John Carpenter's
THE THING is one of my favorite John Carpenter films. It was back in the day where Carpenter and actor Kurt
Russell were a great team who got together to make three great movies, a lackluster sequel, and a made-for-TV Elvis film.
THE THING was during their great time working together. THE THING was clobbered and forgotten by movie viewers
who flocked to other films like E.T. and STAR TREK 2: THE WRATH OF KHAN in the summer of 1982. The film was a cult classic
and in the top 5 of the best films that John Carpenter ever directed. It was a mix of sci-fi, horror, paranoia, and
isolation in one of the most hostile environments known to man- Antarctica.
The prequel takes place three days before the
start of John Carpenter's film as it follows what happens to the people at the Norwegian camp as they are the first uncover
the alien spaceship and have the misfortune to be the ones to uncover the alien which can mimic other lifeforms (and hide
inside them). The discovery leads to a battle between the ego of Dr. Halvorson and graduate student Kate Lloyd
as soon the camp is turn upside down by the thing that soon escapes from the ice. Kate knows what is going on as everyone
is determined to not listen even when people start getting killed and absorbed by the alien who wants to survive and get out.
The 2011 prequel is a
prequel which is very faithful to John carpenter's film while sometimes coming off as being a remake by following the plot
of Carpenter's film too closely in many parts. The acting is top notch and the film creates it's own isolated sense
of paranoia even though it isn't pulled off as well as John Carpenter and Bill Lancaster. Still it doesn't
fail as a prequel and fans of Carpenter's film should see it. The prequel is able to put it's own spin on things that
happen in carpenter's film while connecting the film into John Carpenter's classic and foreshadowing events throughout the
story. The prequel does leave some threads open to explore what happens to one character at the end. Don't leave
too soon during the end credits as a scene is shown that connects it into the John Carpenter film. Remember it's a prequel
and not a remake.
this movie review is (c)10-16-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.
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