8.8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
A twelve-man research team stationed in Antarctica finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has been buried for over 100,000 years.
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, T.K. Carter, David Clennon, Keith DavidHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 67% |
Mystery | 34% |
Sci-Fi | 26% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Bonus View (PiP)
BD-Live
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Trust is a tough thing to come by these days.
John Carpenter's The Thing is a seminal piece of horror that is not only a fine
specimen of its era, but it also serves as a shining example of horror done absolutely right in
any era. Combining gross-out special effects reminiscent of Hellraiser, the nail-bitingly
intense, claustrophobic filmmaking of Alien, offering a story that is very
well-paced, such as George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead,
and presenting the
idea that true terror can be found at any time, in any place, and inside anyone, much like Alfred
Hitchcock's Psycho, The
Thing works on every level, and represents the peak of each and every aspect that may be
utilized
to make horror films effective. Granted, this amalgamation of styles is not the only
formula for winning horror. Carpenter's Halloween features
next to no gore, relying instead on the other hallmarks of great horror to craft perhaps the finest
film the genre has ever seen. It is for this reason that John Carpenter is arguably the foremost
horror director alive.
He's a slave to no particular style, and because of his mastery of both ends of the spectrum --
intense, gory
horror (The Thing) and psychological, relentless terror (Halloween), and
everything
in between
(They Live) -- Carpenter will go down in the annals of cinematic horror as one of the
finest
there ever was, alongside Dario Argento, Alfred Hitchcock, George A. Romero, and Wes Craven.
When 'The Day After Tomorrow' meets 'Independence Day.'
The Thing infests Blu-ray with a fine-looking 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. Obviously, The Thing has never looked better on home video than it does here. The film's open, featuring a background of white arctic snow contrasted against a bright daytime sky, is pure in its presentation and a pleasure to behold, particularly for those who have seen the film countless times before. Still, there is some noticeable noise against some of the brightest backdrops that may bother viewers looking for the smoothest picture available, but it peaks in such scenes and is never very noticeable through the rest of the film. Colors are somewhat dull, a reflection of the nature of the movie and not a shortcoming of the transfer. Colors look fine, however, every shade rendered very well in the context of the film, with the brighter, outdoor, snowy scenes showing a bit more depth and vibrancy than the dim interiors. Black levels are fairly good. Flesh tones are accurate, if not a bit pale, but considering the cold, unforgiving temperature, that's to be expected. What makes the disc look so good is the detail inside the compound. It's rather drab and colorless, but it looks worn and beat up, old and lived in, cold and lifeless, and every little nuance shines through, a tribute to the wonderful set design in the film. Sure, it's pedestrian, but it is meant to be, and it's stunning on this disc. Detail is increased considerably over the previous DVD edition in every regard. The Thing boasts a fine transfer that offers quite the upgrade from previous standard definition versions.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I would imagine the film's title creature would agree. In this case, however, Universal's lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack is not simply a lossy imitation -- it's the full thing, The Thing exactly as it was meant to be heard. Whether he writes the music or not, Carpenter's films always feature standout music, and The Thing is certainly no exception. As expected, it's never sounded fuller and more robust than it does here. The music that plays over the credit sequence to start the movie is clean and precise, with a constant low frequency pulse that sets a most foreboding tone. Then, a flying saucer sweeps past us and hurtles toward Earth in a scene that would later be replicated to begin the Arnold Schwarzenegger action classic Predator. The opening scene in Antarctica as we follow a chopper and a shooter chasing a dog from above features the sound of the rotors spinning all around when the camera is placed in or near the chopper. Gun shots crackle precisely in each speaker, the result of great sound design. The entire sequence -- featuring not only the chopper and gun shots but a few explosions -- sounds far better than I've heard it sound before. One scene that stood out was a rather simple one, and a fairly nondescript one at that. At one point in the film we hear a cassette recording of Stevie Wonder's hit song "Superstition" playing through a vintage boom box's small speakers. It sounds rather tiny and uninspired through our speakers, meaning it recreates to great effect the sound we should be hearing were we in the film. A booming, full-throttle rendition of the song would not fit in this instance, and here is one case where less is most definitely more. There is often an appreciable atmosphere created in the soundtrack as the harsh, chilled arctic breeze is generally heard blowing around the room, mostly over the front soundstage, but to very good effect nevertheless. It's just one small part of the track that adds to the overall feeling of realism. The film's action sequences also shine. The shrieks of the creature, the power of the flame thrower, and the various audible accompaniments that enhance the special effects are all integrated into the soundtrack with nary a hiccup. Dialogue reproduction never falters throughout. The Thing does not offer an expansive, rich sonic experience as we might expect from the latest summer blockbuster, but taking all things into account, the film has never sounded better at home.
The one area where this disc is sorely lacking is here, the supplemental section. Fortunately, the disc offers two solid extras, the first being a wonderful commentary featuring director John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell. Carpenter's recounting of the filmmaking process and the experiences he and the cast and crew shared while shooting the film is impressive. Russell plays second fiddle to the director, but his contributions are nevertheless insightful and interesting. Anytime you have the chance to listen to a world-class director and an accomplished actor, attached to a picture representing a fine example of a particular genre, it's hard not to take notice, and this commentary track is well worth the time one invests to listen to it. Lastly, this disc is U-Control enabled. When turned on, a pop-up window will appear intermittently throughout the course of the movie. This window provides an array of behind-the-scenes materials, ranging from John Carpenter's recounting of the first time he saw The Thing From Another World, and his desire to make a film truer to the original John W. Campbell story, Who Goes There?, to the work that went into creating the special effects seen in the film. Via the main menu, users can also choose to jump directly to each segment rather than simply waiting for them to appear.
The Thing is a fine example of horror cinema, one that not only manages to offer audiences a barrage of gruesome imagery, but one that also maintains a smart plot and a quick pace while indulging in plenty of psychological terror along the way. Expertly crafted, well acted, and a pleasure to watch, The Thing is not for all audiences, but for those capable of withstanding a series of bloody and oftentimes shocking special effects, the film offers a rich horror experience, one sure to stick with you long after the end of the film, and one that has solidified itself as a classic in the genre. Universal wasted little time bringing this film to Blu-ray, and finally owning and screening the film in Blu-ray high definition is most welcome. The film features a solid video and audio presentation, but it does lack in supplemental material quantity, but the quality of what is available is first-rate. Despite the lack of bonus materials, The Thing is a Blu-ray disc worth owning, and is an essential addition to any serious library. Highly recommended!
Mondo X Series #8
1982
Deluxe Limited Edition | Limited to 1,500 - SOLD OUT
1982
Collector's Edition
1982
4K Remaster
1982
1982
1982
2016
2011
2014
2020
2009
2018
Two-Disc Collector's Edition
2007
Collector's Edition
1998
2018
2022
1984
2018
2006
2017
2013
Original Unrated Cut
2005
2001
Director's Cut
1986
2018
Collector's Edition
1988