a piece of you, then try to kill you.. and goes on and on and on. Very disturbing subtext.
"The Thing" is my favorite horror movie of all time, but unfortunately I know John Carpenter will green light a sequel for a big enough paycheck. Because he has admitted to getting shit deals in the 1980's amoung other things. I also love "Big Troubl In Little China" and "They Live". I wish I was around back then.
As someone who had kinda dismissed horror movies for a long time as anything I was interested in (based on the idea of being scared of nearly any fiction seem(ed) very silly to me), it was this movie where I got it. I fucking love this movie. I've seen it 3 times and I will see it many more.
Glad they reviewed this movie. It’s aged great and the effects are still wild. One of my favorites. Prequel wasn’t great but definitely good. Maybe I only like the prequel because if Edgerton and MEW.
Imo only thing (no pun intended) that let's down the 2011 prequel is the CGI that's it. Other than that it actually connects up perfectly to the 80s original.
@@RaikenXion what's shit is that the CGI was literally last minute, behind the scenes shows they used all practical effects but some dumbass executive came in and he thought he knew better than the crew and director and ordered them all to make it CGI instead because "chi looks better" So we would've gotten a fantastic practical effects film if it wasn't for that one moron
@@liferealgood It worked for me cause i always wanted to find out what happened to the Norwegian team, and hopefully get more insight into the thing itself and the prequel gave me that. It's a shame they've never remastered or done a redux of 2011 thing, and just basically redone and improved the CGI effects, cause it needed it then most definitely needs it's now.
The greatest horror movie EVER. In my top 10 all-time movies. The concept of what the creature is and how it functions at the micro and macro cellular level alone is better than anything I've ever seen in horror films. It is legendary. A fun fact is that Quintin Tarantino's Hateful Eight was a homage to The Thing. Also, both Siskel and Ebert hated it. I saw their review after I saw it in the theater.
Went to a screening in LA and the theater dropped the ball and couldnt show it but when we were leaving got to meet TK Carter AKA Nauls was in attendance and was a super cool guy. Still bummed I missed a chance to see it in theaters.
Once you look back at it and watch the movie you realize it’s hopeless. You’re not gonna burn every cell of that creature. The area will freeze over and a team will come to investigate. It will eventually get out.
Fun little fact about "The Thing". In John Carpenter's "Halloween", the children that Jamie Lee Curtis character is babysitting are watching the Original black and white version of "The Thing". A great Easter Egg.
Damn martin it took Scarface to break me. A cartoon? It was a realistic portrait of the American dream from an immigrants stand point. But your still awesome martin
1st off love the thing... My pops got it when I was a kid like 9 or 10 and when I say this movie scared the s**t outta me... Like Halloween wasn't scary Friday the 13th wasn't scary Scream wasn't scary but this movie right here messed me up... Great pick for the Retro Review... 2nd maybe next time y'all do John Carpenter's They Live... 👍🏾
I would take issue with calling the antagonist of this move a creature. From what I can tell, it works at the cellular level. This, a creature doesn't make.
I showed my mom this movie a couple years ago on Halloween. That was the first time she saw, cause she is not a big horror fan. And she loved it! The thing I remember the most what she said about that movie, was at the end of the movie, she said this: "Wait, the movie is over? That's how it ends?" And I laughed at that.
I wonder why Martin did not like The Fog? It has problems to be sure, but I love that movie. I wish Martin would have told us more about why he was not a fan. No knock on Martin. I love that guy.
“The Thing” is the reason why my aunt is a medical examiner. She was about to flunk out of med school because she was afraid of cutting cadavers, so my dad took her to see “The Thing”. After that movie she had no problems because (in her own words) “Nothing I will ever see, will be scarier than that movie”
There should never have been a prequel, I also read the comic book sequel and that was better.
I love you shared this!!!
@@harvestcanada Even the 2002 ps2 game was better than the prequel *and endorsed by John Carpenter himself.*
Incredible story!
