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Thing, The - HD (1982) Certificate 18

Thing, The - HD
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Rated 4.0 stars
Average rating
(79%)
 
Starring: Kurt Russell | T.K. Carter | Richard Dysart | Richard Masur
Director: John Carpenter
Studio: UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK
Run time: 103 mins
Collections: HD DVD
Genres: Horror | Sci-Fi/Fantasy | Thriller
Languages: English
Released: June 04, 2007

Based on both the short story by John W. Campbell, Jr. and the 1951 film produced by Howard Hawks, THE THING is John Carpenter's stunning masterpiece of horror. A group of weary scientists enduring the winter in an isolated camp deep in Antarctica chance upon an alien spacecraft buried in the ice. Near the strange craft is the body of an alien being, frozen solid. Thinking they have made the find of a lifetime, the scientists bring the alien body back to camp and thaw it out. The alien awakens, not in the best of moods, and proceeds to take over the identities of the scientists, one by one, body and all. Helicopter pilot MacCready (Kurt Russell) must lead the surviving men in discovering who among them is human and who is not and how they can destroy "the thing" before it takes them all and moves on to the heavily populated mainland and the rest of humanity. Rob Bottin supplies the awe-inspiring special effects of the creature in its many, ever-changing forms. The effects were groundbreaking at the time and hold up flawlessly over the passing years. But Carpenter does not rely solely on special effects, utilizing his spectacular cast, which includes Wilford Brimley and Richard Dysart, to create three dimensional characters enduring an unthinkable situation. The score from Ennio Morricone is understated, yet increases the tense mood tenfold. Shooting was difficult and done in below freezing conditions, but despite the discomfort the cast and crew produced a truly terrifying film that will stand the test of time. THE THING is surely one of Carpenter's definitive films and a true horror classic.

Highest rated reviews

2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 4.0 stars
Amazing HD transfer...

Treadstone from , 20th August, 2007

For those of you who have seen this movie in 4:3 ratio on and analogue telly, you will be blown away by the HD transfer here. I was quite taken aback at the detail and clarity of this movie I can only assume this has been digitally restored frame by frame. If you have seen John Carpenters other HD title, The Fog, while it was an improvement there were more 'grainy' scenes than I cared to remember. This is not the case with The Thing and you would be forgiven for mistaking this 25 year old movie for being more modern. Great actors, great plot, superb HD transfer, highly recommended.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 1.0 stars
The Thing

PeterGurney from , 30th August, 2008

Is this the best we can do to rake up a film made in the same mode as those in the 1920's and 30's, very poor story line that peter's out to nothing

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Rated 2.0 stars
not playable

unhappynewcustomer from from London, 26th September, 2008

It took about five minutes for me to get this disc clean enough to play. This is not acceptable. Sort this out and make sure you stop sending out unplayable discs! And why do we have to use a nickname?

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Rated 5.0 stars
Excellent

Telemachos from from Glasgow, 23rd August, 2008

I was hugely impressed by the HD transfer of this film. Someone has decided to take their time over this and do it worthwhile job. What can I say about the 'The Thing' itself, it's a rare thing a worrthwhile remake. Taking the basic concept of Howard Hawk's also excellent original and adding a few new layers, hints of Cold War paranoia and fear of Communism, this is a very effective thriller/monster movie. All the FX are practical and while outdated now still have the mark of good craftsmen. An all round exellent cast topped of by Kurt Russell's McCready make this is a must see.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 4.0 stars
the thing

neosaq from from Ilford, 27th April, 2008

good movie very grusome for an 80 movie

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