Genuinely scary & stands the test of time

Rating: Null/10 (26 March 2000)

I have owned this film on VHS for about 10 years so you can imagine how often I have watched it. Even when it is on TV I try to catch it. I first saw it around 1984 and was amazed that Carpenter had been allowed to kill all those people just to make a movie. You can't see the join! All the actors give stunning performances, notably Wilford Brimley (who never fails to impress) and Kurt Russell. This is the best thing Russell has done and I've seen nearly all his work (check out Soldier, another good performance).
Carpenter is often attacked for the heavy bass music in his movies but it perfectly suits this film, reminiscent of a heartbeat. Rob Bottin should have got a knighthood for the SFX. Carpenter has captured the Antarctic landscape and it really makes you feel cold. This movie has so much going for it. It was the first sell-through VHS I ever bought & I encourage you to do the same. A classic which is better than anything since.