Perfect mixture of pure shock splatter horror and creeping dread

Rating: 10/10 (24 February 2017)

The perfect mixture of pure shock splatter horror and creeping dread layered on top of suspense. Not sure what else I can add to the discussion at this point in the film's history.
How about this: I think MacReady dumping his drink into the computer, after he loses to it in chess, is a foreshadowing of the human ability to fight its own programming. As in, willing to sacrifice himself in order to contain the Thing. He would rather they both lose than someone win. It's a classic film theme, the indomitable ineffability of the human spirit and free- will, that Carpenter knows better than to underline. It's there if you want it.
Also those practical effects. My lord. They don't get any better. They still astonish me every damn time I see this movie. Anyone saying otherwise is a techno rube. Shiny? Not nearly so much as CGI. Dead eyes? How else would they look? Tangibility is believability especially when talking about something that has never existed. Who are you to say it wouldn't look and move like this?