Official Synopsis:
“Horror master John Carpenter (Halloween, Escape From New York) delivers “a masterful exercise in claustrophobic suspense… [with] elaborate special effects [that] set a high standard for films that followed” (TV Guide). Kurt Russell’s iconic and tense performance drives this chilling version of the classic The Thing.
In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror… and becomes one of them.”
John Carpenter has had a wide array of films that have stretched beyond the realms of imagination in terms of his horror genre. Whether he dabbles with the supernatural, extraterrestrial, or unstoppable psycho killer, each one of his films brings something new and unique to the genre that has made John Carpenter a staple of horror. The Thing is so simplistic in its story, yet is told almost to perfection. The film is shrouded in mystery the entire time, and while other horror films may leave you guessing who the killer is, in The Thing, one, two or all may not be who they seem.
The opening scene starts the tone of the film perfectly, as a helicopter is in frantic pursuit of a dog, flying back and forth wildly through the air, desperately trying to shoot the dog as it makes its way toward an isolated Antarctic reasearch station. Before the characters of the story can ask any questions, the shooter is killed and all information as to what has happened is lost. The scientists as well as their helicopter pilot, MacReady (Kurt Russell) travel to the other team’s research station to find a horrific sight and a lot more questions than answers.
This mysterious fate of the other research team was always my favorite part of The Thing. We aren’t told what happened, and we are left just as in the dark as the characters. These mysteries have sparked many fan theories about the ending, existential conversations amongst the crew during filming, and even a prequel to the film which I consider to be a great companion piece to this classic film.
As the mystery of the alien creature unravels in front of them, all the men scramble to discover who is still human, and make the condemning conclusion that this ‘thing’ cannot be allowed to reach civilization. A claustrophobic, paranoid story about identity, and the dangers hiding in plain sight, The Thing still manages to entertain decades after its release.
Video
The Thing is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1 with a new 2k scan of the interpositive. The transfer looks amazing, with great levels. With a huge contrast in light levels throughout the film, there is a bit of noticeable grain in the darker scenes, but overall this is a top notch transfer with no major defects noticed.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Audio levels sound good, with a fantastic score from the great Ennio Morricone.
Special Features
As always, this is where the set really shines, as Scream Factory has put together a long list of extras, both new and pre-existing, which makes this a great set to own. You’re going to see:
DISC ONE:
NEW 2K Scan Of The Interpositive Supervised And Approved By Director Of Photography Dean Cundey
NEW 4.1 Audio Mix Created From The Original 70MM Six Track Dolby Stereo Soundtrack (5.1 Audio Mix Also Included)
NEW Audio Commentary With Director Of Photography Dean Cundey
NEW Audio Commentary With Co-producer Stuart Cohen
Audio Commentary By Director John Carpenter And Actor Kurt Russell
Teaser Trailer (1 minute)
Theatrical Trailers (U.S. And German) (5 minutes)
TV Spots (1 minute)
Radio Spots (2 minutes)
Still Gallery (Behind-The-Scenes Photos, Posters And Lobby Cards) (15 minutes)
DISC TWO:
NEW Requiem For A Shape Shifter – An Interview With Director John Carpenter In Conversation With Filmmaker Mick Garris (28 minutes)
NEW The Men Of Outpost 31 – Interviews With Keith David, Wilford Brimley, David Clennon, Thomas Waites, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur And Joel Polis (51 minutes)
NEW Assembling And Assimilation – An Interview With Editor Todd Ramsay (11 minutes)
NEW Behind The Chameleon: The Sights Of THE THING – Interviews With Visual Effects Artists Peter Kuran And Susan Turner, Special Make-up Effects Artist Rob Burman, Brian Wade And Stop Motion Animators Randall William Cook And Jim Aupperle (25 minutes)
NEW Sounds From The Cold – Interviews With Supervising Sound Editor David Lewis Yewdall And Special Sound Effects Designer Alan Howarth (15 minutes)
NEW Between The Lines – An Interview With Novelization Author Alan Dean Foster (16 minutes)
NEW Back Into The Cold: A Return To The Shooting Locations Of THE THING – An Animated Photo Gallery Narrated By Todd Cameron Of Outpost31.com
NEW The Art Of Mike Ploog Gallery (12 minutes)
John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape – A Documentary On The Making Of THE THING Featuring Interviews With John Carpenter, Kurt Russell, Special Effects Make-up Designer Rob Bottin, Legendary Matte Artist Albert Whitlock Plus Members Of The Cast And Crew (80 minutes – SD)
Network TV Broadcast Version Of THE THING (92 minutes – SD)
Outtakes (5 minutes – SD)
Vintage Featurettes From The Electronic Press Kit Featuring Interviews With John Carpenter, Kurt Russell And Rob Bottin (13 minutes – SD)
Vintage Featurettes – The Making Of A Chilling Tale And The Making Of THE THING (14 minutes – SD)
Vintage Product Reel – Contains A Condensed Version Of The Film With Additional Footage Not In The Film (19 minutes – SD)
Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Footage (2 minutes – SD)
Annotated Production Archive – Production Art And Storyboards, Location Scouting, Special Make-up Effects, Post Production (54 minutes – SD)
Scream Factory has outdone itself on this release, and as with all their Collector’s Editions, they treat this with the utmost respect that it deserves. Any fan of The Thing absolutely needs to pick this up, even if you own the previous release from Universal.