Brilliant
The Thing is the ultimate _"Dont trust anyone, not even yourself"_ movie. An absolute classic in horror.
👍👍 Two Thumbs up
The tension this film builds is amazing.
And the practical effects still hold up well today
The acting is fantastic as well.
A masterpiece indeed.
It was the sheer downbeat feel of the movie that gave it the horror.
"We're not gonna make it out of here alive. But, neither is that thing! "
Chills the blood knowing that you're doomed and your end is humanity's only hope.
I see it as a happy ending. John Carpenter even saw it the same way: These men were brave and clever enough to save humanity. They sacrificed themselves to do so.
@@guthax30 Yeah, I always saw the movie as being very upbeat in it's view on humanity. It is a bleak as hell situation and the men are breaking down, but in the end when it becomes apparent that they are not getting out of the situation alive they don't hide in some room drinking or getting into the morphine supply. They try to save humanity.
John Carpenter with this film showed filmmakers how to genuinely build tension. Another great film he made I feel is underappreciated is in the mouth of madness
I've never seen that movie.
Have you seen his other great film called The Prince of Darkness? I consider that movie to be just as a classic as The Thing.
Yes
I first saw John Carpenter's The Thing when I was about 12 years old. My little brother and I started it at around 11 at night, and we got so scared, we actually stopped it halfway in and put in the other VHS we'd rented and already got done watching before The Thing, which was Last Action Hero.
This movie was one of those on constant repeat when cable came around in the mid 80s and I have loved it since then as a kid. I just wish it was a bigger hit in theaters because it deserved it
I remember there was an interview Guillermo Del Toro did where he's basically fanboying about the film on a series called 100 Scariest Movie Moments and he was like
"That blood sample scene is one of the top 10 scares of my life. I never understood why the film was successful, in Mexico, it was successful! I saw it in a packed movie theater in Mexico and we were all screaming like a soccer match!"
Windows: "Childs! What if we're wrong about him?"
Childs: "Well then we're wrong!"
That exchange between them two shows how the situation had gotten to the point where friendly fire was the only option. Plus the weird narration on tv broadcast version was unnecessary.
When it comes to the ending, I think Childs is human. Mac could barely move when Childs walked up to him, had no weapons and looked defeated. If Childs was a Thing, he could have taken him right then and there when he was at his most vulnerable and helpless. That's why I think Childs is human.
I can see that, and I’m not sure Why ThingChilds didn’t pull the trigger, but I think he was the last Thing. On that last scene between Mac and Childs, Mac’s breath was clearly stealing from his mouth, while Child’s was not. That is why, I think he was not human.
According to the supposed sequel treatment idea they both were the thing, Macready found a way to control it while childs was running around infecting everyone. I think the comics took that idea.
@@seventhkeyomegasghost8233 in the comics child’s and Mac were human at the end of the movie and child’s gets turned at the end of the first storyline of the dark horse sequel comics.
@@jt808ful Didn't Macready learn to control it?
@@jt808ful The comics had some strange decisions in them I did enjoy climate of fear. And I like to believe the Thing eternal vows never happened.
It still blows my mind that John Carpenter is the man behind The Thing and Halloween and Escape from New York AND Assault on Precinct 13 (very underrated and worth seeing/revisiting)
He was the guy who gave us the blueprint for Solid Snake and his banging synthesizer tunes.
As a guy who's seen horror films of all kinds, everything from J and K horror, found footage, 70s and 80s giallos, New French Extremity, Cronenberg flicks, Vincent Price classics, and so many more, at the end of the day nothing really beats this John Carpenter masterpiece. I don't think it's quite the scariest horror film, but it's definitely my favorite.
Yeah, as much as I love so many different types of horror, there's nothing out there like the Thing.
The best hands down for me.
Seen it when it came out in 82 I was 7.. then seen Michael Myers in 83 and those 2 got me hooked to horror movies.
I see you edited your comment. Was that cause you found other horror categories to list? Lmao
@@drphillshoe No, it's edited because I, like an idiot, first wrote 'Italian giallos' which is pretty unnecessary.
