| | | | The Thing
(1982) |
ohn Carpenter's "The Thing" stands as one of the most impressive horror / sci-fi films to date.
It details the story of 12 men, trapped at an Antarctic research station, as they battle for survival against a hostile shape-changing alien.
Although superficially a remake of the Howard Hawk 1951 film "The Thing from Another World", Carpenter’s film is more faithfully adapted from the John W. Campbell, Jr. short novella "Who Goes There?"
Director John Carpenter was fresh from box-office success with Halloween and Escape from New York. With Universal Studios willing to provide a budget of $10 million, it provided the platform for Carpenter’s first venture into the big league.
The innovative creature is brought to life through some astonishing special effects by Rob Bottin (The Howling) and Stan Winston (Aliens). No longer are we seeing a creature skulking around in the darkened shadows, only to appear at the end of the film as a man in a suit. Bottin’s creation is a sinuous, slimy creature that transforms and strikes in full view of the audience. The creature is fast and gruesome, one of the most unique and awesome monsters to ever grace the screen.
The incredible special effects are not the only impressive facet of the film. Carpenter focuses on the tension and paranoia between the men, as they struggle to come to terms with an alien being that can imitate other life forms, including fellow team members. This tension is only increased by the isolated Antarctic environment, and is complemented by the chilling Ennio Morricone soundtrack.
The film is notable for strong characterization, with a solidly performing cast, including Kurt Russell, Keith David and Wilford Brimley. The entire film has the stamp of quality on it. When it was released in 1982, the film was savaged by the critics, and poorly received by an indifferent public. But over time, the true landmark status of the film has been acknowledged, and it has since risen to cult status.
You can learn much more about this chiller classic at the excellent Gold Rated Site listed in the links section.
 Don't forget that The Thing is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
|
| | | | 
The Thing was a landmark film at the time of release and even now stands head and shoulders above many modern efforts at this genre. The special effects are seamless, the plot is absorbing, the acting is solid, and the overall atmosphere of the film is tense and chilling.
|
| | | |  | 
Lavish coffee-table book Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia (published in 1995) criticizes the 1982 Carpenter film "The Thing." Most reviews I've ever seen of the film also criticize it as a lesser version of earlier movies. But the Encylopedia correctly point out that the 1982 movie closely follows the original novella by John W. Campbell Jr. (aka Don Stuart). Just like "Batman"'s critics forget that the dark, brooding image was taken from the original stories in the earlier part of the 1900s.  -Thanks to David Leone
| |
The thing is one of a select few movies to have no women on the screen throughout. -Thanks to Frederick Doot
Actor Keith David can also be seen in another John Carpenter movie called "They Live". Kurt Russell starred in another three of John Carpenter movies: "Escape from New York", "Big Trouble in Little China", and "Escape from L.A". -Thanks to Bryan Woolley
The Norwegian that is chasing the dog in the beginning was played by Larry Franco. This was also when John Carpenter decided to learn to fly helicopters. -Thanks to Rogério Barbosa
John Carpenter makes a cameo appearance in the "Norweigan Video Footage".
Character actor Richard Masur (Clark the dog handler) can also be seen in the movie 'Nightmares' (in the 'Night of the Rat' segment) and in the film 'Encino Man' (as Sean Astin's father). -Thanks to Phantom Planet
The title sequence of the original 'The Thing' can be seen in John Carpenters' Halloween when Lori is baby-sitting Tommy. This occured 4 years prior to John Carpenter directing the remake. -Thanks to Mandy Hutchins
« Click
here to add some Thing trivia
Find much more great trivia in the filmmaker's commentary on the Thing DVD.
Rediscover your favorites! If you like
The Thing or 80's Sci-Fi / Fantasy classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Empire Strikes Back ..... Night of the Comet ..... Aliens ..... Back To The Future ..... Last Starfighter ..... Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ..... Circuitry Man ..... Brazil ..... Blade Runner ..... Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan ..... Return to Oz ..... Starman ..... Somewhere In Time ..... Strange Invaders ..... Short Circuit .....[More]
| | | |
For the scenes at the Norwegian camp, Carpenter actually used the charred remains of the American camp burned at the end of the film. Much cheaper than building and burning down another camp.
John Carpenter was not the original target for director. An initial attempt was made to engage the services of Tobe Hooper. Hooper wrote a script for the film in four weeks. It was not taken up by Universal and the project finally landed with Carpenter.
Not many people realise that Stan Winston was called in to assist with the dog kennel scene. Winston is the special effects genius behind Aliens and the Predator.
The jelly that the thing squirted out was KY Jelly. The dog thing was an animatronic hand puppet, because they wanted the movement to be more organic. Norris's head was a hydraulic rod that pushed the head off and the goo was melted rubber and gum. None of the things were people in suits and they used remote controls to move most of them. At the end, where the thing is moving under the boards, it was actually a steel ball being pulled by a winch. -Thanks to Jonathan
Rob Bottin, who did the makeup effects, moved into the studio and worked seven days a week, eventually checking himself into a hospital for exhaustion. -Thanks to J.R. Weber
«
Click
here to add a new Behind-the-Scenes item for Thing
|  |  |  | | The Thing
Locations |
|
| | |
A glacier in Juneau, Alaska was used for the movies establishing shots and the background for the shots involving the alien ship.
Stewart, British Columbia, was used for the exterior of both the American and Norwegian camps. They were built especially for the movie and don't exist any more.
See any errors? Something we've missed? [Let us know]
|  | | | | ![[16:9 -Widescreen Enhanced]](16_9.gif) | ![[5.1 CH SURROUND]](dd5.gif) | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, Notes, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: Remastered again! |
| | ![[Letterbox -NOT 16:9 Enhanced]](lbx.gif) | | Trailer, Commentary, Featurette, Notes, OutTakes |
| Our
Comments: Brilliant DVD |
|
| | | |
The music from the film was composed and conducted by Ennio Morricone. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was available on CD from Varese Sarabande VSD-5278. Use our search feature.
«
Click here to add new music trivia for Thing
Soundtrack Available:
Used On CD
| | | |
 NEW!
Use our radical Retro Assistant to show you the most accurate information for hard-to-find The Thing products anywhere on the web...
At a glance, you can now see all the Movie
releases, Soundtracks
or Movie
Posters, Scripts and Books ever available with online price comparisons, even if they're
rare, out of print or only available in another country!
Over 3 years in development and covering more than 10,000 of the
best products hand picked by our editors, we think it's the most fun and retro way to celebrate the era --and find what you
want.
It covers The Thing DVD,
VHS,
Blu-ray,
HD-DVD,
Downloads,
Soundtrack
CDs, Movie
Posters, Scripts, Books and more... Why not give
it a try...
The
80's Movies Rewind is proudly a spam-free
non-commercial site, written by movie fans... for movie fans.
If
you enjoy this site, please help to support us and keep us
POP UP & SPAM FREE by ordering your stuff through our services.
As you probably already know, we
are not a corporation, but just 80's fans like you...
| | |
 | | Recent
Additions |
March 3, 2008: Commando USA / UK Blu-ray Coming Soon.
February 28, 2008: Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Soundtrack Update.
Previous
additions
We're always updating and improving, so please and check back with us regularly...
|
| | |
