Not For the Squeamish

Rating: 8/10 (18 February 2011)

Gore films are not for the weak of heart, or those with weak stomachs. After all, the amount of blood shown in these types of films can reach a pretty disturbing level. Then again, that's the objective of the gore film, to disturb and disgust its audience while frightening them at the same time. John Carpenter's The Thing certainly doesn't fail those objectives.
According to Wikipedia, The Thing, directed by John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape From New York, Vampires), is a gory remake of Howard Hawks-Christian Nyby's 1951 film The Thing From Another World. Interestingly, both films are based on the science fiction novella Who Goes There?, by John W. Campbell, Jr. The movie's plot is pretty easy to understand. Research scientists unearth an alien ship that crashed into Antarctica, unleashing a dangerous organism that imitates other life forms. After wreaking havoc with one research base, said unearthed organism takes the form of a dog and infiltrates an American research base. The Americans must survive the alien organism's attempt to take over them, which causes mistrust amongst the members. Whose body has been taken over? Which members can be trusted and which members cannot?
Starring Kurt Russel (Escape From New York, Escape from L.A.) and Wilford Brimly, the film is full of suspense and will leave you guessing all the way until the end. Although Russel is the star of the film, it is the life-imitating organism that steals the show here. In other words, the special effects trump the acting. Rob Bottin is the special makeup effects creator and designer, who will go on to lend his talents to such films as Robocop and Fight Club (IMDB). The attention to detail is convincing, to say the least. Such detail in color and texture that was put into this film will easily induce nauseating disgust in those with weak stomachs.
For instance, there is an autopsy scene that shows a dead person that was in the midst of being transformed. The twisted face and the blood-soaked, mangled body takes a cut from a scalpel, revealing squishy, wet organs. It all looks pretty convincing, which is what makes this particular scene horrifying. During another scene, the alien creature is seen transforming from a dog into a grotesque monster with tentacles and spidery legs. At one point we see the dog's face split open, revealing a slimy, tentacled tongue that proceeds to digest another dog. The victim dog's slimy body can be seen partially digested, with some of its bones sticking out. No CGI was employed here; therefore, it looks all the more real.
Besides special effects, the lighting and the music also do their part to create suspense and terror. Overhanging lamps light up the inside base, covering some sections and rooms with shadows at night. The dim place looks cramped and depressing, which is fitting for such a film as this. Low and ominous in some scenes and sharp and piercing in others, the musical score is implemented wisely during the film.
That being said, I would only recommend The Thing to those that enjoy the gore/horror genre; especially those that like to pay attention to special effects. As for people that are squeamish and sensitive, I would advice them to ignore this film altogether, as seeing it will only induce nauseating disgust.