Vintage Carpenter

Rating: 9/10 (20 September 2002)

For too many years, the words "John Carpenter's" have preceded sub-standard films. His late 70s and early 80s however, were superlative in excellence, and The Thing is a shining example. What might be best are the two critical factors- that the film has heft behind its style, and that Carpenter did not fear making it dark.