Definitely up there with the scariest if you consider how downright disturbing the imagery is, and how paranoid the situation is.
Fun Fact: The 2011 prequel WAS actually going to use practical effects for the creature and its transformations. As a matter of fact, most of the film had actually been shot with real costumes, animatronics, and makeup. However, after watching an early cut of the final product, the studio said it "didnt look good/scary" and had them slap the dated CGI over everything they had made at the last minute. Poor practical designers didnt even know about the change-up until seeing the movie in theaters. :(
The director's commentary on this movie with John Carpenter and Kurt Russel is also great. They're having so much fun while doing it, and they do a great job of going over the various details and some expanded themes within the film.
I love the commentary and how both Carpenter amd Russell don't know if Childs or Mccready were both human, or if one was The Thing, or both. And I love that because in the comics one was The Thing and in the video game the other was The Thing making either ending possible.
@@donovanbradford8231 going by the videogame, both Childs and Mac were human, no?
@@wes8723 The videogame isn't really related to the movie and it's a terrible follow-up.
@@lich109 What? You're totally wrong - It is a direct sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film of the same name, the story focuses on Captain Blake, a member of a U.S. Special Forces team sent to the Antarctic outpost featured in the film to determine what has happened to the research team. The game was endorsed by Carpenter who said the story is canon and who has a cameo appearance in the game.
"The videogame isn't really related to the movie" yeah, that's BS right there.. The game begins at U.S. Outpost 31 in Antarctica, a short time after the events of the film and you discover what happened to Childs and MacReady
@@wes8723 I said it's not really related to the movie because it isn't. The first level is related to the movie, but beyond that it goes in a wildly different direction and changes virtually every aspect of the movie itself, up to and including how the alien actually works (turning it into a virus rather than a connection or organisms). You can also kill some of the smaller things with bullets rather than fire. I have played it, and the connections are extremely thin, not to mention the ending contradicts the movie's ending.
Honestly this is my favorite horror movie of all time. I’ll never forget shitting my pants when I saw that scene in the dog cages. Such an amazing movie
Also my favorite horror movie. The atmosphere is flawless
The acting, suspense, horror, and location was perfect.
and there's a reason why "The Thing" often competes with "Alien" on which movie is the scariest
@@DrQuagmire1 I'd argue The Thing is scarier. The Xenomorph is a hulking monster, and while it can sneak up on you and kill you, you'll know it when you see it. The Thing could literally be anyone. That person you were having a friendly conversation with could be it and you wouldn't even know it. Hell YOU could be infected and you wouldn't know it.
This was a crazy scary movie. I saw it after I was in High school. i later gave a copy to my niece who was away at college. It blew them away.
*Man people in the 1980s were WEAK back in the day for giving this movie low reviews. This is the best Science fiction I ever seen in my life. The paranoid feeling is unlike any other
That wasn't the sole reason though, it came out the same time E.T: The Extraterrestrial 1982. That's why it flopped badly but now it gained a cult status and is loved by people who hated it originally and millenials.
@@Gideon13397 in that case, I guess I can understand. E.T. was huge.
@@jusrarsh4109 That's why I kinda hate it. The Thing is the best 80's horror movie for me but I can understand the massive impact of E.T. In that it's still referenced in all almost half the kids shows nowadays.
the thing is up there with Alien for me, it's a absolute masterpiece. the creature effects are amazing and stand up even today.
