Kevin's Watch

I usually hate movie remakes, but I gotta tell you, John Carpenter's The Thing absolutely rocks. Now granted, the source is really good, but for a film made in 1979, I think it just blows the original out of the water. And it doesn't date itself either. Some of the effects are a bit hokey by today's standards, but otherwise it stands up well.

And I love the fact that after 25 years, I still can't figure out the ending.

You should read the short story the movies are based on: John W. Campbell Jr.'s "Who Goes There?".

That's right, I forgot it came from a book.....To Ebay!

I LOVE the Thing.

The ending just kills me. Carpenter leaves it so open to interpretation. Every time I watch it, I come up with a different answer.

I agree. I think The Thing is Carpenter's best. He has a knack for building great tension, but also a knack for absolutely destoying all tension and making his movies very corny near the end. Case in Point: Prince of Darkness ... great beginning, terrible followthrough...

I like Carpenter's version a lot as well. I think it's much more compelling than the original movie. I saw some of the original on late night TV several years ago, and honestly I got bored not too long into it and didn't watch it all the way through.

The ending in Carpenter's film was (and still is) a real head-scratcher for me, too.

Oh man, I love the Thing, definitely my favourite Carpenter movie. I've always liked the idea of the arctic research base as a setting. It's so remote, the environment so hostile, that it just magnifies the sense of danger and isolation of anything that goes on there.

Last Halloween I went to a party where we were told to bring a scary film. After we'd watched Underworld I point blank insisted on watching The Thing. Everybody got freaked out!

Cail wrote:That's right, I forgot it came from a book.....To Ebay!

No need.

You (and anyone else who wants it) can download it here

Edge, you're the best.