The Thing (1982)

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The Thing is one of John Carpenter’s most famous films of all time, and remains my absolute favorite. There’s an air of mystery and paranoia within the film that mirror several of the period conflicts. I love the isolated location in the arctic cold, and how horrifying it can be to never really know who your enemy is. The practical effects on the Thing itself are incredible, even by today’s standards. Kurt Russell and Keith David give off incredible performances. Out of all the films on the list, The Thing is the one you absolutely want to get into blind, because that is truly the best way to see this movie, and so you can watch it, having no idea what turns the plot will throw you for. The only downside is, aside from Kurt Russell and Keith David, the rest of the characters (and performances) aren’t particularly memorable. That just makes you feel like the characters are just kind of there to die. John Carpenter’s direction is pretty masterful, allowing him to build spectacular tension, and leaving off with a brilliant, ambiguous ending that few other films could ever match. There are elements left unknown, which works in the movies favor, such as what happened beforehand. Despite some minor flaws within the movie, it’s still a fun, tense, thrill-ride that masterfully left its mark in science fiction and horror cinema. 

9 / 10