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

[warrian]

The Thing is fantastic horror.

I think that the practical make-up effects are so good that Carpenter tends to linger on them a little too much at times. This causes the movie to sicken instead of scare in a couple of key spots, but that's getting really picky.

It's in my top five too (Although I don't view Jaws, The Alien movies or especially Silence of the Lambs to be primarily horror films).

[Todd Tomorrow]

It's a good film but I far prefer Alien which I also always found more scary. I saw both films when they came out and I pretty much became obsessed with Alien from the moment I saw it. When The a Thing came out a couple of years later I didn't really like it much. It struck me as a similar if lesser film and Unlike with Alien, I found the characters mostly interchangeable. I've come around to it since and I like it much better now. It was maybe the last truly great John Carpenter film, but it still doesn't hold the same place in my dark heart as Alien.

[Joeinar]

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Lol, what? That movie is worse than watching paint dry.

Wow. What an idiotic response.

Both are great movies but the original is so intelligent, cheeky, and ahead of it's time. Carpenter's versions foreshadows Mad Tv's look at what I can do skits with gore for gores sake.
That's always been my biggest problem with the film. Still the film is a paranoid delight.

[Elandyll]

The Thing (1982) is indeed way up there, as is Carpenter's Apocalypse trilogy (with Prince of Darkness and In The Mouth of Madness) imo.

No offense, but imho the original doesn't even come close to the greatness of Carpenter's version (and for those who to this day would not know, John Carpenter's The Thing is not a "remake" of "The Thing from Another World" (1951). Both films are movie adaptations based on the novel "Who Goes There?" (1938) ).

Not only is (again, imo) The Thing (1982) a better film in its own right, it is also a far better adaptation than Hawk's version.

My 2cps

[SilentDawn]

Great thread!

I'm a huge fan of The Thing, and It's one truly great horror film. I still don't think it comes close to Halloween (1978) though.

[nagysaudio]

I think my top 5 Carpenter movies rank as follows:

1.) Big Trouble in Little China
2.) The Thing
3.) Halloween
4.) Escape from New York

And maybe...

5.) In the Mouth of Madness

[Astro Zombie]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

Great thread!

I'm a huge fan of The Thing, and It's one truly great horror film. I still don't think it comes close to Halloween (1978) though.

[Blu Myers]

Hell, Halloween and The Thing are my 2 favorite movies of all time...period.

[Trigger89]

The creature effects and level of paranoia between the characters makes it a great movie!

[stvn1974]

One of my all time favorite films not just horror.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Joeinar

It's very good but pales against The Thing from another World which is far superior.

I believe the original is better, too. I do not, however, think Carpenter's "pales" in comparison, nor that the original is "far superior." Carpenter's is still a masterpiece.

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

Lol, what? That movie is worse than watching paint dry.

You know Carpenter himself believes the original is better than his film? The original is incredible. Even more so when you consider when it was made. It's pretty intense. If you find it boring I blame TV.

[Jaymole]

I love the film, it is one of my favorites, but it is not perfect. The thing I would have liked to see is more characterization of the men so that each of their deaths has a greater impact.

One of the reasons why I consider Alien a cut above The Thing is that you get a good feel for all the characters before the s**t hits the fan.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Joeinar

Carpenter's versions foreshadows Mad Tv's look at what I can do skits with gore for gores sake.

That is also an idiotic quote.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

I love the film, it is one of my favorites, but it is not perfect. The thing I would have liked to see is more characterization of the men so that each of their deaths has a greater impact.

Interesting. That was done intentionally. There is a great interview with Larry Franco where he goes into detail re: production of The Thing. Carpenter changed A LOT of content re: the men. I can't find the interview at the moment...

[cinemaphile]

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

I can accept this, but I just have one question:

Is Halloween one of them?

Originally Posted by AKORIS

don't agree at all but out of curiosity... what are Carpenter's best films to you?

I think Big Trouble in Little China is fun and Halloween is decent, though both I feel are a bit over-praised. I think I found They Live okay as cheesy b-movie fun (though I barely remember it), and I remember liking at least parts of In the Mouth of Madness.

I know others really love his films, and I'm glad they enjoy them. They just aren't for me.

[B72]

gotta mention the minimal but fantastically creepy score

[warrian]

Originally Posted by B72

gotta mention the minimal but fantastically creepy score

I once saw it described as "Ennio Morricone doing his John Carpenter impression" which is about perfect if you ask me.

[blufellas]

Originally Posted by stvn1974

One of my all time favorite films not just horror.

I feel the same.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by warrian

I once saw it described as "Ennio Morricone doing his John Carpenter impression" which is about perfect if you ask me.

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.

[Astro Zombie]

I hum the score all the time. And then I scare myself and stop humming.