The Thing
Directed by John Carpenter8.285%92%8.1
A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.
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The Thing Ratings & Reviews
- jackmeatJanuary 16, 2025My quick rating - 8.6/10. To take a flick from 1951 "The Thing from Another Planet" which in its time and still a classic, and actually improve, drastically on it is a tall feat. But John Carpenter did just that with this 1982 piece of gold. The story is simple, an Arctic expedition team happens across an alien ship and inadvertently releases it. Of course you don't really know what the Thing is since it mimics the host. To say this movie is simple though would be an outright lie. This movie transcended an entire generation of movies to follow it. This took the creature creation to an entirely new level, and still stands up today even in the CGI created worlds. The characters were extremely well written and cast to near perfection. This is paramount in a story where the alien could be the person standing right next to you. It is not often you can go back to a movie 38 years later and it is still phenomenal. Heck, I wish I may be like one of you reading this and have never seen it, just so I could be lucky enough to see it again for the first time. It is that good. There have been thousands of write ups for this movie over the years, so I won't go too deep into this (back when I did write for a newspaper, I had to write a certain amount for my column, now, I think quick and to the point is far more effective). Quick ending. SEE THIS
- scottmol7d agoGreat movie one of the best i've seen
- Ty LeetApril 25, 2025Incredible movie all around, such a shame that it never won any big awards - a Razzie nomination for the score is crazy!
- niclasnjDecember 27, 2025A really good movie , good horror movie/ Kev and Nick
- JakeysDecember 27, 2025I'm not a big horror guy, but I love sci fi, thrillers, Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. This is Carpenter's best, 10/10.
- abvddy5December 26, 2025what a classic
- VilebloodDecember 26, 2025"Perfection" - Magneto
- MischaFebruary 27, 2025Every film maker is trying to pull off magic but this team achived the impossible. Everybit of this film is a lesson for film students.
- Sun KingDecember 15, 2025John Carpenter’s Best film.
- Manuel FrangisDecember 2, 2025I just watched The Thing and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. This movie completely blew me away with how intense, unsettling, and masterfully crafted it is. Even though it came out years ago, it still feels fresh and powerful because of how well it builds tension and fear. From the opening minutes, I could feel a sense of uneasiness settling in. The setting, the music, and the way the characters react to each other create an atmosphere that pulls you in and never lets you feel comfortable. It is one of those rare movies where every scene matters and every detail adds something important to the experience. The cast carries the movie with strong performances that feel real and grounded. Kurt Russell gives an incredible performance as the character trying to keep everything under control even when nothing makes sense. He brings quiet strength and believable fear at the same time. His reactions never feel exaggerated. They feel like what a real person would do if they were trapped in an isolated environment with danger closing in. The rest of the cast adds so much personality to the story. Every character feels different, and every interaction adds to the tension because you never know who to trust. The actors make the fear feel human, and that raises the stakes in every scene. One of the most impressive parts of The Thing is the atmosphere. The movie takes place in a cold, remote research station where help is impossible to reach. That isolation becomes a character on its own. The snow, the darkness, the wind, and the quiet moments all work together to create a feeling that something terrible is always seconds away. The soundtrack helps build that tension even more. There are moments where the music is low and slow, giving you a sense that danger is creeping toward the characters without them knowing. The environment makes you feel trapped right alongside them. The practical effects are legendary for a reason. They are disturbing, shocking, and unforgettable. Even without showing spoilers, I can say the effects feel incredibly real and unsettling. They give the story a level of fear that stays with you long after the movie ends. You can tell that a lot of creativity and hard work went into making the creature effects look unique and terrifying. The use of practical effects instead of computer generated ones gives the movie a weight and realism that modern films often lack. It is one of the things that makes The Thing stand out even decades later. The story is smart and unpredictable. It plays with fear, suspicion, and trust in a way that makes the characters question everything. It asks what it means to survive and what people are capable of when they are pushed to the edge. The slow build of tension makes every scene more stressful than the last. You never feel safe watching this movie, and that is what makes it so gripping. The paranoia becomes just as frightening as the threat itself. By the time the movie ended, I understood why The Thing is considered a masterpiece. It is intense, thoughtful, atmospheric, and terrifying in a way few movies ever achieve. It stays with you because of how real the fear feels. It completely earned its perfect rating from me.
- AngusMcNutzDecember 27, 2024Roger Ebert said that there is no need to see this movie lol
- Ella JamesonDecember 1, 2025It's absolutely perfect. A simple story artfully executed, with a simple message: Some Things are best left buried. The only reason not to like it is if you are averse to gore. But man, does it earn every gore shot, and each is executed impeccably and in a horrifyingly novel way. All practical FX, it's actually kind of unbelievable that this film was even able to be made. Timeless art.
- tellumAugust 21, 2025Even if you are not a horror fan, this is a Must Watch. Any ‘Greatest Movies’ list has to consider this.
- andy bOctober 30, 2025classic what can i say 5/5. carpenter more like alchemist the way he be producing fine gold
- LUncapherNovember 15, 2025One of my favorite movies to put on for any occasion.
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The Thing Trivia
The Thing was released on June 25, 1982.
The Thing was directed by John Carpenter.
The Thing has a runtime of 1 hr 49 min.
The Thing was produced by David Foster, Lawrence Turman.
The key characters in The Thing are MacReady (Kurt Russell), Childs (Keith David), Blair (Wilford Brimley).
The Thing is rated R.
The Thing is a Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery film.
The Thing has an audience rating of 9.2 out of 10.