THE THING
In 1982, John Carpenter’s The Thing – the second big-screen iteration of John W. Campbell Jr’s pulp novella Who Goes There? – was released to little fanfare, due in part to stiff competition from crowd-pleaser E.T. Fortunately, the genre-maestro’s sci-fi/horror hybrid received substantial reappraisal on home-video, with audiences belatedly enthralled by its potent mix of suspense, terror and B-grade aesthetics. Fast-forward almost three decades and relative-unknown Dutch filmmaker Matthijs van Heijningen Jr has concocted a prelude to Carpenter’s cult classic, simply titled The Thing. Following the startling discovery of a spaceship buried beneath Antarctica’s icescape, palaeontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) jumps at the chance to assist the Norwegian science team salvaging it. Cooped up in an isolated outpost, mistrust and paranoia begin to spread like wildfire amongst the scientists as they are violently killed-off by the spaceship’s sole occupant: a changeling with the ability to ‘assimilate’ and mimic its prey.
Despite its prequel status, The Thing (2011) is also a quasi-remake in that it recycles key plot devices from its predecessor. Nevertheless, Heijningen Jr should be commended for not only respectfully expanding the scope of Carpenter’s universe, but for his meticulous attention to continuity, especially in terms of tone and visual style. Indeed, the Dutchman largely replicates the sense of mystery and dread that permeated Carpenter’s film. Admittedly his overreliance on cheap scare tactics is more distracting than fear-inducing, but at least the grotesque ‘Thing’ remains as disturbing as ever. Although their parts are underwritten, Winstead (Death Proof) appeals as the spunky heroine, as does Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom) as her ally, a gruff American chopper pilot in the Kurt Russel mould. By and large, The Thing (2011) is a worthy (if comparatively-inferior) companion-piece to Carpenter’s fan-favourite. (JH) ***1/2
