The Thing (1982)
Starring: Kurt Russell, T.K. Carter, Richard Dysart
Director:
John Carpenter
Certificate: 
Scared the S*** out me when I was 7 and every time since. Even last night.
Every now and again you'll watch a film that just sticks with you for the rest of your life, I tend to find that its horrors and si-fi that do it for me. And along side 'Predator' The Thing by John Carpenter will go with me till the day I die. If I'm still watching it when i'm 90 odd years old it'll probably be the death of me too.
The setting is an Antarctic research station, cut off from the outside world. 12 Americans welcome in a dog being hunted by some crazed Norwegians. Not knowing that the dog is in fact a shape shifting alien that crashed on earth 100 000 years ago.
It's not long before they figure out what has happened and lose trust in each other.
Every last actor in this film, including the dogs, perform superb parts. Not a line out of character or an unconvincing scream.
The set is dark, lonesome, creepy and contains as much character as the films leading roles.
The Fx's are beautifully disgusting and are distorted to a sickening perfection.
The sound track is wonderfully sparse and all of it aids the setting. Ennio Morricone nailed it again.
I really can not say enough good things about this film. Seen as a box office flop and riding a wave of critically mixed reviews. It has found its deserved place in the hearts of many horror fans now.
It's my personal favourite Horror of all time......
Save for one masterful mix of Comedy/Horror and a indie project that cost a fraction of the price and is responsible for Zombies being a major part of popular culture.
But again these are films for another time.... Can you guess what they are?
4/5
