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The Thing (1982)

R | | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi | 25 June 1982 (USA)
The Thing Poster
A crew in Antarctica finds a neighboring camp destroyed and its crew dead. Whatever killed them is nowhere to be found, unless it's hidden in plain sight.

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(screenplay), (story)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... MacReady
... Dr. Blair (as A. Wilford Brimley)
... Nauls
... Palmer
... Childs
... Dr. Copper
... Vance Norris
... George Bennings
... Clark
... Garry
... Fuchs
... Windows (as Thomas Waites)
... Norwegian
... Norwegian Passenger with Rifle
Nate Irwin ... Helicopter Pilot
See full cast »
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Storyline

A US research station, Antarctica, early-winter 1982. The base is suddenly buzzed by a helicopter from the nearby Norwegian research station. They are trying to kill a dog that has escaped from their base. After the destruction of the Norwegian chopper the members of the US team fly to the Norwegian base, only to discover them all dead or missing. They do find the remains of a strange creature the Norwegians burned. The Americans take it to their base and deduce that it is an alien life form. After a while it is apparent that the alien can take over and assimilate into other life forms, including humans, and can spread like a virus. This means that anyone at the base could be inhabited by The Thing, and tensions escalate. Written by grantss

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

antarctica | paranoia | isolation | research station | alien life form | See All (429) »

Taglines:

Look closely at your neighbour ... Trust no-one ... They might be THE THING [UK video box] See more »

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

25 June 1982 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

John Carpenter's The Thing  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,107,897, 27 June 1982, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$13,782,838
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(35 mm prints)| (70 mm prints)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Season 1, Episode 8 of The X-Files (The X-Files: Ice (1993)) is a direct homage to this film. See more »

Goofs

(at around 18 mins) While they are looking at the ice block in the Norwegian base, several of the icicles can be seen swinging. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
MacReady: Poor baby, you're starting to lose it.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Asylum of Terror (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

DON'T EXPLAIN
Music by Billie Holiday (uncredited)
Lyrics by Arthur Herzog Jr. (uncredited)
Performed by Billie Holiday
Courtesy of MCA Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do they call him "Windows"?
Q: What was the Thing doing on the spaceship?
Q: Is "The Thing" based on a book?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Flips the scenario round from the original to great effect.
4 March 2008 | by – See all my reviews

John Carpenter shows how much he loves the 1951 original by giving it the utmost respect that he possibly could, the only difference here is that Carpenter chooses to stick to the paranoiac core of John W Campbell Jr's short story.

The secret to this version's success is the unbearable tension that builds up as the group of men become suspicious of each other, the strain of literally waiting to be taken over takes a fearful hold. Carpenter then manages to deliver the shocks as well as the mystery that's needed to keep the film heading in the right direction.

Be it an horrific scene or a "what is in the shadow" sequence, the film is the perfect fusion of horror and sci-fi. The dialogue is laced with potency and viability for a group of men trying to keep it together under such duress, while Ennio Morricone's score is a wonderful eerie pulse beat that further racks up the sense of doom and paranoia seaming throughout the film.

The cast are superb, a solid assembly line of actors led by Carpenter favourite Kurt Russell, whilst the effects used around the characters get the right amount of impact needed. But most of all it's the ending that is the crowning glory, an ending that doesn't pander to the norm and is incredibly fitting for what has gone on before it. Lets wait and see what happens indeed. 10/10
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