What do I think?
Looking back while looking forward, A retro persective of John Carpenter's The Thing
Since I started my substack a couple months back I’ve wanted to primarily use it as a conduit for getting better at writing. I’ve for the better part of a year now been working on four interconnected completely stand alone thriller/horror narratives that all sum up aspects of humanity that I find the most fascinating. The seen, the unseen, the known and unknown. I’ve also wanted to use Substack as a funnel to talk about random things as well. Such as things that inspire me. Before focusing my brain on creating scary stories, I got started in the field of critiquing other peoples creations. I was good at it, too. But journalism has never particularly ever kept my attention while I was doing it. If I don’t like something, I don’t finish it. Which creates problems whenever you’re paid to do so. I stopped all forms of communications studies, but I still loved to write. So instead of spending so much time in other peoples worlds, I started creating my own. But it’s hard to fully forget my roots, so here's me scratching that itch. I’m also going to hope that once a month I'll be posting a long winded review of something I’ve read, watched, played, ate or experienced. So without further ado, let's talk about a movie that I've seen more than any other, love more than can really put into words(though i’m going to do my best to try) and celebrate that today's topic of discussion is John Carpenter's classic 1982 film, The Thing(Happy belated 40th birthday.)
I first saw The Thing with my family when I was very young. I’m positive my parents thought it was fine for me to watch. Seeing as 80’s movies typically had somewhat of a cheesy element to them upon looking back. Special effects were worse than they were in the early 2000’s or even the 90’s. What was cutting edge then, wasn’t now. But it was a learning experience at the time because those movies were movies my parents had watched when they were younger. It was a nostalgia trip for them, along with something they could share together with me as a family. Technology moves at such an alarmingly fast rate, it's hard to stay on top or relevant past a news cycle or two. But much like when I watched the original Alien, or original Predator on the same couch in my basement with my family on our traditional saturday night movie nights. I knew I had just seen something special.
Looking back on it now I'm ridiculously surprised at some of the movies my parents chose for us to watch then. The Thing being no exception. The Thing starts out very much like most other horror movies do. Something weird and horrible falls on the lap of a group of people, they struggle to deal with it, with each other, and usually only one or two of them ever makes it out alive. So what exactly makes this movie so special? What makes it such a classic? Especially considering it was reviewed awfully when it was released and was a huge box office disappointment. (Despite the fact that it had Kurt Russell's handsome face, hair and style ALL over it) Interestingly enough, I think the reasons it reviewed so poorly back then are the reasons people love it so much today. It was a monster in terms of practical effects, sound design, and ambiguity. It was over the top, insanely bloody and violent, and didn’t really have any kind of definitive conclusion. All things film lovers nowadays relish in a movie.
“Oh you don’t get any answers? Good. Figure it out, nerd” Ari Aster, Alex Garland, Robert Eggers probably.
-Actual quote by ALL THREE OF THEM.(trustme)
The landscape of moviegoers now is so different than back then, don’t get my wrong. There will always be blockbusters, animated, musicals and alike. But I think the general audience of moviegoers now really like being spoon fed pieces of information, while leaving what happened up for interpretation. What you or I think in the same movie could be completely different, but just as valid a conclusion as the next person. It makes it a conversation you can have with your friends on the drive home, or with your cousin you see during the holidays. It makes it something you think about long after you’ve seen it, something to mull over or change your mind on and you still wouldn’t be wrong in any new conclusions you’ve come to. All in all, it makes it a communal experience, not just a one n done. The Thing is definitely one of the pioneers of that era considering the ending of it is STILL being debated by media websites as early as this March 2022. Was Childs The Thing? Or wasn’t he? You can’t see his breath next to MacReadys. But then you can. Then the glisten they have in their eyes signify which ones the Thing, BUT WAIT. It doesn’t as Carpenter had it changed in post to leave it ambiguous. Or was he feeding Childs oil of alcohol at the end? Or was it just whiskey? The only one who truly knows is John Carpenter himself, and I assume he’ll take that answer to his grave. Pair that never ending conversation with the fact that the practical effects of the Thing itself still hold up to this day, with wonderful puppetry, ridiculous blood effects, tons of fire at whatever they could light, or blow up AND THE MOST COMMITTED DOG ACTORS EVER ON SCREEN. Put all that together and you have a recipe for one gross, and engrossing movie to watch. You’re guessing all the way through, as are Childs, MacReady, Doc, Windows, Palmer, Nauls and the rest of 'em. No one’s safe, No one can be trusted, and that unease is with you the entire time.
You could plop that movie out of 1982 and release it now and it would almost entirely hold up by modern day standards. If that’s not a timeless classic then I don’t know what is. It changed how I saw films as a kid, it gave me something new every single time I watch it and it rejuvenates my want and desire to create something even remotely as unsettling as that. I’ll never reach the heights of The Thing, i’ll likely along with many other creatives always be standing on the shoulders of giants, but maybe one day i’ll be able to pass off as a good enough copy that my friends won’t tie me to a couch, hold a flamethrower to my face, and test my blood. If you haven’t seen The Thing, what are you doing here? It's out now. It's the movie of the year, every year. Until earth blows up or something. It’s a movie where you can sit on your second or third date with a cute girl(or guy) and you can both theorize who the Thing was at any given moment. You’d both be right, and you’d both be wrong. That’s all part of the fun.
Until next time, friends.
Vinnie,
July 2022
Also down below I’m going to link some of my own weird creations, hope you enjoy! Let me know down below what you guys think about the Thing, or anything that’s made you so theroize endlessly like that movie has done for me.
more reviews plz
Fantastic! Everytime I talk about this film I only wish I could put it into these kind of words.