SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 1 Hr., 49 Min.
Released by Universal Studios for the 1982 summer season, John Carpenter directed the film off Bill Lancaster’s script. The original source material is John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella, “Who Goes There?,” from which Lancaster’s storyline updated certain plot elements. The project was filmed on refrigerated sets in Los Angeles, along with location shooting in both Alaska and Canada.
Set in the winter of 1981-1982, the twelve-man team at a remote U.S. research base in Antarctica witness a Norwegian helicopter’s sniper (Franco) bizarrely targeting a sole wolf-dog. An explosive accident and miscommunication subsequently result in the deaths of the sniper and his pilot.
While the wolf-dog (Jed) is allowed sanctuary inside their base, the team’s physician (Dysart) and its hard-bitten helicopter pilot, MacReady (Russell), depart for answers at the Norwegian camp approximately an hour away. Probing the decimated Norwegian base’s ruins, the duo finds grisly evidence later identified via autopsy as a scorched half-human/half-alien hybrid.
The base’s biologist, Blair (Brimley), theorizes that the Norwegians stumbled upon an alien shapeshifting lifeform capable of assimilating and then impersonating its prey. Realizing that the hostile alien may have now infiltrated their own base, the dozen men desperately seek to contain the lethal threat.
After studying videotape footage that the ill-fated Norwegians left behind, MacReady and biologist Norris (Hallahan) go out to confirm the existence of a frozen archaeological site. Norris calculates the spacecraft uncovered there dates back at least 100,000 years ago. More so, its parasitic inhabitant evidently thawed out from hibernation and destroyed the Norwegian base.
MacReady and his colleagues must resist panicking in facing the chameleon-like monster they are up against. Recognizing that any of them has been or will be compromised, the team resorts to involuntary blood draws (proving who’s still human) and often flamethrowers to stay alive. Accelerated by sub-freezing temperatures, a lack of sleep, and deliberate sabotage of any means of escape, paranoid madness descends upon the base. An exhausted, half-frozen MacReady (having taken command) insists on destroying the monster – in spite of a deadly collapse in trust among his colleagues.
With faint hopes of rescue likely months away, the team’s dwindling survivors ominously agree upon a common goal. The monster’s own escape must be thwarted – no matter the cost.
Cast:
R.J. MacReady (helicopter pilot): Kurt Russell
Dr. Blair (senior biologist): A. Wilford Brimley
Dr. Norris (biologist): Charles Hallahan
Childs (chief mechanic): Keith David
Nauls (base cook): T.K. Carter
Dr. Copper (physician): Richard Dysart
Windows (radio operator): Thomas G. Waites
Clark (dog team handler): Richard Masur
Garry (base commander): Donald Moffat
Fuchs (biologist): Joel Pulis
Bennings (meteorologist): Peter Maloney
Palmer (mechanic): David Clennon
Infected Malamute/Dog (interior scenes): Jed
Norwegian Sniper: Larry Franco (uncredited)
Computer Voice: Adrienne Barbeau (uncredited)
Norwegian: Norbert Weisser (uncredited)
Norwegian (video footage): John Carpenter (uncredited)
Other Norwegians (video footage): Uncredited Extras
Pilots: William Zeman & Nate Irwin.
Notes: 1. The same-named 2011 prequel explores the events involving the ill-fated Norwegian team leading up to the 1982 film’s opening dog hunting sequence. 2. The film’s 1951 cinematic predecessor, The Thing from Another World, relies upon the same Campbell source material, but Carpenter’s version more closely homages the original story. 3. After his 1938 novella, Campbell also evidently penned an obscure expanded (novel-length) version retitled Frozen Hell.
REVIEW:
One might presume that ultra-gory special effects (courtesy of Rob Bottin’s top-caliber team) is The Thing’s most significant element. That’s only partially accurate.
As icky and even at times as cheesy Bottin’s effects are, the tense blood draw sequence is just as, if not more so, wince-inducing. Along with Ennio Morricone’s eerie score (note: it echoes Carpenter’s 1981 Escape from New York), the film’s practical special effects still hold up. Even a few obvious matte paintings used as Antarctic backdrops are masterfully designed. Hence, credit is long overdue to Carpenter’s production team – keeping in mind what their $15 million dollar budget could/couldn’t afford at the time. Viewers, in that regard, get an excellent monster flick that doesn’t rely on blue-screen phoniness to work its magic.
Apart from its special effects, like 1979’s original Alien film, The Thing devises a reliable sci-fi/horror-meets-And Then There None whodunnit formula. Think about it – as of 1982, this intriguing sub-genre, in a modern context, consisted of only these two films. That is – before the Alien and Predator franchises began over-exploiting the concept for the next forty-plus years. Still, Carpenter’s nuanced ensemble delivers far more character depth than one would expect – unlike derivative blockbusters merely recycling the same premise ad nauseum with different casts.
Before proceeding further, it isn’t a fair assessment without pointing out some dumb plot contrivances. Case in point: the Antarctic ‘science team’ woefully disregards sanitary precautions: 1. They don’t wear masks (rubber gloves are seen once, maybe twice), especially when exposed to potentially noxious fumes (i.e. the autopsies; the Norwegian base). 2. No one expresses concern about quarantining the fugitive wolf-dog, let alone ever self-quarantining themselves – aside from Brimley’s Blair later in the film.
Aside from ignoring basic scientific caution, the biggest eye-roller is a partially built, homemade spacecraft – which should be left as the less said the better. Still, some freaky shlock horror imagery is supposed to be exactly that. One wonders if the makers of the subsequent Re-Animator franchise were inspired by Bottin’s grotesque genius.
As much heavy lifting as the macabre special effects must do, Russell and his castmates absolutely carry their share of the necessary workload. A youthful Russell leads veteran character actors (i.e. Donald Moffat, Richard Masur, Wilford Brimley, and Ricard Dysart – all in top form) and newer faces (i.e. Keith David, T.K. Carter, and David Clennon) in an everyman’s game of frostbitten claustrophobia shifting to catastrophic paranoia. Carpenter’s ingenious scene fadeouts ensure that enigmatic plot twists are teased without spoiling the grim suspense of what’s still to come. Accordingly, the twelve distrustful characters, especially Russell’s MacReady, convey varying realistic shades of humanity in the face of imminent doom.
John Carpenter’s The Thing is by no means flawless (on its own merits or even as a remake). It is, however, definitely worthy of re-discovery. This movie, suffice to say, outclasses the vast majority of competition in its genre.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
