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The Thing [VHS] [1982]
 
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The Thing [VHS] [1982]

VHS ~ Kurt Russell
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur, T.K. Carter
  • Directors: John Carpenter
  • Writers: Bill Lancaster, John W. Campbell Jr.
  • Producers: David Foster, Larry J. Franco, Lawrence Turman, Stuart Cohen, Wilbur Stark
  • Format: Dolby, PAL, Surround Sound
  • Language English, Norwegian
  • Classification: 18
  • Studio: 4 Front Video
  • VHS Release Date: 8 Sep 2003
  • Run Time: 103 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004R6C3
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 7,282 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

John Carpenter's apocalyptic The Thing was released in cinemas just two weeks after E.T. in 1982. The two movies could hardly have presented more contrasting ideas about extra-terrestrial life, and it was Carpenter's uncompromisingly bleak vision that lost out at the box-office. But his audacious remake of the Howard Hawks 1951 B-movie The Thing from Another World has since been acknowledged as a classic in its own right, not only for its pioneering makeup and special effects techniques, but also for its bold treatment of an alien "infection" that eerily foreshadow s AIDS-inspired blood contamination scares. Whizzkid Rob Bottin was responsible for the surreal and stomach-churning make-up effects that are so crucial a part of the film's success--without his utterly convincing creations Carpenter would never have been able to make a monster movie without a "man in a suit"--and filming on a glacier in British Columbia ensured the complete authenticity of the Antarctic setting. Kurt Russell leads a strong all-male cast who powerfully convey their isolation and distrust of one another--in more ways than one this is a film about alienation. The uneasy atmosphere is enhanced by an icily monochrome score from Ennio Morricone, as a series of unforgettable horror set-pieces lead to a wonderfully downbeat finale.

On the DVD:: The bonus features are exemplary, notably the excellent 80-minute documentary, "Terror Takes Shape", which covers all aspects of the production; and the relaxed, friendly, informative commentary by director John Carpenter and star Kurt Russell--a model for how all commentaries should be. There's also an outtakes reel with some tantalising stills of unused footage. Text and stills-based montages illustrate the location design, conceptual artwork and various other aspects of the production. The sound mix is Dolby 5.1, although the non-anamorphic widescreen picture is not all it could be. --Mark Walker



Synopsis

At a research station in Antarctica a team of scientists find an alien being that has fallen from the sky and been buried in the ice for 100,000 years. Soon they discover that the alien is able to possess its victims. Based on the original 1951 film, directed by Christian Nyby.
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Customer Reviews

93 Reviews
5 star:
 (71)
4 star:
 (14)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (93 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good, 7 Feb 2007
This review is from: The Thing [DVD] [1982] (DVD)
Released in 1982, The Thing was John Carpenter's 18-rated remake of the classic 1951 sci-fi horror The Thing From Another World. While both were based on John W Campbell's short novel Who Goes There?, Carpenter's version depicts the effects of the alien invader by using cutting-edge special effects, allowing the audience to more properly understand the fear and mistrust felt by the twelve men who are stranded with it in the middle of nowhere. The film is similar in some aspects to Ridley Scott's Alien, with both films featuring a handful of stranded individuals trying to defeat a seemingly unstoppable monster, which picks off the crew one-by-one. The Thing combines Carpenter's knack for creating classic horror films, such as the Halloween series, with Kurt Russell's own brand of action as seen in Carpenter's Escape From New York.

