“The Thing” is a science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter and released in 1982. The movie is a remake of the 1951 black-and-white film “The Thing from Another World,” which was, in turn, adapted from the novella “Who Goes There?” written by John W. Campbell Jr.
“The Thing” has garnered a cult following over the decades, spawning a franchise including a 2011 prequel film and 2002 video game of the same title, a 2007 haunted house attraction at Universal Studios’ “Halloween Horror Nights,” board games, comic book sequels, and a novelization of the 1982 film. Carpenter’s film explores themes of paranoia, isolation and the breakdown of trust among a group of American researchers in Antarctica as they confront a shape-shifting extraterrestrial organism.
The titular creature, who comes to be known as “The Thing,” is an alien life form with the ability to assimilate and imitate other organisms. It was initially discovered by a Norwegian research team at an isolated outpost in Antarctica. The Norwegians - unknowingly - released the monster from its frozen prison, and in their desperate attempts to destroy it, they inadvertently caused their own deaths.
The American research team at a nearby base, led by senior biologist Blair (Anthony Wilford Brimley), becomes aware of the situation when they witness the Norwegians’ chaotic pursuit of the creature. Helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) and the physician, Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart), temporarily leave to investigate the Norwegian base. There, the pair finds ruins and bodies - of which they bring back a deformed, charred, humanoid corpse. Blair finds seemingly normal sets of human organs inside.
Initially, the Norwegians - before their demise - had been chasing and shooting at a dog, running throughout Antarctica. The Americans take the dog and place it in their own kennel, with their own pack of dogs. Later, the new dog changes into a grotesque creature - complete with a split-open head, spider-like legs and tendrils sprouting from its back - and assimilates the other dogs into itself. Despite setting The Thing ablaze with a flamethrower, there are already other Things loose on the American base and the rest of the research team soon become all too aware of this fact, leading to an overarching atmosphere of suspense, paranoia and not knowing who to trust - if anyone at all.
Carpenter’s film masterfully builds tension as the researchers attempt to uncover the true nature of the creature and find a way to survive. The Thing’s ability to mimic other life forms becomes the primary source of terror throughout the film. As the creature infiltrates the American base, it begins to replicate the researchers, taking on their forms as its own. The Thing’s assimilation process is gruesome and grotesque, often accompanied by startling body horror and gross special effects - one of the most memorable and hallmark attributes of the film. It can imitate not only the appearance of its victims but also their behavior and mannerisms, making it increasingly difficult to determine who is human and who is an imposter.
One of the most iconic scenes in the film involves a blood test. In an attempt to reveal the true identity of the creature, MacReady devises a plan involving heated wire and a blood sample from each member of the group. The Thing’s self-preservation reaction to perceived harm from the test reveals its presence, resulting in a shocking and memorable sequence. Palmer, the assistant mechanic of the group, now revealed as a Thing, melts and transforms into a monster - biting Windows, the radio operator, and assimilating him as well. Both are incinerated with flamethrowers before any more damage or death can occur.
As the film progresses, the survivors’ desperation intensifies, leading to a climactic confrontation with the creature. The remaining survivors resign themselves to their fates and decide to destroy the entire base and - hopefully - the Thing along with it. They move, room-by-room, and set everything on fire. The Thing proves to be an incredibly resilient and adaptive organism, constantly changing its form to elude capture and extermination. Its ability to regenerate and reassemble itself after sustaining damage makes it an almost unstoppable force.
The Thing’s purpose or motive for assimilating other organisms is not explicitly revealed in the film and purposefully left ambiguous by the filmmakers. It is portrayed as an alien life form driven solely by its instinct to survive and propagate. Its actions seem to be guided by an innate drive to assimilate and take on the characteristics of its prey. This lack of understanding and its seemingly mindless pursuit of survival only adds to the terror and mystery surrounding the origins and purpose of the creature.
The psychological impact of The Thing on the characters is a crucial aspect of the film. The constant fear of betrayal and the inability to trust anyone heightens the tension and suspense. Paranoia and suspicion gradually consume the group as they try to determine who among them is still human and who has been assimilated. This psychological aspect of the film adds a layer of complexity to the horror, as it explores themes of identity, trust, and the breakdown of human relationships under extreme circumstances.
John Carpenter’s “The Thing” stands out as a seminal work of science fiction horror, largely due to the uniqueness and malevolence of the creature itself. Its shape-shifting abilities, combined with the claustrophobic and isolated setting, create an atmosphere of constant tension and uncertainty. The film’s exploration of paranoia, trust, and the breakdown of human relationships in the face of an unknowable threat further enhances its horror. The enigmatic nature and motives of The Thing leave audiences in a state of unease, pondering the mysteries of this otherworldly creature long after the credits roll.