So I watched John Carpenter's The Thing yesterday for the first time. Should've watched it a lot sooner, but here is my take on it.
The movie was a 3/5 6/10 at best for me. But while I say that I want to make it clear that it has some amazing setpieces, directing and design.
First what I loved:
My my where to even start, well the first thing in the movie I started taking a liking into was how the world was set, I could be in the arctic base for a week just exploring about, the movie really touched my adventuorus side.
Also the practical effects took me to my childhood of watching "Behind the scenes Jurassic Park 3" I fell in love with all the miniatures on display and how you could really feel what was on screen.
I'm a hard egg when it comes to horror and scares, but seeing a dog's face open fourways like a flower with a skull on it was something I knew I needed to see in my life. Also when the squad rounded up and burned "Bennings" alive, and you hear the dying scream of the thing it was glorious, and that was only the start.
But what killed the movie for me?
Man, when Blair started to go crazy, at first I thought he was smart by destroying comms so absolutely no-one could get people to call for the thing to infect the outside world.
But when the bloodbank was destroyed it was wery clear that the bodies could still infect humans, and Blair was a lost cause. Then the survival chances of all personnel in the base went to 0.
At that point I could only enjoy the beautiful views, setpieces and practical effect Thing dolls. But the story was lost.
The ending just confirmed my point of view, the movie was pointless. But I'm a firm believer that neither of the survivors is a Thing. This might be the second worst ending to a movie after Frank Darabonts The Mist.
Though don't get me wrong, my favourite movie ever "In Bruges" ends as quick with a question setting cliffhanger. And I love that ending.
But The Thing just didn't have the emotional weight on the characters or the future of the thing.
Post Script:
If you start commenting for a spoiler alert, the movie is 37 years old, I'll shove a cucumber up your throat if you do.
Post post script:
I do love the alien that is the thing, I'm currently drawing a tribute for it. I'm a buff for monsters, can't help it.
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Not watched it in ages, it’s on Netflix or amazon tho, forget which. Might catch up again soon 🍿
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For a minute I thought you were talking about some other movie >_< But damn, that movie is messy and -blam!-ed up. Just as a horror movie should be.
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[quote]I'll shove a cucumber up your throat if you do.[/quote] The only thing I got out out of your post. [spoiler]not sure how you’d achieve this[/spoiler]
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Imma have to disagree with your rating because I think you missed the whole point of the movie. The movie was meant to leave the viewer guessing what would become of the two, almost in a cosmic horrer type feel, and I think it's certainly gave that feel. I will leave you with this though, if you didn't enjoy the ending because you thought it was pointless, there was a line of comic books that carried on the story and gives a more direct ending.
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If you don't like the ending to [i]The Thing[/i], don't read [i]I am a Hero[/i].
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The Thing is the single best example of horror cinema. I can't understand how any genuine fan of horror or cinema in general could possibly consider it a 6/10. You're gonna need to further explain why exactly you dislike the ending and what about the Blood Test scene confused you. Because both of those are Top 10 horror movie scene contenders.
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[quote]At that point I could only enjoy the beautiful views, setpieces and practical effect Thing dolls. But the story was lost.[/quote] If you watched it for plot, then you watched it for the wrong reasons. [quote]The ending just confirmed my point of view, the movie was pointless.[/quote] How is a cliff hanger pointless? Sure Childs (the Arbiter) and MacReedy are human (?) Popsicles, but there was still the possibility that one was infected, and a sequel could have happened. Which I'm glad it didn't and allowed this movie to stand alone in all it's sci-fi / horror glory. Best sci-fi / horror movie of that generation, period.
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Edited by Strawberry Pop-Tart: 9/16/2019 9:32:33 PMI'm sorry but no The Thing is a Cinematic masterpiece. The creature itself was amazing, when it sabotaged the blood it reveals that they are not against some mindless killing machine but something highly intelligent. That's what make it so good, the typical horror movie monster is a mindless killing machine but the creature made it so much better. Your right in saying everyone was basically screwed but personally I loved that, how to fight against something you have almost zero chance of beating made it way more suspenseful. Also the ending was easily the best part. Because you don't know who if someone is infected or not. But i can say with complete confidence that Childs (the black dude) was infected for 3 reasons 1: cinematic lighting, the director would use a certain lighting or lack thereof to give away who was the Thing. He does this with Childs 2. No Steam, when someone breathes in the cold you release CO2 which when in contact with the clod creates steam. When MaCready is breathing there is steam but none from Childs. 3. The most undeniable proof is that Mac drinks gasoline. At the end when he gives the drink to Childs he gives him gasoline when know this because in the gearing up scene MaCready fills all the liquor bottles with Gasoline. So hive gives him a drink and The Thing doesn't know the difference between liquor and gasoline he doesn't say "Hey why am I drinking gasoline?" Instead he keeps drinking! 4. Bonus There was a The Thing Comic that took place after the movie that showed him turn into the thing
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Edited by Ogma: Destroyer of Worlds: 9/16/2019 11:13:22 PMIt’s one of my top 10 films of all time. What “the thing” is is legitimately unsettling to me. To be able to mimic down to intelligence and seemingly memories to the point of being indistinguishable. It’s just so.... foreign. I prefer ambiguous or “realistically” tragic endings and The Mist is actually one of my absolute favorites. The only other film to have a life form that came close to giving me that unsettling feeling Annihilation.
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It is way better than a 6/10 it was pioneering in its effects, like seriously, they looked insane and still look good now. Mac is an iconic character and the blood sabotage is genius. I'd give it at least an 8 or 9/10
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Edited by Caggus: 9/16/2019 8:55:51 PMThe thing is an incredible movie that got panned by ignorant ass critics in it’s time. It’s an example of why people shouldn’t trust critics word on a movie. The suspense it builds up is masterful and the cliffhanger perfectly suits the movie.
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Daaaamn only a 6/10? I'm personally offended