Improves on the original

Rating: Null/10 (3 February 2004)

The inhabitants of a scientific research station in Antarctica find themselves battling a alien creature capable of disguising itself as any other form of life in this taut and exciting remake of the 1951 sci-fi classic. I enjoyed the original film, but I feel John Carpenter managed to make a few improvements. I remember at the time of its initial release many people were highly critical of Carpenter's heavy use of gory special effects. However, by focusing on the special effects, the critics ignored a well-written script and some fine ensemble acting by a cast ably-headed up by Kurt Russell. This film, darker and more paranoid than the original, is one of the few films which deliver on the promise Carpenter exhibited with his low-budget shocker "Halloween." Sadly, for every "The Thing," there have been two "Ghosts of Mars."