Geeks on Film: The Thing [Review]
The Thing is a lot like the film’s namesake alien. While its a good imitation of the original, some parts just still don’t seem quite right. Its part re-make, part sequel and while it has its moments, living up to the expectations of fans of the original is a whole different problem altogether. While sitting down to watch this being a huge fan of the original, I tried to keep an open mind and look at this as more of an update for today’s audiences more than anything else.
The Thing takes place 3 days before the events of the first film and follows a camp of Norwegians as they discover the Lovecraftian creature encased in ice that is ultimately going to kill off the entire camp. The Creature’s claim to fame is its ability to mimic is prey, so the film is pure paranoia as they try to figure out who is human and who isn’t in this small isolated research camp in Antarctica.
The film takes some bold chances, its essentially a period piece where about 35% is subtitled in Norwegian, by Norwegian actors. The film’s look is pure obsessive compulsive in its likeness to the Carpenter film and while that is great for fans of the original it doesn’t say much about first time director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.. Actually the film is a lot like the Hangover 2 in the respect that it is almost the same film beat for beat but in a different location, a Norwegian camp instead of an American one. The acting however was rock solid for a genre film and I honestly have to say I enjoyed it even more because I really didn’t recognize most of the actors involved.
I think the only downfall of this film would be they missed one crucial part of what made the original so great. Instead of keeping the monster in the dark and letting your imagination fill in all the gory details (this was due to budget limitations in the original) they paraded it around in all it’s shiny CG glory. While it wasn’t bad CG, I think that limitation did the same thing for the original that a broken shark did for a little film called Jaws. Not showing something can be even more nerve racking than putting the monster on screen and adds to the paranoia and suspense.
Is The Thing a bad film? No not really, I actually quite enjoyed it. But to most fans with highly unrealistic expectations of living up to the mantle where the first resides is damn near impossible. To put this in perspective for a horror fan its a lot like when Star Wars: Episode One came out, and you know how that went down. So if you’re a fan of the original put you expectations in check and enjoy and try to remember that when the original Thing came out it was such a critical and commercial failure John Carpenter was pulled off Firestarter.
2.75 out of 5 Stars
Having not seen the original movie (I’m going to correct that as soon as possible), I enjoyed The Thing for its premise. The constant paranoia and idea that the enemy could be looking you right in the eye and you wouldn’t know it is just brilliant. That being said, I enjoyed the gruesome CG work.
Plus, I got in free thanks to you guys, so I can’t complain, right?
I’m sorry, but I physically cringed when I heard about the remake and saw the trailer. I love strong female main characters, but the fact that almost EVERY horror film nowadays uses a female lead is kind of annoying. But John Carpenter’s The Thing is likely my favorite horror film aside from Halloween and Day of the Dead. So I’m probably not gonna go see this until it hits redbox or netflix simply for the lulz.
My wife and I went to go see the Thing last night and was very impressed. People tend to get caught up in try to get more from a movie, but that is what it is a movie.I loved the original movie and always wondered in the original movie what happened to the Norwegians in the other camp. After the movie I went home and saw the Thing from John Carpenter and just felt like now I know what happened before the dog showed up in the American Camp and believe it or not I would discuss it with my brothers (big fans)about them making a movie about the Norwegians. I love the way they left the camp and how McCready found it. I also thought that the Americans were invited to the Norwegians camp and that is why they never mention Americans in the other movie. Brilliant. I will buy this movie when it goes out on sale. I can’t wait until they make part 3. McCready is found frozen with Childs and one of them is the Things?