In this episode we discuss the 1982 Sci-Fi Horror classic, The Thing.
In remote Antarctica, a group of American research scientists are disturbed at their base camp by a helicopter shooting at a sled dog. When they take in the dog, it brutally attacks both human beings and canines in the camp and they discover that the beast can assume the shape of its victims. A resourceful helicopter pilot (Kurt Russell) and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) lead the camp crew in a desperate, gory battle against the vicious creature before it picks them all off, one by one.
Episode Notes
- Cited by John Carpenter himself as being his favourite production out of everything he has created so far.
- Kurt Russell was not originally considered for a role in the film and fell into it after a conversation with Carpenter (his long-time friend)
- Considered to be the benchmark in practical effects for it's time and lead Rob Bottin to suffer from physical and mental exhaustion while on set.
- Carpenter is renowned for creating insightful commentaries and making-of documentaries around many of his films, The Thing (1982) is no different.
- The dog used in the opening act of the film is considered to be one of the finest animal performances on screen.
- Intro Music - People Are Strange by The Doors
- Outro Music - That Thing You Do by The Wonders