I know Corey and Martin usually say human monsters are the scariest and that's probably true on some level but I think monsters and supernatural horror films are usually more fun cuz you can do more stuff in them. the thing was so imaginative in all the ways that it manipulated practical effects
It's like body snatchers. You get the best of both worlds of scary both human and beast
@@pheunithpsychic-watertype9881 also human monsters are scarier because human monsters are real but you don't keep that fact in mind when you're watching a movie about a monster you fall into the illusion and when you're watching a monster movie the monster seems real and they're usually monsters are based on human fears like disease and spiders and darkness common phobias people have
I'm with you all the way on this. Still one of my Top 10 movies, maybe even Top 5. One aspect of this movie that always impressed me is how it ACCELERATES. The characters are in control of a situation, everything seems fine, everything is quiet... and then within a matter of seconds things get completely out of hand, people are getting killed, and the panic level goes from simmering to completely boiling over. The dog kennel scene, the defibrillator scene, the blood test scene, it's insane how fast Carpenter can ratchet up the tension into an explosion of terror.
I also love it because at the end of each scene where the Thing attacks, you almost want to _laugh_ at how batshit everything turned out over those previous 60-90 seconds. Palmer's "You gotta be fuckin' KIDDING!" at the spider head walking out the door is a spectacular coda to an otherwise psychotic scene, because it's shock, horror, disbelief, and almost laughable all at once.
My dad took me and my older brother to see this. I'm dating myself , it was a double feature: The Thing/Poltergeist. I had no business seeing this at the age of 9, and I didn't sleep at all that night. But in high school I mustered the courage to see it (The Thing) on video and today, it's a part of my top 10 favorite films. John Carpenter has done his job quite well. And I also agree, nothing beat practical effects. And , and..I like how they have the casting of blue collar character actors. One of the best scenes in the film is after Childs is human, CHILDS "Get me outta here, come on, cut me loose dammit!" - I love that! _its' like ok, I'm human hurry up and get me away from Gary who might be infected.
Some times I don't understand the movie critics. They didn't like The Thing. But yet it's praised by the fans. Same thing with The Eternals. Critics hated the movie, but fans loved it. And most people waited for The Eternals to arrive on Disney plus and after watching it people loved it.
John Carpenter's The Thing is a well loved movie a classic.
I like how even though Kurt Russel was the main star the other actors were not merely window dressing. Things happened without Russel so it was really more an ensemble cast. Seriously Brimley steels every seen he is in.
Hold up! The movie score was nominated for a Razzie? Are y'all serious?!? The movie's score still gives me chills tis this day whenever I hear bit!
"The Thing" is the Best 80's Horror movie...The most slept on 80's horror movie is "The Hitcher"
Bonus:. When they check on DOC in the toolshed (post-meltdown) & he's peacefully eating his food, telling everyone he's DOING MUCH BETTER & asking if he can come back inside the compound, A NOOSE can CLEARLY BE SEEN hanging from the ceiling next to him. ....
John Carpenter movies were mostly failures when released, but are now some of the most popular films! In the Mouth of Madness was his last good film, and was the worst of the Apocalypse trilogy! I love that it sacrificed the head-thing to try and save Palmer-thing!
The special effects here are top notch. Unfortunately...the prequel, which is good was directed by the studio to instead use visual effects instead. The body horror here is some of the all time greats.
Take Escspe from NY, Big Trouble in Little China and the Thing and you have a mean triple feature for you and your friends.
Easily one of my favourite movies ever made. I never tire of watching it. Completely understandable why it bombed when it first came out given the gore, nihilistic plot and downbeat tone - but it’s aged like a fine wine.
I love introducing people to this film, particularly when it gets to the end.
This is a high Full Price for me.
I'm with Martin about the ending. I feel it's more powerful if neither is the thing and it's just the 2 of them still dealing with their paranoia, it perfectly sums up the movie. Them sharing the drink feels like a callback to the scene where Fuchs tells Mac they should all prepare their own drinks and meals, meaning that Mac sharing the drink was him letting his guard down a little.
I never watched The Thing until recently, and I gotta say it’s easily one of my favorite John Carpenter films, behind Halloween, Christine, and Escape from New York. I love the how contained it is, which only facilitates the paranoid atmosphere and keeps you guessing which character is an imitation. Also, the score by Ennio Morricone is un-freaking-real.
They live?
This is one of the best sci fi horrors in existence even to this day.
One of the all time greatest movies. A milestone for horror movies.
