Things That Go Bump in the Night

Rating: Null/10 (23 October 2004)

I have been a big fan of this film since it was released in '82. I went to see it at the theater (with the other 7 people who were there as well) and enjoyed it a lot. I immediately purchased the 20th anniversary DVD Edition a couple of years ago and enjoyed that as well. However, I watched it recently and I realized that this film does not stand well over the test of time. The reason could be that we, as science fiction fans have seen the best special effects money can buy in the past 20 years. When I watch this movie, even though the effects were great at the time, now they seem quite tame.
Also, even though the film had it's tense moments, I feel that there was too much talking. Also, one scene in particular, when the men first see "The Thing", they have a meeting afterwards to discuss what to do. They begin speaking to the "Helicopter Pilot" on what to do! They have a couple of scientists standing there, but, instead put their trust in this guy. I could never understand that scene.
However, even with these minor flaws, the film is still one of my favorite science fiction movies of all time. I am a big John Carpenter fan but I have noticed that many of his films have missed the mark and did poorly at the box office. Having said that, this does not mean that his films haven't been good entertainment.
I have been waiting for a sequel for over 20 years but that will never happen. Usually films that die at the box office do not warrant a sequel. Still, I think it would have been a good story.
Ringo