A research base in Antarctica is terrorized by a shape-shifting alien.
John Carpenter changed the face of horror with his breakout slasher film Halloween (1978), an independent production costing only $300,000 which made $65 million dollars at the box office. After veering into science fiction territory with the now-cult classic Escape From New York, he reunited with the star of that film, Kurt Russell, in a blending of the two genres for The Thing.
While considered a remake of the 1951 Howard Hawks film The Thing From Another World, the film is based on a novella by science fiction legend John W. Campbell, and is more faithful to the original story. Working with a major studio for the first time, Carpenter relinquished some of his normal duties; he did not write the screenplay or the musical score. For the latter, he acquired the services of iconic Italian composer Ennio Morricone, whose work here ironically resembles Carpenter's usual pulsating, minimalist electronic scores.
The films was shot on studio soundstages, with exteriors done in British Columbia. Dean Cundey, Carpenter's usual cinematographer, returns behind the camera. The groundbreaking special make-up effects were done by Rob Bottin, who worked such long hours on the film he was eventually sent to the hospital by Carpenter.
The Thing was not as successful as some of its Carpenter predecessors, likely due to being released two weeks after Steven Spielberg's E.T. Its status was elevated by home video and is now regarded by many as Carpenter's best film, including the director himself.
Running time is approx. 1 hr, 45 min.
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