This is the greatest horror film of all time for me. The practical special effects are still the gold standard to this day. You feel like you know enough about every one of the characters without a ton of individual development or screentime. The paranoia is always palpable all the way to the final shot. The blood test scene is in the discussion for the best executed jump scare of all time. I could go on forever on this one. Lol
My favorite film of all time. I had got an ex to watch this, and afterwards she literally said " I feel like I have bugs crawling over me"
I guess the film did it's job? Lol
The Thing is so gory, it’s beautiful. You don’t see that nowadays. Everything is CGI to the point that it doesn’t feel scary. It’s the reason why I love 80’s horror movies like The Blob. It’s those practical effects that scare the shit out of me.
I agree with what you said about body horror. Gotta say, that’s the genre that entrails me way more than the standard slasher. It’s way more of a painful demise than just getting stabbed.
One of my favorite times rewatching this movie was bonding with my daughter. She was older, late teens, and it was evident she would be a sci-fi nerd like her Mom. She grew up with CGI and gore was common place. However, the practical effects here are some of the most disturbing put to screen. At one point she looked over with wide eyes and asked, “WHAT, do you have me watching?”
Effects almost 40-years old shook her more than anything she’d seen!!!
John Carpenter will be one of the most important, most influential and most creatively talented directors of the recent century. CENTURY. Love John and he heavily influenced me as a film maker.
Easily my favorite and scariest horror film I've ever seen, followed very closely by Alien. The Thing takes the themes of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and ramps it up to eleven. Also, this movie's practical effects still hold up 40 years later.
I love that Carpenter is such a talented film maker that even his own friendly 👽 movie Star Man (a mid 80's cult gem about an alien going on the run and finding love with Karen Allen from Indiana Jones in the form of her dead husband (played by Jeff "The Dude" Bridges) was smarter, more mature and all around better then ET was a revenge play that wound up being a masterpiece.
Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Oscar for Starman - deservedly so.
I seen The Thing when I was 6 in 1982. And then I was on the edge of my seat watching that movie loved the Huskies scene and the head popping out of the body and biting his hands off giving the defibrillator pumps. I was addicted to horror from then on
One of my Favorite movies of all time. Still hold up after all these years. Full Price movie borderline better then sex.
Man Chris stuntin with the ponytail
Growing up, I really didn't hang out with kids my age. Had 3 uncles who put me on to music and films of their era. The Warriors, Goonies, Halloween, etc. And of course The Thing. Grateful they did so because I developed such an appreciation for the practicality, plot twists, etc.
❤️ that you reviewed this classic guys. Rob Bottin’s makeup is genius. The sound of the wind throughout gives it a chilling atmosphere, you can really feel the isolation, I can go on and on. Oh and I wish I had Mcreedy’s hat.
Absolutely.
I saw an article last week that Fathom Events put this back in theaters for the 40th anniversary and utterly ruined it. They used a poor digital transfer with incorrect aspect ratio so whole parts of scenes were cut off the viewing area. For a film with such amazing visuals, that was utter disrespect and as a result I will never see another Fathom Event as long as I live. I urge all others (especially fans of The Thing) to do the same. They were also cancelling showings with no notice and not honoring refund requests nationwide.
I don't think the score is bad but I hardly know it's there save for that scene where they circled the red head but that just sounds ripped from the warriors. Tangerine Dream's Phaedra even from the album cover feels like it nails more of what the movie score is going for despite coming out years prior
At one point blumhouse was said to do a remake with JC involved, using more material from the book but apparently that got swept under the rug or put on the shelf
The Thing is one of my favorite horror movies, not because it is scary, because it really isn't, but it is so much fun, atmospheric, and the practical effects are amazing.
The Thing gave me true raw fear. I love this film because. The Thing alien lives rent-free in my headspace.
The only The Thing and first Elm Street can scare me.
