The Thing (1982)

The Thing is a 1982 horror & science fiction film directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell. It is an adaptation of the novella Who Goes There? written by John W. Campbell. The film tells the story of a research team in Antarctica that is threatened by the titular Thing: a deadly parasitic alien that can infect people and shapeshift into them, copying their personalities and memories. As anyone in the group may be the Thing, paranoia, distrust and conflict set in the group.
At the time of the original theatrical release, The Thing was a commercial disappointment and panned by both critics and John Carpenter's fanbase. However, over time, it has been reappraised as one of the best science fiction and horror films of all time. After being released on home video and television, a cult following developed around The Thing that has remained active. Notable fandom activities include film screenings, fanworks, theorizing, and more. The fandom's dedication has gained attention from film scholars and media outlets.
== Canon ==
In Antarctica, two Norwegian men pursue a dog to the American Outpost 31 station while shooting at it, but both die. After finding an abnormal human corpse at the abandoned Norwegian station and witnessing the dog metamorphize, the Outpost 31 crew learns that the dog was an parasitic alien creature in disguise. Previously discovered by the Norwegian crew, the creature can imitate other organisms after infecting them, perfectly replicating their appearance, behavior, and memories. Further investigation reveals that one or more of the Outpost 31 crew is infected, and the creature will infect all life if it escapes Antarctica.
Distrust and paranoia set in the group, as no one knows who to trust. This is compounded by acts of sabotage, suspicious behavior, potential framings, and those infected killing other crew members after being ousted or forced to reveal themselves. As the group dwindles, the few remaining decide to destroy the base to kill the creature. During the setup of explosives to detonate the base, more crew members are killed. Eventually, only two members of the crew are left. While they have successfully managed to destroy the base, both face death by exposure, as well as mutual distrust and suspicion that one of them may be the Thing.
== Fandom ==
The Thing only made a modest amount of money at the box office, and was panned by both critics and John Carpenter's fanbase at the time of release.Rome, 2013 However, after home video and television releases, the film's reception became more positive.Lambie, 2018 Today, The Thing often appears in best-of lists for science fiction and horror films, such as number 32 in Esquire Magazine
Hoffman, 2015 and number 1 in The Boston Globe.Boston Globe, 2007 In a Q&A before a screening of the film at CapeTown Film Festival, John Carpenter remarked on the critical turnaround and the growth of the fandom.
Similar to John Carpenter's other films and other horror films of the 1980s, a small but dedicated cult following for The Thing formed after its home video release. This following remains active today. Today, most organized online fandom activity and discussion centers around the fan site Outpost31.com and the communities that the site owner Todd Cameron maintains. 
While there were more fan sites in the early 2000s, many are now abandoned or defunct. Some smaller online groups for the film remain active, and fan activity is also scattered throughout various social media sites.
A variety of different activities are popular within the fandom. Notable activities include screenings of the film, fan art, and fan theories. The fandom as a whole has occasionally gained attention from fandom scholars, film history scholars, and wider media outlets. Additionally, some horror news sites, such as Bloody Disgusting, have highlighted fanwork created by the fandom.Squires, 2020Owen, 2016
=== Influences on other works ===
The Thing has had a significant impact on both professional works and fanworks, particularly those in the genre of speculative fiction. Various works have directly referenced the movie, such as Resident Evil and The X-Files. Other creators have cited the film as an influence on their work.
