John Carpenter’s The Thing is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most terrifying sci-fi horror movies of all time – and it’s leaving Amazon Prime soon
John Carpenter’s The Thing, which premiered in 1982, was a $15 million film that raked in $40 million worldwide – not exactly an alien concept of success.
This thriller, packed with outlandish special effects, chilling plotlines and the slickest dialogue this side of Antarctica, may not have given birth to a franchise like Alien or Predator. However, it has cemented its status in the horror movie hall of fame, boasting an impressive 92% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Spoiler alert: John Carpenter’s spine-chilling classic unfolds in a remote Antarctic research station, which becomes a hotbed for sheer terror.
The base is infiltrated by a shape-shifting alien, sparking widespread paranoia as the creature can flawlessly mimic any living entity.
Trust becomes a scarce commodity – even within oneself, reports the Mirror.
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As tensions reach boiling point and casualties mount, acting titan Kurt Russell’s pragmatic helicopter pilot MacReady steps up in a desperate fight for survival.
The Thing, brimming with gore, suspense, shocking twists and underpinned by political Game Theory as characters meet their demise, is a petrifying tour de force in sci-fi horror that leaves audiences pondering: what if the real beast is already among us?
One of the most memorable lines encapsulates the film’s core theme of distrust and the dread of uncertainty about who remains human, delivered by Kurt Russell.
“I know I’m human. And if you were all these things, then you’d just attack me right now. So some of you are still human.”
The film also serves up lines that are a mishmash of humour, horror, and sheer relatability: “You gotta be ****** kidding” comes from the character Palmer, portrayed by the iconic David Clennon in one of the flick’s most chilling monster unveilings.
And let’s not forget Kurt Russell’s epic, badass sign-off before setting the monstrous form of the Thing ablaze: “Yeah, **** you too!”.
Now to whet your appetite for what’s deemed the ultimate creature feature, let’s check out some choice cuttings from the critics on the Rotten Tomatoes movie review site.
Critic Ed Potten writes: “The solemnity of the frozen wastes contrasts brilliantly with the sweaty paranoia of the men, who are unsure which of their colleagues is next going to erupt with hidden jaws and shooting tendrils.”
Review master BegG cuts straight to the chase with his praise: “John Carpenter and Kurt Russell are the best! Great Scifi/Horror movie!”.
Steve chimes in with his praise, heralding it as “Absolute horror classic! Must watch for sci/fi horror suspense fans.”
Benjamin b casts his verdict simply stating, “best horror movie ever made”.
Thaddeus Buttrey shares their perspective, claiming “In my eyes, The Thing is as perfect as a movie can get: it knows exactly what it wants to be and what it’s trying to do, and succeeds on every level I can conceive.”
V-LO enthuses, branding it “Suspense at its best in this version from director John Carpenter.”
While fan fitzbizdev L wraps up the accolades with, “Epic, brilliant and a classic.”
Given such rave reviews, ‘The Thing’ is a must-watch – it’s still up for grabs on Prime for the next 30 days.