I’ve watched and ranked
Over 300 films and over all
The Thing sits at number #4
Number 3 over all horror on list
(It’s one of best movies of all time)
Just showed my gf this for the first time, and she loved it. The effects are so gross and mindblowing, and the tention is so high from the first frame. One of the greatest movies ever made
Thank you Chris! For bringing up the influence to MGS. Something I had to put my little cousins onto with "Escape From NY."
I didn't become a fan of the movie till a few years ago, never grew up with it like others but I've got to say the movie is fantastic and one of the best horror/monster movies of all time. The atmosphere is eerie and creepy, the special effects are top notch and Kurt Russell is excellent as the lead protagonist!
One of the reasons The Thing had such bad reviews when it came out was because it came out at the same time as E.T. The Extraterrestrial.
Between Blade Runner, 48 Hrs. (Which is as edgy and relevant now as when it came out IMO), Tootsie, Tron and more there's A LOT of socially/culturally relevant movies from 82 that are prime for retrospectives.
YES!!! I've been waiting for this!PLEASE REVIEW/TALK about Big Trouble in Little China
This review is nearly a week late!
The movie officially 40 years old as of last Saturday
Still one of my favorite horror movies and one of Carpenter's finest, he actually sticks closer to the original short story by John W. Campbell Jr
The screenplay was by Bill Lancaster, the late Burt Lancaster's son
Kurt Russell is amazing next to Wilford Brimley and Keith David
Taps into the fears of our own extinction with themes of mistrust and paranoia
There could also be an AIDS allegory
Love the fantastic practical special creature effects by Rob Bottin along with the late Ennio Morricone's haunting score
Watching The Thing in the time of Covid provides the film an added relevancy
Particularly as cases and related fatalities in the UK are both on the rise once more
Someone you know and trust is carrying an agent that attacks you on a molecular level and, in a very messy fashion, could stop you being you
It's a shame it tanked at the box office and wasn't met with the best reception
But over time it has gained much more appreciation and remains big with fans
Plus it inspired such acclaimed contemporary filmmakers as Quentin Tarantino, Guillermo del Toro, J.J. Abrams, Neill Blomkamp, and countless others
So happy they made a video game sequel 20 years ago
The film continues to reflect man-made apocalypse anxieties (like a literal Cold War between man and alien)
Halloween (1978) Escape From New York (1981) In the Mouth of Madness (1995) are my favorite John Carpenter films
Absolute masterpiece and one of the best movies of the 80's.
I thoroughly enjoyed this review. I don't know when the last time was when I heard a "Better than sex" rating.
Also, I think I like the prequel only due to the spill over love I have for the original. While I wish they used more practical effects, the CGI was still imaginative, in my opinion.
I remember first seeing this film in high school science class! The choice was either this movie or Michael Keaton Multiplicity.
Excellent review, but I gotta comment on something. Childs going after Blair was suspicious but not the nail in the coffin. That scene cast doubt on Childs' character but also created more tension that brilliantly moved the plot forward. The fan theories about Childs' 'breathless' performance with MacReady have been debunked. We must remember that the alien's tactic was to create hysteria and paranoia amongst the humans. It worked.
The 1980s was awesome in filmmaking glory days especially horror. It turns 40 this year and a good way to reviewing that flick again. Got the Scream Factory Blu-ray edition and it’s worth every penny. Without the bodies being goretastic. Lol. Great review. Happy 40th Anniversary, the Thing.
Best remake of all time. Definitely in my Top 5 greatest movies of all time
11:50 Honestly if you listen to the score it has the same beats as Jaws suspenseful and a quiet horrifying undertone. It sounds like the steady beat of a resting heart beat🙀
John Carpenter's The Thing, Event Horizon, Aliens and Alien are on my Mount Rushmore of sci-fi horror, with Get Out being an honorable mention.
The Thing is my favorite film of all time. Everyone wanted the ET nice alien. I think in the scheme of things, and I am bias - The Thing won.
