Antarctica is deadly for more reasons than mere cold.

Rating: 10/10 (14 June 2019)

" The Thing" has been in my "Best 10 horror movies of all time" list for a long, long time. I understand that many people might disagree, seeing that it is not a deep movie (in the surface), instead it is a plain survival horror movie, which, could very well be adapted into a PC game. But, there is nothing plain or mundane about "The Thing" and what it promises, it delivers. Oh, boy does it deliver. The premise is a remote, isolated science base in Antarctica, with an unknown enemy hunting and killing the inhabitants, while the slowly creeping insanity and subsequent power struggle between them, culminate into an ambiguous ending, which makes you remain numb for a few seconds. I won't spoil the ending- but it is one of the best endings of any movie. The plot depicts a very real horror scenario, that could possibly happen with a few variations- I mean anything can go wrong in an inhospitable, isolated place like Antarctica, and almost all the things that can go wrong, result in death(s), so, the horror is real and authentic. From that respect, the rest of the aspects of the movie, are only secondary. The locations are (mostly) indoors, something which enhances the claustrophobic feel of the base, the direction by Carpenter is, well, Carpenteresque, the acting is solid and the music is spot on, as always. No, the real highlight and protagonist of this film, is the story. The mere idea that you could be stranded in a limited space, in an isolated, frozen desert, with a bunch of people you don't really care about, and with someone or something out for your blood- now that is real horror. This is where the movie shines and this is why I consider it one of the best horror movies. Watch it at night-preferably on a cold, windy night- with the lights out and you won't regret it.