Thurman, 2017Zinoman, 2011
=== Outpost31.com ===
In October 2001, Todd Cameron established the site Outpost31.com as a dedicated fansite to The Thing. Remaining operating for over twenty years, the site collects and documents a variety of information, such as canon information, trivia, and fanworks. The site's operator temporarily changed to Tony Chefles from 2010 to 2016, before being rebuilt in 2017 to coincide with the 35th anniversary of the film. John Carpenter has acknowledged and endorsed the site, calling it "my favorite fan site":
=== Fan tourism ===
The Thing was filmed outside of Stewart, British Columbia in the nearby Salmon Glacier in 1981. In August 2003, fans Todd Cameron and Steve Crawford traveled to Stewart and located the filming site using production photos and assistance from locals. Todd and Steve documented their trip, and a short documentary of the trip is included on some official Blu-Ray releases of the film. Since Todd and Steve's trip, other fans have traveled to the site. Fans often take pieces of the set and helicopter wreckage that remains on the site.Cameron, "Steward, British Columbia Trips" 
A group trip to the filming site to celebrate the film's 40th anniversary is scheduled for June 25, 2022. Planned activities include a video tour of the site, a campout, and a watch party synchronized with other fans globally. While initially organized by Todd Cameron, the trip roster and mailing list were dropped in favor of fans creating and coordinating their own plans.Bilyeau, 2018Squires, 2017Cameron, "Steward, British Columbia Trip"
=== Thing-Fest ===
Thing-Fest was an annual fandom event, first hosted by Todd Cameron from 2001 to 2008 before transferring to Joe Hart. The main focus of the Thing-Fest when hosted by Todd Cameron was a screening of the film on 35mm film. Most Thing-Fests were held at Western Film Theater in London, Ontario, Canada, but the 2008 event was held at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Canada. The event allowed fans to meet up and socialize. Some fans attended the screening in cosplay. Notably, Thomas G. Waites, the actor for Windows, attended the 2008 Thing-Fest and held a Q&A for fans.Conrich, 2005Cameron, "About"
After 2008, Todd Cameron sold parts of his fan collection and transferred the event to collector Joe Hart. In 2013, Joe Hart hosted Thing-Fest at the horror fandom convention Days of the Dead; instead of a film screening, the focus was on his personal fan collection.Fuentes, 2013
=== Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station tradition ===
Every year, after the last flight has left for the winter season, the crew at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, the United States' Antarctica government research station, celebrates the first evening of winter by screening The Thing from Another World, The Thing (1982), and The Thing (2011).Lidstrom, 2012
A Reddit AMA with Josiah Horneman (JoeSpinsTheGlobe), a physician assistant who works at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, received a number of questions related to the film, either asking about the tradition or in jest.Horneman, 2021
=== Published fanfiction ===
In addition to officially licensed media, some unofficial works based on The Thing have been published professionally. Examples include:
* Snowblind by Todd Cameron, a novel that creates a backstory for the character of MacReady.
* The Things by Peter Watts, a short story set during the events of the movie, told from the perspective of the Thing.
* Things with Beards by Sam J. Miller, a short story.
Notably, Snowblind and The Things were praised by the cast and crew of The Thing.
Cameron, "Snowblind"Kirtley, 2018
The Things won the 2010 Shirley Jackson award for Best Short Story. It was also a finalist for the 2011 Hugo Award for Best Short Story, the 2011 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, and the 2010 BSFA Award for Best Short Story.Shirley Jackson Awards, 2011Hugo Awards, 2011
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, 2011Worthen, 2011 Things with Beards was nominated for the 2016 Nebula Award for Best Short Story, and was a finalist for the 2016 Shirley Jackson Award for Best Short Story.Nebula Awards, 2016Shirley Jackson Awards, 2016
=== Theories ===
Many plot threads are set up throughout the course of the film. However, most of these threads are never solved, in order to build tension and contribute to the film's overarching theme of paranoia. Additionally, details on the titular Thing, such as its motivations and how its biology works, are often left ambiguous.
The lack of clear answers to the film's mysteries has set up room for fan theories on the causes and outcomes of these situations. Debates on these theories take many forms. The most common form of these debates are fan essays and online and offline discussions. Many online discussions take place on sites such as forums and Reddit. As The Thing is also the subject of academic analysis, there is often overlap between academic and fan debate. Most speculation takes a Watsonian perspective on the film's events, or a blend of Watsonian and Doylist. No definite fan consensus has ever been reached for most theories.
