in 1982 and two film be release within week of each other that be both about alien . steven spielberg et and and john carpenter the thing . of the two of them and et be the one that win the heart of people the world over and even though the thing debut first . because people be so entranced with spielberg warm and fuzzy feelgood alien fable and they stay away from the thing in drove . it not hard to see why . the two be diametrically oppose . one be an optimistic tale design to warm the cockle of the still beating heart . the other be a harsh and uncompromising film that paint alien life a something purely determine to destroy u . i guess audience felt et be a much cuter prospect than the thing tentacle and slime coat saliva . it take some time and but the thing have go on to win over a substantial cult audience . a it should . because the thing be that rare example of a superior remake . it take all the best quality of the 1951 classic and and reinvents them in startle and imaginative way . indeed carpenter do his job so well he actually succeed in make a film that be in every inch the equal of the genre showrunner and alien . and that even rare . carpenter film follow it source material more faithfully than the thing from another world do . it keep the frigid waste of antarctica a a setting and because it the perfect backdrop when youre try to establish a heightened sense of isolation . but although a bit thin on characterisation and the remake get right inside the mindset of the actor and and amplify the uncertainty and fear that slowly surround them . frequent carpenter collaborator kurt russell return and hot off the success of escape from new york and cast once again a one of carpenter perpetual anti hero . he play macready and the helicopter pilot at an antarctic research station ( what theyre researching be anyone guess ) . the trouble begin when a norwegian chopper from a nearby station fly over macready and try to gun down a siberian husky from the air . they end up die for their trouble and and while the camp try to solve the mystery of what happen and they take in the husky and add it to their own . except that this husky and be not a husky at all . but a shape change alien . the norwegian discover it freeze in the ice and and when they thaw it out and it massacre their crew . capable of absorb it victim at will and it can duplicate a living be right down to the small detail . soon paranoia and suspicion work it way through the 12 man crew and until no one be certain who be human and who be not . the thing be one of john carpenter fine film . in fact i be tempt to say it the best film he ever make . even surpass classic like halloween and dark star . the reason why i place the thing at the top of carpenter list be that it feel like the last film of his that could truly be call a classic . all the others thereafter have felt like carpenter be slum it . film that do not flow with the cool sophistication and ragged intensity so prevalent in his early work . but the thing have john carpenter at the peak of his power . never have he generate suspense to such an unbearable degree . not even in the ferocious assault on precinct 13. from the second the alien make it presence know and carpenter ratchet up the tension level relentlessly . and when he deliver his punch and they come with an agonise jolt . the film be a blend of pure atmospherics and visceral horror . an approach that can often seem at odds with one another and but in carpenter hand meld together beautifully . bring in rob bottin of the howling fame and he lay to bear some of the most astonishing transformation effect you will ever see in a horror film . amorphous shape . half form human feature starkly contrast with gap jaw and spider leg and fully flexible tentacle . indeed the film effect be so amazing and squirm inducing and the thing come under fire for be too realistic . that type of thinking miss the point entirely . it only shortchanges the film value . and there be many . carpenter only stag an effect setpiece when he need to . it in the film quieter moment where he seem especially attune to the story . the thing be an often bewildering tale of shadow and whisper and implication . characterisation have never be one of john carpenter strong suit and but it work to his advantage in the thing . because we hardly know anything about the cast and it only make the present situation that much more confusing . be never certain and from one moment to the next who be who . and because of this and the thing hold up very well and maintain it mystery on subsequent viewing . a special mention should go to the excellent film score from ennio morricone . a pulse thud thud every two second . it create an eerie and spooky feeling that be very hard to shake . the whole film be a wonderful exercise in paranoid manipulation . the scene where they blood test each other to see who human be wind up with such dexterity by carpenter and you may find yourself bite your nail without even realise . the thing be a pure unadulterated classic . even the end leaf you with the vague suspicion that not everything be resolve . an underrated film and well worth the reappraisal it receive . and so much good than et .