LogFAQs > #930509004

2. The Thing (28 points)
Nominated by: Xeybozn (0/5 remaining)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ftmr17M-a4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C9JbK7slrk

Importance: 9
Fear: 9
Snake: 10

One of my top all time favorite horror films ever, The Thing is undoubtedly a classic. Directed by John Carpenter, the man knows how to build tension in a small area among a close, tight-knit group of people. He has way of making the audience feel isolated even when surrounded by friends and others, and nothing exemplifies this more than The Thing's freezing-cold antaractic base, which may as well be a character in and of itself. It gives the film a sense of hopelessness, making you think there really isn't any way out of the main characters' tough situation. And tough situation is underselling it. Just try to imagine yourself in the shoes of these people, for just one moment, and you'll be glad to be anywhere else but there. So what is The Thing about? Basically, a group of researchers at an Antarctica facility, encounter an alien being of unknown origins, who can assimilate and appear as any other living organism, including dogs and of course, people. It is an adaptation of Who Goes There?, a pretty short novella written by John W. Campbell Jr., and The Thing is technically a remake of the 1951 film, The Thing from Another World, which is a proper chiller in its own right. As if you needed me to state it, Carpenter's adaptation is easily the best. It's the amazing and charismatic cast, led by Kurt Russel, that really sells the whole ideas of paranoia and mistrust among the group. My favorite scene representing this will always be the blood test, a pure microcosm of isolated fear and how we let it take over and cloud our judgment in the most stressful of times. What also makes the Thing scary is its amazing use of practical effects. The dog-thing is possible the best practical effect of all time, with so much detail put into individual tongue and teeth, I will praise it every time no doubt. The practical effect sells this idea that this is really happening, and its so disgusting and horrifying to see happen to such a cute animal, and the whole time you're just wishing it would just end and be put out of its misery. Of course, if you weren't exhausted enough at this point, you have the ambiguous ending, just for one last gut-punch before the film leaves you with much to ponder about.

I just adore this film. Every viewing just leaves me completely mesmerized and enthralled by both the character drama and the pure nightmare fuel of the Thing alien. Surprisingly enough, this film was lambasted at the time, which is crazy to think about considering its long-lasting legacy. It was even listed as the most hated film of all time! Of course, history has a way of making things right, and now the Thing enjoys time as one of the most influential and most referenced films ever, with a sprawling franchise forever etching its place in the pantheon of top horror films.

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What I am about to do has not been approved by the Vatican.
https://imgur.com/MmrKwGZ - https://imgur.com/ntWVGyh