Who Knew?

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2009)

...that a horror film would some day come along and top Alien? Who knew in 1982, I would betray Ridley Scott? Normally, I detest remakes..you have seen one remake, you have seen 'em all. I like Carpenter and it wouldn't hurt to at least give him a chance. I was secretly thinking "I'll bet he can't rise to the level of inducing the real symptoms of a myocardial infarction." I had friends over to help me critique that night. I don't think anyone said a word or even got up to go the bathroom for the duration. Just this side of the emergency room, I had to take 2 NTGs during the movie and an extra Verapamil afterward. Who knew that such a flick could sicken and mesmerize at the same time?
Who knew it would age so well? Twenty-four years later, I'm still awed by The Thing and Carpenter's ability to exude 100% confidence and skill in obtaining just the right results. I'm glad he didn't use the alternate ending with MacCready's survival. Then there were Rob Bottin's amazing special effects. No CGIs. He deserved more than The Saturn. I thrilled at the wonderfully creepy claustrophobic effect.
Who knew...that the delicious feature in this movie were the characters' paranoia...Who knew who was who? Who knew if he had the infection?
I haven't seen a better sci-fi horror to date.