Textbook Boy's Own Adventure of Sci-Fi films

Rating: 8/10 (31 December 2004)

This isn't a slavish remake of the black and white original or an anal adaptation of Campbell's WHO GOES THERE? short story. It's John Carpenter stamping his own brand of balls-to-the-wall film-making on a fascinating premise and it works beautifully.
Carpenter doesn't compromise the material by sticking a love story in there and he doesn't sanitize the shock scenes. Ably assisted by the brilliant master of special make-up Rob Bottin, he creates one of the very best Hollywood-financed sci-fi movies ever.
Ennio Morricone's brooding, minimalist score keeps the tension pumped and the all-male cast keeps the expected thespian histrionics under control.
This is not a pacey film. Carpenter allows it to seep into our psyches and fill us with dread before he pulls some jaw-dropping rabbits from his hat.
The film flopped upon its theatrical release while the friendly alien (ET: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL) in the theatre next door took box office line honors. Both films have stood the test of time for their own reasons.
Lensing by Dean Cundey is stand-out and lead Kurt Russell carries the film well.