john carpenter the thing be undoubtedly one of the best horror movie ever make . sadly a with most carpenter movie go it be also one of the most underrated movie be pan by critic shortly after it release for a reason that be almost pathetic . it seem that at the time people be overwhelm by the idea of the good alien . an idea spawn after the success of i. t. and the very thought that a movie deal with alien could deviate from that idea be regard a heresy . human ignorance be truly a frightening thing and people need to judge film for what they be not for what they want them to be . the thing itself be an interesting study on human paranoia a member of a u. s. antarctic base discover the presence of an alien be ( refer throughout the movie only a a thing ) able to imitate any form of life . not know who might or might not be the creature and we see how every character react to the situation . there be no mass hysteria or panic just a slow and gradual descent in to chaos a more and more people turn up to be . not quite human . carpenter succeed into elevate this movie into something far more than your average sci fi or horror . there be no whats behind you . jump moment here . instead rely on an intense atmosphere of mistrust and pre apocalyptic despair along with some nicely balanced moment of visual terror with no small thanks to rob bottin impressive creature effect and he give u an experience not match by many other horror film . instead of just throw fact and plot element at our face carpenter offer u a much a more gradual and delicate approach . by imply a sense of mystery he give the viewer enough freedom to interpret ate what have transpire in certain scene and while give enough plot to those who be not so fond of interpretation in movie . ennio morricone score work all the way . it minimalistic and depress sound perfectly fit the movie overall tone . although i have always wonder how would it have sound if carpenter ( he have be know to compose all of his movie osts except this one ) do it . character while not a deeply develop be still memorable thanks to the good performance of the actor especially kurt russel who play the down out apathetic helicopter pilot r. j. macready . it worth note how his character transforms through the movie . from his disregardful do not give a . attitude in the beginning and to that of a unifier and leader of the group of men who try to fight the thing . but even with that say and there be no false heroic here and there be no laugh at the face of death moment and there certainly isn not any sort of comic relief and the movie keep it atmosphere from the very first scene to the last . speaking of which and here once again carpenter keep his tradition of create a powerful end . quarter of a century after it release the thing doesn not feel date . and with the disturbingly grow use of computer generate effect it feel even strong then before because it show the life work and dedication of human being not computer . combine with it openness for analyze it give the viewer a lot more reason to watch it for a second or third or fourth or . time . a masterpiece of terror that will never be forget .