Interpretations of fan theories and the film's events occasionally appear in fan works for The Thing, most commonly fanfiction. Tropes that appear in fanworks integrating theories include:
* post-canon continuations 
* alternate points of view
** a point of view taking place from the perspective of the Thing
=== Themes and Tropes in Fanworks===
The majority of fanworks for The Thing reflect themes, tropes, and imagery found in the movie. This includes:
* body horror
* paranoia
* the breakdown of trust in a community
* chess
* the Dog-Thing
== Example Fanworks ==
=== Cosplay ===
* Mask progress (The Thing 1982) by tricyclec3llanemia
* My R. J. Macready build (The Thing-1982) by PieSix
* The Thing 1982 (Costume) by ShiaLaMoose
=== Craft ===
* made this ashtray for my boyfriend by anaisheaven
* Painted sculpture by Henrik Honk
=== Fanart ===
* UE4 /FanArt - The Thing1982 SplitFace by Yosuke Ishikawa
* untitled by slugsweets
* Yeah, fuck you too by Cannibalteeth
* My poster for John Carpenter’s The Thing by cary-elwes
* absolutely normal dog by Emily Sedyewick
* quick the thing study in between commissions by dilfpassing
=== Fanfiction ===
* The Norwegian by Josman
* Unfinished Business by John Hitchcock
* smoke signals as a cry for help by gumsneaker
=== Fanvids ===
*AMONG US: THE FILM (fantrailer using footage from The Thing 1982 movie) by dougtrash at TikTok
* I Think We're Alone Now by evewithanapple
* The Thing 1982 Dark Ambience | 1 HOUR | Outpost 31 by M Atomsphere
* Pingu's THE THING (Thingu) by Lee Hardcastle - Pingu parody
* The Thing (animated) by slow_sculpture
=== Gifsets ===
* The Thing (1982) + favorite quotes by georgeromeros 
* John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) + Letterboxd Reviews by maverickcalf
=== Meta ===
* Dangerous Forms in the Ice by setsuled
* The Thing and the Question of Identity by Schuyler Gray
* Why ‘The Thing’ is Cool by Brett Mckean
=== Memes ===
* The Thing 1982 but it has Half-Life sound effects by Unicake
* Come here I'm a normal cute dog by featheredcritter
* Where were you Childs? by Kurakken
=== Other ===
* what the fuck are you!? by sqeakylexi - Toy diaorama
* Diversity Win! The Shapeshifting Alien Abomination Assimilating All Your Coworkers Is LGBT by netscapenavigaytor - Icon edit
* They Want to be Us by Alex Clippinger - Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition module
* The Thing LIVE - A stage tribute to John Carpenter's cult classic by Casey Bair - Stage play
* Outpost031 - Escape room
** Outpost031 Instagram
== Communities & Blogs ==
* MovieChat forum
* /r/thething on Reddit
* /r/thething82 on Reddit
* fuckyoupalmer on Tumblr
=== Facebook ===
* The Thing 1982 Fan Group Facebook group
* THE THING FANS Facebook group
* The Thing Collector Community Facebook page
=== Outpost31.com ===
* Outpost31 on Twitter
* Outpost #31 Facebook group
* Outpost #31 Facebook page
* @outpost31dotcom on Instagram
* Outpost31.com forums
== Archives & Fannish Links ==
=== Fanfiction ===
* The Thing (1982) tag on Archive of Our Own
* The Thing category on Fanfiction.net
* The Thing unofficial fanfiction site on Concentric.net
=== Fansites ===
* Outpost31.com
* thething.ca
* The Thing fanlisting on Severed Dreams
* The Thing on Rob's Classic Films
* The Thing on Outpost of the Vampire
* I Know I'm Human
=== Social media ===
* thething1982 tag on DeviantArt
* thething1982 hashtag on Twitter
* the thing 1982 tag on Tumblr
* the thing tag on Tumblr
=== Wikis ===
* The Thing (1982) article on TV Tropes
* The Thing from Another World Wiki
* The Thing Wiki
* The Thing (1982 film) article on Wikipedia
== References ==
=== Citations ===
=== Works cited ===
Conrich, I. & Woods, D. (Eds.). (2005). The Cinema of John Carpenter: The Technique of Terror. Columbia University Press.
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