A prototype for the horror genre

Rating: 10/10 (6 July 2002)

John Carpenter's "The Thing" is well deserved in its place among my top five movies of all time. I read the book first, then was treated to the film on cable television (I was too young to see it in its theatrical release), and I must say that it excels in every aspect. The cinematography and sound are dead-on, as are the performances turned in by a fine cast. Kurt Russel is fantastic -- I can't imagine the movie having been made with any other lead. The story is as perfect as it is simplistic. And the creature effects are astounding considering the film's age. This is a movie that you can really lose yourself in -- that you can imagine the character's plight as your own. Such an internalizing aspect is difficult to achieve in the cinema, and credit goes to Mr. Carpenter for the astounding job he did modernizing a cheesy old B-move. "The Thing" is a real treat for those who haven't yet seen it.