Still hoping for The Thing vs. Alien crossover in my lifetime. What would happen if the Thing assimilated an alien queen Xenomorph? And what would happen if alien eggs opened while The Thing was hibernating? What if a bunch of humans just dropped down in the middle of a Thing/Alien War?? And what the Predators just sit this one out, “Naahh, we good.”
If I had to make a list of my favorite horror movies, The Thing would be right up there on my top 5. The atmosphere is so disturbing throughout and the practical effects are amazing. Still holds up to this day.
give us your top 5 Dogg
@@raidersdoom Jaws
The Shining
The Thing
Evil Dead II
Shaun of the Dead
The thing is my favorite horror movie.....it's honestly rewatchable characters acting rational at times sometimes irrational. There's not many movies like it.
As the other guy said give is the top 5. In no particular order I do the same ngl but #1 for me is always the thing 1982 (:
@@michaelstrong5383 ok fine I'll watch the shinning yes I haven't yet.... I've seen the other 4 tho..... 👉👈 evil dead is on my top 5
@@danielportillo1349 "You've got The Shinning!"
"You mean Shining?"
"Shhhh! You want to get sued?"
Sorry, I couldn't resist with the way you spelled the movie. 😂
True Story: Hideo Kojima nearly got sued by CanalPlus, the Escape rightsholders for plagiarism but Carpenter stepped in at the last minute to intervene since he was friends with Kojima. You can probably imagine the serious trouble Kojima and the Metal Gear franchise would have been had the studio taken legal action.
Bram Stoker's Shadow Builder. I promise y'all will die laughing at some of this
Here's a fun fact: Apparently the moment the dog thing splits open that flower appendage comes out it is meant to be a ring of dog tongues with teeth but it's also an actual prop from Carpenter's first film, Dark Star. It's supposedly the feet of the alien in that movie
The Thing is only the first in a magnificent trilogy. The Apocalypse Trilogy. Yes, I know. No real connections. But the shared theme of something about to end the world. Prince of Darkness and In the Mouth of Madness are also great. Overshadowed sadly, by The Thing.
Not only do I love this film but you don't even realize how influential John Carpenter has been until you list his movies and show what they inspired. Halloween gave us slasher movies which are still done today. Snake Pliskin helped birth Solid Snake from Metal Gear. Seeing the way Kurt Russell plays his character in Big Trouble In Little China gave us how the Thor movies are done today which are successes. So yes Carpenter is a very underrated director, a man ahead of his time in many ways.
The Thing is a classic! The theme score is fantastic!
A few things I need to point out.
#1 The Metal Gear Series were never a Rip off of John Carpenter's Escape Series.. they were an Homage to it. So much so that Hideo Kojima actually wanted Kurt Russell to voice Snake on The PS version.
#2 I have a lot of Respect for Puppetry and Physical Special Effects. THIS movie was not one of them. Every time The Creature Transforms for the sake of whatever is written on The Script.. I kinda giggle a little at it's transformation. It's almost like, it can do WHATEVER it needs to do to kill everything in The Room in order to save itself.. but never does. Because they're constraint, not only by The Script/Plot. But also by their own Special Effects Capabilities.
Last but not least. Some people may call 2011 stupid, but I honestly prefer it over this one.
I honestly think a lot about MAE (Multi Adaptable Entity) whenever I see this franchise. It honestly feels kinda, this franchise. Here's MAE. Trapped from in Ice.. after crash landing on some planet. First Group of People you come across, take a piece of you, then try to kill you.. and goes on and on and on.
Very disturbing subtext.
"The Thing" is my favorite horror movie of all time, but unfortunately I know John Carpenter will green light a sequel for a big enough paycheck. Because he has admitted to getting shit deals in the 1980's amoung other things. I also love "Big Troubl In Little China" and "They Live". I wish I was around back then.
As someone who had kinda dismissed horror movies for a long time as anything I was interested in (based on the idea of being scared of nearly any fiction seem(ed) very silly to me), it was this movie where I got it. I fucking love this movie. I've seen it 3 times and I will see it many more.
