The Legacy of The Thing

Well folks, it’s been a fun ride but I must end The Thing Week. In all honesty, I probably could have made this into The Thing Month but I decided not to for time sake. As you can see, not only in my case but in other people’s cases as well, The Thing is a horror film that is very close to my heart. It’s not just a horror movie but it was the first horror movie to truly give me night terrors. It was the first horror movie that made me want to go into filmmaking. It was the first horror movie that I remember getting involved with. I can’t tell you how many times I used to play The Thing with my friends. It’s a movie that will go down in history as being the best of the best.

I want to end on a few stories that people had with The Thing. If you have been following me on Twitter, I have been asking the horror community to share their personal experiences with The Thing and surprisingly only a few answered. Though I am sort of saddened that not many people wanted to share their experience, I know that The Thing meant a lot to them. So below are some Thing stories that I would like to share.

“My asshole stepdad ushered me into the horror genre at a very young age. What sucked though was we were never allowed to pick out what WE wanted to watch. So I was a bit sheltered on the horror I watched back then. The very first movie I ever picked out by myself was 'The Thing' and I have to say... I have excellent taste. Bringing that movie home completely changed the face of horror for me. I started caring about characters and plot development and story lines and F/X. There is no doubt in my mind that my love of writing and filmmaking in general is all because of John Carpenter and 'The Thing'.”
- Gore Whore of Twisted Central

“The Thing is one of those movies that has always stuck with me ever since I saw it as little kid. I must have seen it on either video or during the early days of ghetto cable. It's just a great movie. Not just a great horror movie. It's a great story and terrifying concept. A group of regular guys just doing their jobs are confronted by a monster that can take any shape or identity in one of the deadliest and isolated environments on Earth. Brilliant and at it's core, a very simple concept. The movie still holds up and like a great book or comic book, it gets better with every viewing. The effects, the pacing, the cast are all great.”
- Alvarado/Darthbx of Devil’s Advocates Movie Reviews

“Aah, The Thing. Thanks to my horror friendly parents and their horror friendly friends, I saw this back in the 80s when I was around 11 years old. Special effects to me at this age meant a bit of blood on Christopher Lee's mouth, so this was something of an eye-opener! Right from the start this was clearly going to be a high point in my young life, but once that dog’s head split four ways it became a defining moment. I can watch this film again and again, and it will never cease to amaze me. John Carpenter may have erred since, but to me he will always be a star.”
- Dave McGuigan

“When I was nine and reading in Fangoria that he was redoing The Thing I went crazy, especially knowing that Snake Plissken would be in it. I begged my dad to take me to the drive in on opening day. When the credits rolled I was in the back of my dad's pick up truck... and I told myself... that is what I want to do with my life. It was a turning point. Because of Carpenter's Thing I went on to study film at the University of Texas at Austin (Hook Em') and earned my BS in Radio-TV-Film. Since then, I have worked and made many films. The rest is history. I don't think Carpenter and Bottin realized during production just how much of an impact this film would be on filmmakers in years to come.”
- Mr. Newerbeg

“I was 11 when I saw The Thing at the Las Vegas Drive In. I loved it of course. I consider it my 2nd favorite movie of all time behind Alien. Really you can't see a horror movie set in snow without wishing a Thing Creature is lurking around. Also, out of all the sci fi horror monsters out there, The Thing creeps me out the most. The Thing is one of those monsters that would be near unstoppable. You just couldn't beat it in real life. Fantastic, incredible, and completely possible. Terrifying.”
- Metal Alien of Outpost 31

“To this day it still bothers me. The fact that something can take control over you just bugs me. Also how isolated they were”
- Patrick Johns

So you can see how The Thing has impacted all our lives and inspired us in some cases. But what do the people who worked on the film have to say? I grabbed a few quotes that I think really typifies how great this movie is.

“It’s also, basically, the lack of trust that’s in the world now. We see it all over. Countries, people – we don’t trust each other anymore. We don’t know who to trust. We’re with somebody that we think maybe they’re our loved ones and they may attack us. That’s what The Thing is.”
- John Carpenter, Director

“It’s a good film, and it’ll survive for that reason.”
- John Lloyd, Production Manager

“Any makeup effects guy in the world that you talk to will say, ‘I got into that business because of that movie. Because of John Carpenter, because of Rob Bottin’s brilliant makeup effects.”
- Greg Nicotero

I also want to thank the two people that contributed, be it on purpose or coincidence, to The Thing Week. Thanks guys!

Midnight Movie of the Week #25 – John Carpenter’s The Thing
from the blog: From Midnight With Love

The Thing
from the blog: Obscure Emotion

Ultimately all good things must come to an end and this is the end of The Thing Week. I hope you, my fellow Islanders, had a great time reading my numerous Thing posts. I’m thinking about doing another Thing Week in a few months time so if you have any suggestions or remarks on this week, please feel free to tell me.

As a great film once said, “Watch the skies, everywhere! Keep looking. Keep watching the skies!”