davidcarniglia
Probably the best science fiction movie of the early atomic age, and one of the best sci-fi movies ever. Even performances from the cast, a suspenseful, well-written plot, and an iconic man vs. (alien) Nature conflict add up to amazing entertainment.I've seen The Thing From Another World many times since the early 1960s, and it never fails to hold my interest throughout. This time around I noticed some 'Things' that hadn't really occurred to me before. The Thing clearly influenced another classic sci-fi thriller, 1956's Invasion on the Body Snatchers. The little pepper-shaped alien pods growing in the greenhouse, with the implicit threat of limitless aliens taking over the Earth, is the core premise of Body Snatchers.The remote location for The Thing also resonates with other monster/alien movies; the difference here is that we never leave the polar outpost, as the alien is destroyed before he and his potential replicants can wreak more havoc. The more interesting strand in The Thing isn't what it influenced, but the horror genre that influenced it.Some have found tracings of film noir in the claustrophobic setting, with the stark black and white lighting adding shadowy depths to the unfolding mystery. But I see the alien as a Frankenstein monster/Dracula figure. He has the lumbering menace of the Frankenstein monster--his fight with the dogs during a blizzard seems very much like a scene from a Frankenstein movie. And then, the alien seeks dirt, and lives on blood: Dracula's exact habits. The dimly lit passageways of the base look as much like gothic caverns and the hallways of decrepit castles at least as much as the dark corners and alleys of noir.So I think it's this blending of horror and sci-fi scenes and motifs that gives The Thing its abiding power; it takes old myths and recasts them with a modern, quasi-scientific veracity.
cinemajesty
Movie Review: "The Thing From Another World" (1951)In the year 1951 when the final distributing decade for Golden Age Hollywood Mini Major RKO Radio Pictures had toll the first bell before closure of the studio in 1959, "The Thing From Another World" based on a story by John W. Campbell Jr. optioned by producer Howard Hawks, denying his own direction on the picture, focus on "The Big Sky" starring Kirk Douglas and the comedy "Monkey Business" (both 1952), considering the picture even all too silly at the time of release with the wish to pull his entire name from the production.Now in retrospective and after an indulging remake directed by John Carpenter, called just "The Thing" (1982) starring Kurt Russell, which eventually brought out the horror with skillful camera work and engaged acting towards splatter gore f/x, where the original version from 1951, just before television invaded citizen's living room, giving still some entertainment for the classic movie lovers with striking on stage pyro-effects of the inflamed creature from outer space, behaving mainly like Frankenstein's creature on acid, making this picture directed by future "Bonanza" (1959-1967) television director Christian Nyby, who occasionally moves the 35mm camera set through above-average B-movie, close-to A-listers, production design and hammering score by composer Dimitri Tiomkin.The acting ensemble surrounding by professional Industry actors from again future television cast as Kenneth Tobey and Magaret Sheridan keep face as North pole scientists discovering an invading parasite from outer space and confront it as a team toward annihilation, tolling the bells together with "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (1951) directed by Robert Wise for an era of an Hollywood Horror revival as Universal monsters in the 1930s, stating clearly that filmmaking, story-wised drive, runs in circles to be hyped again.© 2017 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)
ethansanders-40501
While yes, John Carpenters remake is superior and is one of the finest horror/sci of films of all time, that shouldn't devalue the original which is a tense and thrilling ride. One unique aspect about this film is the dialogue, it overlaps and feels natural making the characters more likable which in turn increases the tension. The movie never has a single slow moment or dull scene as there is constant dread throughout making this film a compelling watch. This movie is also note ale for being one of the first to pioneer the "less is more" technique as we never really get a good look at the monster which adds to the tension. Therefor,ancestry are all excellent with the character of Scotty being they standout character who is funny but not in a way that dissolves the tension. Overall I highly recommends this gem, but go in with the mindset that its own film and don't unfairly compare it to the remake as they are so vastly different I actually believe it would be more accurate to call alien (1979) a remake of this film then the Thing.
Eric Stevenson
I feel pretty bad for not liking this more. Come on, I would still recommend it, I just didn't think it was a classic! Looking back, the 1982 one is definitely better for me. I guess I was just hoping for the alien to be a shapeshifter so we could show off more creativity. What's also different is that there are a lot more people in this version. It's much less minimalistic, even if it still takes place in the North Pole. I thought it was built up well with how the monster rarely appeared on screen at all.When it did, I mean the action was great! These are some really exciting moments that truly hold up after decades. I just thought it could have used a bit less talking. The John Carpenter one is more faithful to the story. I guess every sci-fi/horror movie made in the 1950's seems like a long episode of "The Twilight Zone" to me. The story is pretty basic with people in the frozen North thawing out an alien. While I liked the newer one better (and I honestly think most people do) this is still nice because it has good dialogue at least and it's built up quite well. ***
AD
