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The Thing

  • 19821982
  • XX
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
406K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
756
30
The Thing (1982)
Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
Play trailer1:54
4 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorMysterySci-Fi

A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
406K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
756
30
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
    • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Wilford Brimley
    • Keith David
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writers
    • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
    • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Russell
    • Wilford Brimley
    • Keith David
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1.2KUser reviews
    • 373Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #161
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos4

    The Thing
    Trailer 1:54
    The Thing
    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
    Clip 3:47
    How "Carnival Row" Gets Lovecraft Right
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 36
    Video 29:47
    Sneak Previews Season 4 Episode 36

    Photos174

    Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Donald Moffat, and Joel Polis in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell and Charles Hallahan in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    T.K. Carter, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, and Donald Moffat in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell, T.K. Carter, and Donald Moffat in The Thing (1982)
    Charles Hallahan in The Thing (1982)
    Charles Hallahan in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)
    Kurt Russell in The Thing (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Russell
    Kurt Russell
    • MacReadyas MacReady
    Wilford Brimley
    Wilford Brimley
    • Dr. Blairas Dr. Blair
    Keith David
    Keith David
    • Childsas Childs
    Richard Masur
    Richard Masur
    • Clarkas Clark
    T.K. Carter
    T.K. Carter
    • Naulsas Nauls
    David Clennon
    David Clennon
    • Palmeras Palmer
    Richard Dysart
    Richard Dysart
    • Dr. Copperas Dr. Copper
    Charles Hallahan
    Charles Hallahan
    • Vance Norrisas Vance Norris
    Peter Maloney
    Peter Maloney
    • George Benningsas George Bennings
    Donald Moffat
    Donald Moffat
    • Garryas Garry
    Joel Polis
    Joel Polis
    • Fuchsas Fuchs
    Thomas G. Waites
    Thomas G. Waites
    • Windowsas Windows
    • (as Thomas Waites)
    Norbert Weisser
    Norbert Weisser
    • Norwegianas Norwegian
    Larry Franco
    Larry Franco
    • Norwegian Passenger with Rifleas Norwegian Passenger with Rifle
    Nate Irwin
    • Helicopter Pilotas Helicopter Pilot
    William Zeman
    • Pilotas Pilot
    Adrienne Barbeau
    Adrienne Barbeau
    • Computeras Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    John Carpenter
    John Carpenter
    • Norwegian (video footage)as Norwegian (video footage)
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writers
      • Bill Lancaster(screenplay)
      • John W. Campbell Jr.(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —grantss
    isolationantarcticaparanoiaalien creatureshapeshifting430 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Anytime. Anywhere. Anyone.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • X
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Carpenter has stated that of all his films, this is his personal favorite.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 20 mins) Although Fuchs has told them that the alien organism is highly infective, they don't care about sharing the same knife to get their blood samples.
    • Quotes

      [Norris' head grows legs and tries to walk away]

      Palmer: [1:17:22] You gotta be fuckin' kidding.

    • Crazy credits
      The title of the movie is revealed in the same style as in The Thing from Another World (1951). The effect was achieved with a plastic bag placed on a stencil that was melted by a heat source placed below it.
    • Alternate versions
      CBS edited 12 minutes from this film for its 1986 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Edited into Deep Freeze (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Explain
      Music by Billie Holiday (uncredited)

      Lyrics by Arthur Herzog Jr. (uncredited)

      Performed by Billie Holiday

      Courtesy of MCA Records

    User reviews1.2K

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    "The Thing" is John Carpenter's masterpiece and one of the best classic horror films!
    A classic film. John Carpenter's "The Thing" is one of the most entertaining horror films ever made - fast, clever and purely exciting from start to finish. It is one of my personal favorite horror movies. This is how all movies of the genre should be made. Set on an isolated base in Antarctica, this version seems almost to pick up where the original version (The Thing From Another World) left off. The American scientists discover a decimated Norwegian base some miles distant. Everyone is dead, and only the half charred remains of some unidentifiable thing left to smolder outside the compound might offer any answers to what may have happened. The Thing is brought back to the American base and, too late, the scientists realize that it is alive and lethal. The Thing thaws out and is off, not only killing anyone and anything that crosses Its path, but also absorbing them, making Itself into whoever and whatever it wants. The film then turns into a brilliant paranoia piece. Everyone is suspect, anyone can be The Thing, and no one trusts anyone anymore. Gone is the strength and security found when human beings band together in spite of their differences to battle a monster. The group splinters and fear rules supreme. Who is the Thing?

    Seriously I Love this movie I love it To Death. I love Escape From New York and I love Escape From L.A. but I also love The Thing so much better this is definitely the best Carpenter film a truly masterpiece classic I love R.J. MacReady - Kurt Russell I love everything about this film that is. Science Fiction, Horror and an Action Epic Film. A lot of the practical effects were left out but the it looked nice and the acting was good and it expanded upon the monsters background and showing you the inside of the ship. It must of been tough to bring across on screen the visual design.

    In my opinion, nobody has topped this film in the 25-odd years since its release. I'll put any of "The Thing's" old-school effects up against any CGI-driven movie, or this cast against almost any other ensemble. If you haven't seen the film yet, I envy you because I WISH I could see "The Thing" again for the first time. WOW! Does more need to be said? How about this...there is no parallel. Who's your friend? Who's the Thing? Who do you trust? Who can you afford to trust? If you've never seen this movie...your in for a treat. The only other movie that had such an impact on me was The Matrix (the first movie)...where I left the theater touching the walls wondering if they were really real. This movie will leaving you wondering....is the guy/gal next to you really real?

    "Trust is a tough thing to come by these days."

    John Carpenter's The Thing is a seminal piece of horror that is not only a fine specimen of its era, but it also serves as a shining example of horror done absolutely right in any era. Combining gross-out special effects reminiscent of Hellraiser, the nail-bitingly intense, claustrophobic filmmaking of Alien, offering a story that is very well-paced, such as George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, and presenting the idea that true terror can be found at any time, in any place, and inside anyone, much like Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, The Thing works on every level, and represents the peak of each and every aspect that may be utilized to make horror films effective. Granted, this amalgamation of styles is not the only formula for winning horror.

    The basic plot about this movie is Horror-moister John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape from New York) teams Kurt Russell's outstanding performance with incredible visuals to build this chilling version of the classic The Thing. In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and becomes one of them.

    It is one of the best favorite horror films of the 80's ever. I love this film to death. The Thing is the best classic horror film from master and genius John Carpenter! 'The Thing' is classic Carpenter and one of the few remakes that is better than the original. Kurt Russell's characters: Snake Plissken, R.J. MacReady and Jack Burton are Kurt's best favorite characters he ever played. I also love the music score from Ennio Morricone! Awesome!!! 10/10 Grade: Bad Ass Seal Of Approval
    helpful•252
    27
    • ivo-cobra8
    • Oct 31, 2015

    FAQ59

    • At the beginning, the helicopter is trying to shoot the dog as it runs through the snow. Why doesn't the helicopter just hover over the dog instead of flying way past the dog after each pass? Does it have anything to do with the cold air or altitude?
    • Why did the Norwegians dig the crater in the first place?
    • What is 'The Thing' about?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 26, 1982 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Norwegian
    • Also known as
      • John Carpenter's The Thing
    • Filming locations
      • Juneau, Alaska, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Turman-Foster Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $19,629,760
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,107,897
      • Jun 27, 1982
    • Gross worldwide
      • $19,632,053
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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