MovieChat Forums > The Thing (1982) Discussion > Crap film

Crap film

posted 7 years ago by frankzappayay
21 replies | jump to latest

I think some films just don't age well, not just effects but the stories too. I am sure I would have liked this more if I saw it in the 80s, especially if I was a kid, but watching it now I just think it is bad.

There are large parts of the story I like, the creature on the loose thing is good, it is an exciting idea and works well for horror. Also the 'which one is still human' thing is cool, reminded me of Agatha Christie. But I just don't think this film does either of those things well and lots of films do both of those things better. There also isn't much left for this film, the action isn't interesting or exiting, none of the characters were developed enough that I cared about any of them, the Thing itself I didn't find scary or creepy and it wasn't shown well enough, etc.. Just bad overall.

I am assuming this was based on a book, and I am assuming as usual the book is great and the film sucks in comparison. But this gets >8/10 so I was expecting more.

Mostly it reminded me of an old X Files episode that was clearly inspired by this, but which I enjoyed more than this film. And also other films like Alien and Predator which I think are much better than this.

[–] Ashaod43 7 years ago

Alien is more suspense and a great film but predator while good is not better than the thing. Sorry but this is a masterpiece of film making. You are right about seeing this in the 80's but horror films these days are crap. I was going to lay into you wondering how you didn't like this but to each is own I suppose. I would ask you to open your mind for when it was made and what was accomplished as well as trying to have an appreciation for this film with all the absolute crap made today.

[–] JestersDead2 7 years ago

Were you born retarded or did you fall on your head?

[–] timmytony80 7 years ago

Frankzappayay; Surly you have taken leave of yr senses or simply have no taste! No good taste. Sure, after a few decades Avatar will look somewhat dated. But this film is very well liked for just the very reasons you dislike it. The ensemble, the ruggedness (to point of no females), the monster, unapologetically abhorrent, in the way of THE EXORCIST. You apparently weren't around in '82 but ppl c/d'nt eat their popcorn, soda or Milk Dudes while watching this movie. That's why it fell short of projections. Alot of ppl simply c/dn't sit thru it! Not just that but the very concept behind the movie. You left this movie actually wondering, "is someTHING under my bed?" I mean grown ppl! The way the acting came together in this film s/d be taught in school. Carpenter went very much out of his way to create a film very unlike what was going on around him at the time.

[–] Akzidenz_Grotesk 7 years ago

But I just don't think this film does either of those things well and lots of films do both of those things better. There also isn't much left for this film, the action isn't interesting or exiting, none of the characters were developed enough that I cared about any of them, the Thing itself I didn't find scary or creepy and it wasn't shown well enough, etc.. Just bad overall

The action isn't interesting or exciting? You wanted to "care" about the characters?  This was a movie, not a miniseries that gets all touchy-feely about relationships. You must be a female or a brony.

Please go back to playing video games, the media suited to your hyper-kinetic generation, because good films, excellent films like The Thing are just wasted on you.

"Where's your will to be weird?" - Jim Morrison

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

one of the best movies ever made

[–] IrinaOma (648) 6 years ago

I respect your opinion but The Thing is still creepy as hell plus the effects look better than most of our modern crappy Sci-Fi/Fantasy crap.

The Thing, Alien and Predator still look fresh and modern. I adore all of them

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Nah, you just don't know a good movie when you see it!

[–] fleischwolf (294) 6 years ago

The Thing wasn't shown well enough? What? Did you see the movie? The Thing was seen in all its glory throughout its many manifestations. But "the thing" with the Thing is that it has no true form. But maybe that went by you, as I take it?

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Good response.