The Thing (2011)

[ElijahWhateley]

I recently caught "The Thing", and was surprised by how good it was. While it wasn't overtly Lovecraftian, I could definitely see the chain from "At the Mountains of Madness" to "Who Goes There?" to Carpenter's "The Thing" to the prequel (the new "Thing" is a prequel, not a remake).

I'm pretty disappointed by how poorly the movie has done with reviewers and audiences. It has most of what I look for in horror - a mysterious, baffling problem, a sense of wonder, insanity, and people striving desperately for survival yet failing - although it really didn't have any genuinely creepy scenes (and I'm really not sure why an Antarctic research expedition brought both flamethrowers and grenades - or why there were days and nights in the antarctic - or how the two pilots survived). I was also pleased by the lack of any romantic or personal subplots - the movie is very tightly wrapped around its central premise.

I'm hoping some more Yoggies will give it a look. It has some really great tentacle on flamethrower action for the pulp lover, and an ending bleak enough for a purist like myself: (SPOILER: Can't escape the SAN loss...).

[Xipuloxx]

Has it done that badly, really? I know it wasn't a hit on initial release, but that's true of a lot of movies that are very well-regarded now. (Night of the Hunter springs to mind, and if you haven't seen it, do so. Dark Fairy Tale was never done so well IMO.)


I thought it was considered a "cult classic" these days. I totally agree with what you say about it btw; if there are people here who haven't seen it they should definitely do so.

although it really didn't have any genuinely creepy scenes (and I'm really not sure why an Antarctic research expedition brought both flamethrowers and grenades - or why there were days and nights in the arctic

I thought the scene with the Doctor in his cabin pleading to be let out, with a noose hanging in the backgound was quite creepy. And of course there can be normal days and nights in the Antarctic if you're not too close to the pole. It is a whole continent after all! Much of it isn't far inside the Antarctic circle, which means it would only experience 24-hour sunlight and 24-hour darkness a few days each year. A few bits are even outside the circle, meaning they never get 24-hour darkness or light.

[Shrike]

I liked it quite a bit, although I would have preferred if The Thing had less screen time, honestly; more lurking horror would have been nice.

[ElijahWhateley]

[COLOR=#222222]
I thought the scene with the Doctor in his cabin pleading to be let out, with a noose hanging in the backgound was quite creepy.

Your talking about Carpenter's 1982 "The Thing"; I'm talking about the prequel that is in theaters right now. I guess it hasn't come to Ireland.

[ElijahWhateley]

Does anyone know if there is a way I can edit the title to "The Thing (2011)"? Maybe some admin help?

[Newbunkle]

I've been waiting for this to come out, but I don't think it's out until the 2nd of December over here.

I love the Carpenter movie and I'm going to give this one a fair chance. Most of the complaints I've seen wouldn't be out of place directed at the 1982 film, and it had a similar reaction from reviewers too. It certainly had its fair share of cheap scares.

Sadly I won't be able to comment further for a few weeks!

[StuartB]

Yes, we're still waiting in the UK. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing it, although I may have trouble finding people to come along with me. My wife certainly won't join me.

If it remains faithful to the Carpenter movie, or at least tries to, I think I will be happy enough. The trailer looks good.

[Xipuloxx]

Your talking about Carpenter's 1982 "The Thing"; I'm talking about the prequel that is in theaters right now. I guess it hasn't come to Ireland.

Oops, I completely misunderstood you, then! Sorry!

No, the new one isn't out till December in the UK, I believe. (Northern Ireland, though of course physically part of Ireland, is in the UK, which has historically caused a bit of controversy. )

I didn't actually realise it was out already elsewhere. It hasn't gone down well in the US (or wherever you are) then?

[JohnnyF]

My Cthulhu group and I watched The Thing (2011) on opening night (in Canada - same as the US, I believe), and I can strongly recommend it, as well.

I'm going to disagree that there were no genuinely creepy scenes,

Spoiler:

(e.g. the teeth)

. You'll all have to decide for yourself.

[Cthulhudude]

Saw it, didn't like it. I don't think it was horrible, just bland with really crappy effects. Why on earth would you want to watch this when you can watch the original? Anyway, just my thoughts on it, your mileage may vary and all that, however I did recently find a somewhat humorous review of it that mostly expressed my own opinion of it here (in case you've got some time to kill): http://www.escapistmagazine.com/vide...4800-The-Thing

[Mr. Bill]

It doesn't really go for "creepy" so much as "skin-crawlingly disturbing," IMHO. That whole movie is just palpable paranoia and disturbing body horror, and it's all done so, so well. It's one of the only movies that has almost no character development - and doesn't really need it. The feelings Carpenter wants you to have are all there, and you don't need to know a damn thing other than Kurt Russell is a badass and the monster could be anyone.

And I dunno, it's pretty Lovecraftian in its own way. An almost-unstoppable alien life form with no discernible motive, killing humans with shifting, protoplasmic tentacles and shattering their minds with just how damn horrifying it is that such a thing could exist. Set that movie in a small Massachussetts town and remove the flamethrowers and it practically IS Lovecraft!

[JohnnyF]

...remove the flamethrowers and it practically IS Lovecraft!

...there were flamethrowers in 'The Shunned House', so maybe it's even less far off.

[Cthulhudude]

And I dunno, it's pretty Lovecraftian in its own way. An almost-unstoppable alien life form with no discernible motive, killing humans with shifting, protoplasmic tentacles and shattering their minds with just how damn horrifying it is that such a thing could exist. Set that movie in a small Massachussetts town and remove the flamethrowers and it practically IS Lovecraft!

Actually I've always felt that Carpenter's version was the single most Lovecraftian movie ever made. I just finished writing a Cthulhu Eats the Movies piece for The Innsmouth Free Press stating as much after seeing the (for me) disappointing prequel/remake. That review should be up soon, should anyone care to give it a look.

[Gwion]

I saw it and I have to agree with most critics of the film: there is no tension or dread except for the easy shock of seeing the thing full frontal and in full light. There is only one transformation scene that show the thing adaptability (instead of just switching to it "attack" form). Sadly there is also no "who done it" feeling about who got infected, the movie just don't build the same sense of doubt it just rely on the actors acting panicked.

The big pre-credit ending don't make sense and invalid the whole movie.
maybe spoiler:

Spoiler:

and invalid the original situation about the thing having crashed on earth, being stuck hare and having to leave it ship.

Also:

Spoiler:

The credit ending is clumsy if you consider that the base camps are at one helicopter flight hour distance from each other.

Oh and you never ever feel like that the Antarctica living condition are arduous and the freezing cold is never felt as a menace as in the John Carpenter movie.

But my main letdown is that the movie present nothing that was worth telling or that was not already told in the previous movies. I wish it had explored the possible female/male or american/norvegian tension but it din't.

That said I am still curious about the upcoming comic book from Dark Horse Comics about Vikings encountering a Thing.

[Jig73]

I saw the movie in a local theatre.
Not that bad. But i must admit, that to mine
opinion it was almost a kopie from the John Carpenter version.
Like Carpenter gave his own unique vision on the orginal
movie from the 50's, this version of the 21 century had
the change to develop his own style.
A mist opportunity.