[Amory]

Finally got around to watching it on Netflix. Long been interested in the plot, but I'm really not into horror movies so I've been hesitant.

Perfect setting, trapped indoors with the very monster you're trying to kill/escape hiding in plain sight. No one trusts anyone. Visually pretty great too, every time the Thing ends up showing itself, it's appropriately disturbing and gory, if not outright scary. Especially when the dude's head sprouts spider legs and starts sneaking away.

But the one thing that was off...they've discovered an alien species, and even a massive alien spacecraft, and they really don't seem all that surprised by it. They're just like, "Oh shit, it's aliens. God damnit."

Also Kurt Russell is a fucking BOSS in this movie.

[MikeMyers]

John Carpenter <3.

I saw this on the big screen last year and met Carpenter, so awesome.

[DiscoJer]

But the one thing that was off...they've discovered an alien species, and even a massive alien spacecraft, and they really don't seem all that surprised by it. They're just like, "Oh shit, it's aliens. God damnit."

Yeah, that's true, now that I think about it. Especially when you consider it's a scientific outpost.

That's one thing the original movie got right, but this one is closer to the short story and overall a lot better (though I also love the original, one of the few 50s monster movies that isn't campy as hell)

[GrotesqueBeauty]

John Carpenter was on fire during the 80's, and The Thing is definitely one of his best. Such a bad ass movie.

[Clydefrog]

I haven't seen the original, but the "remake" is pretty bad.

[GrotesqueBeauty]

I haven't seen the original, but the "remake" is pretty bad.

I thought it was a prequel. I haven't personally watched it yet, but my friend keeps telling me that it's actually pretty good, and respectful of the source material.

[Canis lupus]

Wait until you see Alien. Both awesome movies.

[Amory]

Did anyone play the game? I'm kind of interested...

[TUROK]

I haven't seen the original, but the "remake" is pretty bad.

It's a prequel, and it's a solid companion piece to the Carpenter movie.

[Mastodonkey]

It is indeed badass. in my top 10 flicks ever probably.. the isolation and the suspense is intense.

[lazybones18]

Remember my dad renting the movie for me to watch like a decade or so ago. I wasn't all that impressed :/

[smurfx]

I haven't seen the original, but the "remake" is pretty bad.

i thought it was pretty good.

[Ushojax]

I saw it for the first time last year and thought it was fantastic. Love the creature effects.

[Slavik81]

But the one thing that was off...they've discovered an alien species, and even a massive alien spacecraft, and they really don't seem all that surprised by it. They're just like, "Oh shit, it's aliens. God damnit."

I was rather impressed. They kept their wits about them. Usually horror movies require the characters to act like utter morons, but in The Thing they were quite rational.

[The Anti-Monitor]

The prequel gets bad rep for no real good reason.

The original is such a great movie, so tense. I haven't watched it in a long time, but I've always loved it.

[GrotesqueBeauty]

I saw it for the first time last year and thought it was fantastic. Love the creature effects.

I watch tons of 80's horror and sci-fi flicks, and I'm often impressed by how much better well done practical effects hold up vs. most CG. They really nailed puppetry and stop motion in that era.

[Amory]

They're also not all that disturbed by the crazy Norwegians who land near their camp randomly trying to kill a dog. One guy even gets shot in the leg, and they're just like "Whoa, you all right? Well that was pretty weird."

Generally speaking the crew's reactions to everything going on aren't nearly intense enough.

I was rather impressed. They kept their wits about them. Usually horror movies require the characters to act like utter morons, but in The Thing they were quite rational.

Yeah but it's more than just keeping their wits about them. They almost seem unimpressed by everything going on. It's strange.

[&Divius]

Great movie, saw it again quite recently. I can never get enough of it.

[2real4tv]

Awesome movie and it still holds up well. My son was surprise how good the effects were.

[AniHawk]

have to remember to watch the prequel sometime. wasn't there talk of adding in the practical effects on bluray/dvd?

anyway, saw the 80s the thing for the first time earlier this year. it was seriously impressive.

[Slackbladder]

Yep, "The Thing" truly is a great movie. Great cast and performances (the dog is incredible), great effects, setting and atmosphere. This and "An American Werewolf in London" are my two favourite horror films, considering I don't like horror films.

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Check this out immediately, OP.

[Woz]

I have it on bluray, it's awesome.

[Nyx]

Best true horror movie ever, no contest.

[Bluemercury]

The blu-rays doesnt have any extra content right???

[C4Lukins]

The original is so much better. And I do not mean this in some elite way that I am aware of a 20 year old version of the film. The original is better. And the idea of it is more scary. So enjoy it, and be thrilled by it, but just know that there is a better film you can experince the day after.