The Thing has the best jump scare in any horror film! I won’t say which scene but if you’ve seen it, you know
This movie is in my top ten of all time. It's timeless, and 80s Kurt Russell is the best!
Great discussion!!!
Glad they reviewed this movie. It’s aged great and the effects are still wild. One of my favorites. Prequel wasn’t great but definitely good. Maybe I only like the prequel because if Edgerton and MEW.
Imo only thing (no pun intended) that let's down the 2011 prequel is the CGI that's it. Other than that it actually connects up perfectly to the 80s original.
@@RaikenXion what's shit is that the CGI was literally last minute, behind the scenes shows they used all practical effects but some dumbass executive came in and he thought he knew better than the crew and director and ordered them all to make it CGI instead because "chi looks better"
So we would've gotten a fantastic practical effects film if it wasn't for that one moron
@@RaikenXion yea I have to rewatch. The CGI was a let down but like Martin said maybe just the story of the Norwegian camp was enough to lure me in.
@@liferealgood It worked for me cause i always wanted to find out what happened to the Norwegian team, and hopefully get more insight into the thing itself and the prequel gave me that.
It's a shame they've never remastered or done a redux of 2011 thing, and just basically redone and improved the CGI effects, cause it needed it then most definitely needs it's now.
@@RaikenXion it sucks to know the prequel was shot with practical effects first, then the studio made them re edit the shots with CGI.
The greatest horror movie EVER. In my top 10 all-time movies. The concept of what the creature is and how it functions at the micro and macro cellular level alone is better than anything I've ever seen in horror films. It is legendary. A fun fact is that Quintin Tarantino's Hateful Eight was a homage to The Thing.
Also, both Siskel and Ebert hated it. I saw their review after I saw it in the theater.
This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It's so damn good.
Aye I was hoping y'all reviewed this one day love the content n love the movie.......y'all b having me dying btw...
It Chapter 2 also paid homage to The Thing with one of it's scenes
Went to a screening in LA and the theater dropped the ball and couldnt show it but when we were leaving got to meet TK Carter AKA Nauls was in attendance and was a super cool guy. Still bummed I missed a chance to see it in theaters.
Once you look back at it and watch the movie you realize it’s hopeless. You’re not gonna burn every cell of that creature. The area will freeze over and a team will come to investigate. It will eventually get out.
One of my top favorite films of all time especially it being a horror alien movie.
Fun little fact about "The Thing". In John Carpenter's "Halloween", the children that Jamie Lee Curtis character is babysitting are watching the Original black and white version of "The Thing". A great Easter Egg.
You can't convince me this didn't inspire the Necromorphs from Dead Space
Damn martin it took Scarface to break me. A cartoon? It was a realistic portrait of the American dream from an immigrants stand point. But your still awesome martin
This movie is a classic
1st off love the thing... My pops got it when I was a kid like 9 or 10 and when I say this movie scared the s**t outta me... Like Halloween wasn't scary Friday the 13th wasn't scary Scream wasn't scary but this movie right here messed me up... Great pick for the Retro Review...
2nd maybe next time y'all do John Carpenter's They Live... 👍🏾
I would take issue with calling the antagonist of this move a creature. From what I can tell, it works at the cellular level. This, a creature doesn't make.
Sucks that when the prequel was in Production they did have practical effects but not sure what happened that they just decided to do it all in CGI
My favorite horror movie of all time. John Carpenter the thing is a horror classic. I even like the prequel as well
I showed my mom this movie a couple years ago on Halloween. That was the first time she saw, cause she is not a big horror fan. And she loved it! The thing I remember the most what she said about that movie, was at the end of the movie, she said this: "Wait, the movie is over? That's how it ends?" And I laughed at that.
You mentioned Hideo Kojima 🙌🏾 SQUAD
I smell some FF7 Jenova influence in there too
I wonder why Martin did not like The Fog? It has problems to be sure, but I love that movie. I wish Martin would have told us more about why he was not a fan. No knock on Martin. I love that guy.