Savage bloody paranoia

Rating: 9/10 (5 February 2005)

On a personal level, this is the film that "almost made me throw up when I was 8 years old". It was the first and the last, so you can imagine how much a milestone this film is for me. :) But, of course, I ended up watching this film when I'd become an adult, and it become quickly one of my favorite films ever. In fact, it would be up there with "Alien", hadn't it been the Carpenter film wouldn't have existed without Ridley Scott's masterpiece.
What takes us to the point: "The Thing" owes "Alien" so much I can't give this movie a higher rating without feeling "dirty". However, of all the films that lift ideas from others, this is the best, no doubt about it, and the one who stands on its own more remarkably. In the end, this is movie is so good you will forget about the slight ripoff.
Which are the basements of this movie? They have to be: environment, acting and, of course, FX.
I'll start with FX, because they are so incredibly wild they'll stick in your head for a long time. They are insane and brilliantly implemented. I can only worship Rob Bottin for them, because his work is miles ahead of CGI. This man made me adore rubber and latex like no one. He's a true artist. I forgive him for making me feel sick when I was just a little boy.
The environment is the most appropriate. It enhances the feelings of paranoia and true danger we have to sit through. If you add a disturbing bass beat for music, you get it. An isolation feeling almost impossible to excel. There is a certain shot of pure genius: all survivors meet under the snowfall, each suspecting of the other, dressed up in their anoraks. It's bright, because they all look the same from a certain distance, all their heads hidden under hoods. Everyone could be the monster, so the smell of menace permeates the screen. Great scene.
And what about the acting? Awesome, credible. This is one of the few movies I have liked Kurt Russell unreservedly. You may laugh at what I'm going to say, but even the dog gives a hell of a performance. God, how could he stare at the camera like that?
Ahhh, the 80s... when remakes had a reason to be made and the results were exceptional...
RATING: 9.2