Like the 1951 version, Carpenter's film played on the climate of the time, with the invisible, blood-borne infection seen in the film being admittedly reminiscent of AIDS and other diseases which were at that time just beginning to surface. Although it failed to compete with ET - The Extra-Terrestrial, which was also released in 1982, The Thing became more popular during the 1990s as critics began to give the film greater regard, recognising the psychological aspects of the film instead of providing a knee-jerk reaction to the film's gore.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolute Classic!, 23 Nov 2002
By A. Wright "adam" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
This review is from: The Thing [DVD] [1982] (DVD)
Based on the 1930's short story "Who Goes There" by John W Campbell Jr (as was the 1950's film The Thing From Outer Space), "The Thing" is a masterpiece of horror movie-making.
The film has it all - action, suspense, paranoia and a great story-line. Carpenter's direction has never been better before or since and I think that is because the materials he had to work with were so inspired to start with.
Kurt Russell is comfortabe with his role as McCready and Wilford Brimley is excellent as Blair. In fact, the entire cast give strong performances as the men of the arctic base suddenly don't know who to trust. And that is what the story is essentially about - trust and not being able to rely upon appearances.
The film's sense of claustrophobic paranoia is excellent, and the story will keep you guessing right up to the end (and beyond).
If youhaven't seen "The Thing", I highly recommend you buy this DVD version of a classic horror tale.
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A very intense scary movie, 15 Feb 2007
By Mr. P. J. R. LEWIS (Llandudno N Wales) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Thing [DVD] [1982] (DVD)
If you can remember Alistair McLeans "Ice Station Zebra" then "The Thing" will really grip you with some stunning special effects and a superb atmosphere throughout the entire movie.

A group of scientists who have travelled to this remote ice station to carry out research discover a massive Flying Saucer imbedded in the ice but unknowing to them its occupant is hiding in a dark corner waiting to inhabit a human body and digest it from the inside out.

It is the suspense of not knowing what will happen next that makes this a trully great film.Possibly due to its slow pace it may not appeal to everyones taste but when the alien form makes its appearence you soon realise this is a superb film with some simply stunning special effects.

Each member of the team soon realise that THE THING may be lurking in any one of their team and the not knowing who gives it a 5 star rating.

The scene that really steals the show has a canine flavor and to tell you what happens will spoil the entire film.

If you enjoyed Alien then this film will certainly make the grade,but if a slow paced gripping drama is not for you then look elsewhere but for gripping drama with incredible special effects this film is amongst the best out there.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done horror !
The original version of "The Thing" was corny by todays standards, although it scared the hell out of when i was 10 years old. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Colin Bentley

5.0 out of 5 stars Born to make you boggle
Oh but I do love John Carpenter's `The Thing', (an awful lot more than Howard Hawks' original from the Fifties with its `intellectual carrot' monster), and I've probably seen it... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brian Flange

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor DVD pictue quality
First let me say i love this film,alot, but this release is very poor.Too grainy and dirty. I'm very disapointed with this disc. The film is great but the disc is poor. Read more
Published 4 months ago by filo4590

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST FILMS I'VE EVER SEEN!
So i got this for £2.99 thinking it would be a cheesy 80's film with some monster made from plastic that doesn't move. I now no that i was trully wrong. Read more
Published 4 months ago by F. Mccormick

1.0 out of 5 stars A Boring Movie
This movie is a waste of time, don't border watching. It is too slow in 2009's standard and the picture quality is poor.
Published 4 months ago by Mr. C. Y. D. Ho

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably J.C's Best Film
There are many things that make this film a masterpiece in my opinion, maybe the premise is a bit silly (but isnt most sci fi, fantasy and horror !! Read more
Published 8 months ago by Scott Claxton

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Thing wicked this way comes...
An excellent 1st shocker from the man, Cameron. Full of shocks and surprises with occasional goofs and stop motion stuff, it's got the same mystery and alien effects but just... Read more
Published 9 months ago by T. W. Verney

4.0 out of 5 stars Icey Scares
This remake of the Howard Hawks classic is a very good "who goes there" type thriller. The special effects all pre CGI are by Rick Baker of American Werewolf In London fame. Read more
Published 9 months ago by G. R. Donaldson

4.0 out of 5 stars It still holds up
I stuck on my copy of the film the other day to pass some time in the freezing British winter (let's not get into why I was watching a film set in the Antarctic, eh? Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. Od Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars PURE 80s GOLD!!!
I first saw this film way back when it was firest released in 1982 and it scared the hell out of me, although not primarily because of the ground breaking special effects, but... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Macready

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