Carpenter's best film. One of the best films of the 80s. In a word: amazing.

Rating: 10/10 (24 December 1999)

John Carpenter is a master of the medium of film, and specifically the widescreen format. This is quite apparent in his 1982 remake of The Thing... He bypasses the Howard Hawks original, taking only the name, and bases his film on the short novel that Hawks' film is based on: Who Goes There? by J. Campbell.
Carpenter's visual composition, editing, pacing, and characterization are nothing short of flawless. He handles themes of identity, isolation, and trust without becoming overtly preachy.
In short, the film is beautiful. It is now available in widescreen on VHS and DVD so I suggest you only watch that. It deserves to be seen in all its claustrophobic glory.

(NOTE: If you're a fan of special effects, this film should be number one on your "must watch" list. The make-up effects and (subtle) matte work are top-notch.)