A group of scientists in Antarctica are infiltrated by an ancient alien that takes the form of those it kills, they then proceed to fight amongst themselves over who is real and who is the thing.

I have to say The Thing is the best of John Carpenter's work. The alien is just the catalyst, the true horror in the movie is the alienation and isolation of the men. Such purity of an abstract feeling like alienation is rarely seen, but here you can actually feel it. I think it makes a movie that's pretty good come close to actual greatness. It was a remake that was based on the classic short story "Who Goes There?" by John W Campbell Jr which I've read and also enjoyed.

John Carpenter was really in his stride at this time, it would be nice if he'd take a long look at The Thing, The Fog, and Halloween and remember whatever it is he's forgotten since. I'd love to see something with this much power come from him again.

The effects are great, especially considering the lack of CGI. What makes them so good is they weren't worried about looking real, they wanted them to look alien and unnatural. Every effect, even the strange ones like stomachs that bite added to the affect the movie had. None of the effects were necessary, really, it would have been good without them, but they brought so much to it.

The true "special effect" is the way it makes the watcher feel closed in, CGI can't do that, that takes an artist.

9 out of 10

(1982) John Carpenter, John W Campbell Jr, Bill Lancaster

Kurt Russell .... R.J. MacReady
Wilford Brimley .... Dr. Blair
T.K. Carter .... Nauls
David Clennon .... Palmer
Keith David .... Childs
Richard Dysart .... Dr. Copper
Charles Hallahan .... Vance Norris
Peter Maloney .... Bennings
Richard Masur .... Clark
Donald Moffat .... Garry
Joel Polis .... Fuchs
Thomas G. Waites .... Windows

Also known as: John Carpenter's The Thing