Surprising, to say the least

Rating: Null/10 (30 September 1999)

It's rare to find a horror film that is equal parts terror, suspense, humor, claustrophobia, and all-out gore. Even more rare is to find a film with all those elements that is actually GOOD. Well, rejoice, horror fans. John Carpenter did it again. In much the same way that he created the slasher film with Halloween, he has created a truly powerful science fiction film with elements of horror that have since become commonplace in films and even on television (see any episode of the X-Files). John Carpenter's attention to character is unwavering in this story, making the impending doom that much more horrifying. The unique ending must be credited to both the writer and to John Carpenter's knack for endings that don't really end. In short, The Thing is well worth any true horror or science fiction fan's time, as long as you have the stomach.