2. The Thing (1982)
Directed by John Carpenter
Starring Kurt Russell, Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat
Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills.
While some people might think that Halloween is the best movie that John Carpenter ever directed, the Flickering Myth writing staff clearly disagree by voting The Thing into one place higher.
John Carpenter’s second entry on this list fell just two points shy of taking the number one spot. The second team up of Carpenter and Kurt Russell, The Thing is a classic example of “the real monster is the one inside us all”. A remake of The Thing From Another World, Carpenter’s The Thing is also a great example of how to do a remake correctly – taking the core concept of the idea and moulding it to your specifications. Not just copying and pasting scenes with no context like the Nightmare on Elm Street remake…
The Thing also features some fantastic practical effects that still hold up to this day, providing the majority of the movie’s scares with flawless ease. Whether it’s the original dog reveal or the walking spider leg head, everyone has their favourite visual from The Thing. A masterpiece in horror.
Originally published October 31, 2014. Updated October 24, 2022.
