Must-see movies are futuristic classics that shouldn’t be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That’s why we’ve rated them 1-5 on the patented “crunchy goodness” scale. Written by James Rocchi.
Title: John Carpenter’s The Thing
Date: 1982
Vitals: John Carpenter’s remake of the 1951 sci-fi chiller The Thing from Another World isn’t just a high-water mark in pre-digital special effects; it’s one of the most effective and chilling sci-fi horror films ever made, as a group of U.S. personnel at an Antarctic base are besieged by an invader from beyond who can take any shape it wishes … and duplicate any of its victims. Mixing action, horror, big sci-fi ideas and great production design, The Thing is a true classic.
Famous Names: John Carpenter (Director) Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David (Cast).
Crunchy Goodness: 5
Elevator Pitch: “It’s … And Then There Were None with a space alien!”
Sight You’ll Never Unsee: The shape-shifting Thing’s unique way of escaping a fire — as a severed head sprouts legs and eyes to scuttle away. …
Bang for Your Buck: Rob Bottin and Stan Winston’s brilliant goopy creature work — perhaps the greatest achievement in pre-digital special effects.
