The Thing
The year is 1982 and a Norwegian research team has just made the discovery of an alien spaceship in Antarctica. If that wasn’t enough, the body of a space alien has also been found encased in ice. But, the investigation turns sour quickly upon removing the alien from the ice. When “the thing” re-animates scientists and research aides are pitted against each other in a paranoid game of cat and mouse. Now it’s up to Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Braxton Carter (Joel Edgerton) to stop the thing from reaching civilization and destroying life on earth.
A prequel to master John Carpenter’s The Thing, which of course is a spin off the 1951 classic The Thing from Another World, we’re dealing with a story that has a rich history in sci-fi and horror– a franchise with moderate to high expectations from its audience. So how does this pan out? Aside from the tail end of the film that’s riddled with CGI graphics which are almost obligatory to horror flicks these days, I’m pleased to report director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. has does a solid job creating a sense of paranoia and uneasiness that makes for a fun roller coaster just in time for Halloween. Much like a dark ride, you get in, buckle your seat belt, get a few scares, thrills, and bumps in the night and then you pop out on the other end with a smile on your face. Matinee fun. The Thing is rated R.