The Thing
At an isolated Antarctic station, a shape-shifting alien turns a team of researchers against one another in a masterpiece of paranoid body horror.
Overview
A chilling tale of paranoia and survival in the icy depths of Antarctica.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- foreboding
- claustrophobic
- paranoid
- late night horror marathon
- winter viewing
What critics said
Although initially divisive, critics have come to broadly praise the film's sustained paranoia, bleak atmosphere, and landmark practical creature effects.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Rob Bottin's creature work depicts dogs, humans, and severed body parts mutating through elaborate physical effects.
The alien can assimilate and perfectly imitate humans, making every member of the research team a possible threat.
The American team is stranded at a remote Antarctic station during early winter, cut off from outside help by weather and distance.
The escalating threat erodes solidarity at the station, while the film withholds certainty and easy reassurance.
Films like The Thing, and why
The Thing from Another World
shares isolated Antarctic survival, paranoia, creature horror, and escalating distrust within a trapped group
Alien
shares claustrophobic science fiction horror, an unseen extraterrestrial threat, and escalating suspicion among a small crew
The Descent
shares remote-environment survival horror, graphic practical effects, and a relentless monster threat
Movie Details
- Director
- John Carpenter
- Release Date
- 1982-06-25
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 8.1 / 10 (8294)
Cast
- Kurt Russell
- Wilford Brimley
- T.K. Carter
- David Clennon
- Keith David
- Richard Dysart
- Charles Hallahan
- Peter Maloney
- Richard Masur
- Donald Moffat
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Thing about?
- At an isolated Antarctic station, a shape-shifting alien turns a team of researchers against one another in a masterpiece of paranoid body horror.
- What is The Thing like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Thing as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Thing violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Thing as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Thing?
- Although initially divisive, critics have come to broadly praise the film's sustained paranoia, bleak atmosphere, and landmark practical creature effects.
- Which films are like The Thing?
- Films with a similar feel include The Thing from Another World, Alien, and The Descent.
- How long is The Thing?
- The Thing runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Thing?
- In United States, The Thing streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