[Jimothy]

The commentary track with John carpenter and Kurt Russell is almost better than the movie. Listen to it ASAP.

[Amory]

Check this out immediately, OP.

Haha, awesome. I like how the scene transitions fade out the same way as in the film.

[The Spacepope]

One of the best movies of all time. Russell the boss with JC at one of his finest moments (along with Escape from NY and BTILC).

And yeah, the commentary tracks for those three movies are gold. Love JC and Russell together, I wish they'd make another film.

[Net_Wrecker]

One of my top 10 of all time. I love everything about this movie. Great visuals, great performances, great soundtrack, INSANE special effects, great atmosphere, etc. etc. It's what every "trapped in an area with a monster" movie should aspire to be. The paranoia in the 2nd half of the movie is so good.

[Bluemercury]

have to remember to watch the prequel sometime. wasn't there talk of adding in the practical effects on bluray/dvd? anyway, saw the 80s the thing for the first time earlier this year. it was seriously impressive.

You guys should check this site, http://thulestation.com/about/deleted-scenes/ for some deleted scenes, the number of times the word studio appears in the reasons for dropping this scenes tells it all you need to know.

[MedIC86]

some people in this thread said the prequel was actually good....? did we watch the same movie?

[lazorexplosion]

Great paranoid atmosphere and monster effects, one of the best horror movies ever.

[pottuvoi]

I haven't seen the original, but the "remake" is pretty bad.

I thought that Carpenter did a good job..

[Mr. Sam]

I thought that Carpenter did a good job..

Well played.

Carpenter's The Thing is one of my favourite movies. Probably the greatest advert for practical effects there is.

It was revealed that they painted over the practical effects with CG in the prequel and that was enough to put me off.

[Replicant]

some people in this thread said the prequel was actually good....? did we watch the same movie?

Eh, it's not going to win academy award but it's not horrible or anything. It's decent/passable and had a rather nice ending to tie it up wto the original.

And oh, at least it has less plotholes than say, Prometheus. And I love Prometheus.

[C4Lukins]

I have always loved the original. I am not normally a penis about that sort of thing, but the original is better. And I am talking The Thing From Outer Space. I saw it first and could never get into the Carpenter version.

[highluxury]

I hope youre talking about the original and not the remake. If so, yes by a 1000 fucktons.

One of my all time favourite movies.

[ymmv]

I hope youre talking about the original and not the remake. If so, yes by a 1000 fucktons. One of my all time favourite movies.

It surprises me how many fans the original movie from the 1950ies has ...

[highluxury]

It surprises me how many fans the original movie from the 1950ies has ...

Wow, learning something new every day. Didnt know this.

But in this case I was refering to the Carpenter version contra the late 2011 version.

[SteveWD40]

One of the many reasons 70's / 80's Carpenter was the master of Horror / ScFi films:

Halloween
The Thing
Escape from New York
Assault on Precinct 13
Prince of Darkness
The Fog
Mouth of Madness (90's, but I will allow it)

[Router]

The original is awesome.

Carpenters remake defined what an entire genre should be. Groundbreaking in pretty much every way. The monster effects still scare the shit out of me. This film also remains the reason I avoid traveling to cold, out of the way places.

The prequel/new film was surprisingly good. They get bonus points for having MEW in it and doing most of the monster work with traditional physical effects and not CGI.

[GrotesqueBeauty]

One of the many reasons 70's / 80's Carpenter was the master of Horror / ScFi films: Halloween The Thing Escape from New York Assault on Precinct 13 Prince of Darkness The Fog Mouth of Madness (90's, but I will allow it)

Don't forget They Live and Big Trouble in Little China. Also, In the Mouth of Madness had some good scenes, but it's not anywhere near as good as his output in the 80's imo.

[teruterubozu]

The 80s were awesome period. We live in the post "remake" era.

[GhostRidah]

Yea its one of my favorite movies of all time, its rare a movie shows so mch tension and horror, perfect setting to.

The prequel was good to, not amazing or winning any awards and definitely doesn't touch the original but for what it was it was good., nice popcorn flick. Shit it comes on every other day on cable now.

[Dead Man]

Great movie, that has also given us some quality gifs recently thanks to SunhiLegend.

[StriKeVillain]

One of the best scary movies ever made. Very tense.

I also love the sounds that The Thing emits: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgyiBrY_cNM

[Lord Phol]

If by pretty awesome you mean one of the best films ever made, then HELL YEAH it is!
And it holds up so well, I wish there were more horros like it.

[Endo Punk]

As far as I am concerned it's the best 80's horror flick. It just hits all the right notes and what makes it truly terrifying is that you actually like these characters.

[Amory]

Funny that it actually got pretty mediocre reviews when it came out, and now is remembered so fondly.