John Carpenter's The Thing...The Perfect Horror Movie?

[warrian]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

That was the idea. John Carpenter wanted to compose the score himself like for all of his other films, but this being his first major studio film, the studio insisted on a well known composer. So Morricone gave Carpenter the type of score he would have composed.

It's a much better score than Carpenter could have done himself, but it really does have that same great Carpenter personality, so mission accomplished I'd say.

[AKORIS]

isn't it amazing that this film has so much love now?

when it was released it was a financial and critical failure! I remember hearing at the time how audiences "didn't want to see the other side of E.T." in the summer of '82....

I think Leonard Maltin still gives it 1.5 stars in his movie guide!!

[The Fallen Deity]

Definitely one of the best horror films ever made imo.

The atmosphere, acting & pacing is perfect.

Not to mention that Ennio Morricone's score is fantastic as well.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by warrian

It's a much better score than Carpenter could have done himself, but it really does have that same great Carpenter personality, so mission accomplished I'd say.

It's a good score, but I prefer some of Carpenters own scores.

[B72]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

It's a good score, but I prefer some of Carpenters own scores.

I think EFNY is Carpenter's best score

[Astro Zombie]

Originally Posted by B72

I think EFNY is Carpenter's best score

Obvious, but Halloween is my favorite, with EFNY coming in at a close second.

Assault on Precinct 13 has a great score as well.

[Mahatma]

If this was a poll,then I'd vote hell yeah! Love that horror movie.JC could do no wrong in the early eighties!All he needs now is for someone to steer him in the right direction.

[Joeinar]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterLives

That is also an idiotic quote.

Sorry bub you're wrong. The gore was more about excess and showing what Bottin could do than it was about advancing the story. I felt that way in 82 and fell that way still.
It was rightfully criticized for look at what I can do effects.

Still they were well done but not well done enough to beat out another alien visitor.

[Blu Myers]

The "spider head" sequence was and still is one of the most affective, and shocking, uses of any special effects ever put on screen. It still gives me the chills just thinking about it. And then there's the blood test scene. Audiences definitely were not prepared for what hit them over the head. I love you John Carpenter.

[Astro Zombie]

Originally Posted by leem6453

The "spider head" sequence was and still is one of the most affective, and shocking, uses of any special effects ever put on screen. It still gives me the chills just thinking about it. And then there's the blood test scene. Audiences definitely were not prepared for what hit them over the head. I love you John Carpenter.

[Show spoiler]Norris's stomach opening up

scared the hell out of me the first time I saw the movie.

[Blu Myers]

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

[Show spoiler]Norris's stomach opening up

scared the hell out of me the first time I saw the movie.

Yeah that whole operating table scene is so chaotic. Love it! Also don't forget the screeching howl the Thing makes.

[theprestige85]

Well, I don't know what else to add other than yeah, I very much agree. It's not perfect (what film that is?) But it's certainly up there as one of the best body horror films I have seen.

As others have mentioned, the atmosphere, singular focus and impressive practical effects put it in a class of it's own. I really like that there are no women in it too, I feel it adds to it..somehow. Not sure how exactly, but I guess it makes the location feel even more isolated or something.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by theprestige85

Well, I don't know what else to add other than yeah, I very much agree. It's not perfect (what film that is?) But it's certainly up there as one of the best body horror films I have seen.

As others have mentioned, the atmosphere, singular focus and impressive practical effects put it in a class of it's own. I really like that there are no women in it too, I feel it adds to it..somehow. Not sure how exactly, but I guess it makes the location feel even more isolated or something.

well, when we were kids we'd say "no mushy stuff to slow down the story!"

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

[Show spoiler]Norris's stomach opening up

scared the hell out of me the first time I saw the movie.

Definitely!

Plus, the atmosphere in this film is killer. I'm a sucker for atmosphere in horror films, and that's my usual requirement for liking a horror film. If the setting and production design doesn't make me uneasy, then it hasn't done its job.

However, in The Thing, the atmosphere is claustrophobic, dark, and beautiful; all thanks to Dean Cudney.

It's just one of the reasons why I love this film so much!

[theprestige85]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

well, when we were kids we'd say "no mushy stuff to slow down the story!"

I get what you mean. There was a technical term for it, about how women would slow the protagonists quest and thus the story, particularly in film noir. I forget the term, but yeah, a film like The Thing really benefited from the lack of 'mushy stuff'

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by AKORIS

well, when we were kids we'd say "no mushy stuff to slow down the story!"

There are two women in Alien and there is no "mushy stuff" in that film. I don't mind that The Thing has only men in the cast, but I never felt particularly invested in the characters. That's something which doesn't make it the perfect horror film for me, because I need to empathise with the characters in peril, to get scared.

[L-Rouge]

the shark chest with worm + spider head made me flip.

[BluraySe7en]

I'll still put Alien above it but nothing else in that franchise gets close to Carpenters masterpiece, the acting, the direction, the effects, the cinematography and Ennio's score, just all simply sublime.

The Thing is a delight, a proper horror and up there with The Exorcist and Texas Chainsaw for me. A real ensemble despite Russell's cracking lead, every actor is vital to it's execution. The slow burn and the unbearable tense atmosphere, yes the effects still look yucky but this not just about Bottin's distortion of the human form.

The Thing is more than that, it's just it gets remembered by many for that but it's that and so much more, that prequel was dreadful and only enforced the brilliance of Carpenter's masterwork, some of the best uses of paranoia on celluloid.

[Blu-ray Neo]

My favorite Carpenter films....

1. The Thing
2. Halloween
3. The Fog
4. Starman
5. Escape From New York
6. In The Mouth Of Madness

Runner Up - The Ward

[Astro Zombie]

Crap, here come the lists ...

01. Halloween
02. The Thing
03. Big Trouble in Little China
04. Escape from New York
05. Assault on Precinct 13