A certain classic

Rating: 10/10 (7 January 2009)

This film first caught my attention on the blockbuster shelf for a very strange reason: it had the only blue DVD case in a field of red tones. Just for the sake of it, I checked it out, and then watched it.
Before my eyes unfolded a magnificent story of fear, paranoia, and survival. John Carpenter has managed to make a perfect film: the suspense is beautifully created, ramped up sharply and yet not ridiculously, the blood doesn't run ahead of the plot, but doesn't fall behind either, and the effects are great! This is the type of film that proves that CGI is nothing compared to good old models and sets.
The acting deserves special mention. Kurt Russel was terrific in this film as a grim, rather solitary man with the quite apt name MacReady (kudos to Carpenter if he put that in on purpose). Hallahan, Brimley, and Carter are perfect as rather worn and rugged researchers and essential people on a small, isolated Antarctic station.
As for the Thing... well, it's beyond description. Robert Frost and Shakespeare himself would fall short of a satisfactory description of the Thing. You have to see it to believe it.
A definite 10/10. This film I rank as an equal to 'The Truman Show', meaning I would give it a 12 if I could. I have watched it numerous times, and I am glad that I have 40+ years to watch it again.
PS. I don't know why I found it in the Horror movie section... seems like an obvious Sci-Fi to me.