It's your thing

Rating: 7/10 (19 June 2012)

Sci-fi horror isn't really my thing but I did enjoy John Carpenter's stylish and exciting re-make of a 1950's Howard Hawks production (which I haven't seen). Sure the plot looks very familiar, Alien gone south, but the freezing climate and remote location of the Antarctic fit the "nowhere to run" scenario just as well as the moon.
After the arresting opening, which introduces the vastness of the frozen wasteland of the region as a helicopter for some reason chases a husky dog over miles and miles until it reaches the American scientific exploration base, the film settles into the again familiar "and then there were none" plot line as the alien entity starts to prey on every living thing in the camp.
The film benefits, in my opinion from its lack of major star-power, thus providing a more communal feel among the menaced men and making it harder to guess who, if anyone will still be standing at the end.
The special make-up effects are absolutely terrific, making for many "don't look now" moments. Carpenter keeps us in the dark, literally, as almost all the attack sequences take place to gloomy backdrops, aided in this by Ennio Morricone's brooding and atmospheric soundtrack. The acting is good, strong ensemble stuff, although some of the characters fir me lacked individuality. I'd also slightly criticise the ending as being inordinately stretched out and lacking the climactic finish I think the previous tension merited.
Nevertheless this was at least as gripping and exciting as any of the "Alien" movies I've seen, plus the similarly themed "The Abyss". In fact, make my aliens bloodthirsty rather than cuddly any day of the week.