Not Just One of Those Things

Rating: Null/10 (1 March 2003)

John Carpenter's "remake" of the 1951 "The Thing From Another World" is much closer to Campbell's original short story "Who Goes There?" and a world apart in its special effects (courtesy of the great Rob Botin). Ennio Morricone's score adds to the dread atmosphere of the film. Upon its release, this film was unfairly maligned by most critics, but it has certainly gained in stature over the years and now is rated one of the top Horror/Sci-Fi movies of all time. The film is anchored by Kurt Russell's strong performance as MacCready, a member of an isolated scientific research party in the Antarctic. After a group of Scandinavians enter their base unexpectedly (trying to kill an extraordinary alien life-form posing as an Alaskan Husky) and are killed themselves in the process, the film becomes an elaborate guessing game in which no one knows who has been transformed into the mysterious and deviously inventive creature. One by one, each member of the base meets a terrifying end until the surprising conclusion (which leaves viewers hanging). "The Thing" is Carpenter's best work, although "The Fog" could be rated a close second. The performances by Russell, Keith David, Richard Dysart and the rest of the cast are all first-rate. Russell, in particular, stands out. "The Thing" was one of his first superior adult roles after a long career as a child actor in Hollywood and it boded well for his future career. If you missed "The Thing" when it came out over twenty years ago, rent the video. You won't be disappointed. You will be in for one scary night, however.