MovieChat Forums > The Thing (1982) Discussion > This movie will continue to grow in popu...

This movie will continue to grow in popularity

posted 4 months ago by e3e34ifj (1339)
6 replies | jump to latest

I'm on a family ski trip in a small mountain town that's lethally cold to go outside at night. There are like 9 people under the age of 25 here and we've been watching horror films like Hereditary, The Witch, and Paranormal Activity on the nights prior, so I suggested The Thing because it was similar to the cold environment around us. A few people were warry because most of the group is like 16-24 and some didn't think an "old" horror movie would be scary compared to a modern horror polished film like Hereditary. Huge error...they all loved it.

I think what's cool is that nobody ever brought up the special effects, whether it was a good or bad comment. Instead, we stayed up til 2am discussing themes, mysteries, who we thought was who at the end, and how much we loved it. Most of the critics in 1982, and even today, are convinced the only reason why people like this movie is because of the gore and explosions, but I wish they were watching the conversation last night. Observing a bunch of college freshman get into heated debates on who sabotaged the blood or whose shadow was on the wall was magical. It was just as Carpenter intended. I was a bit ready for the bunch of TikTok Gen Z'ers to shit on the 80's effects and/or no CGI, but they were more invested and drawn by the film's suspense than anyone I've ever seen.

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

It won't. It's at it's peak now, it's the highest rated horror movie on letterboxd and has been voted the best horror movie of all time on reddit the past few polls. It's reached the point of oversaturation and is now seriously overrated. Back when I was younger it was the dark horse of the discussion, it had it's champions but was considered lesser than Halloween (1978). It's got an uptick recently because it's gore and explosion laden and has thus aged better than Halloween which is basically a man in a mask stabbing 2 or 3 horny teens with barely any blood shown.

Another reason it's currently popular now is because some liken it to the video game Among Us.

Most adjectives used when discussing The Thing (1982) online are stuff like 'badass', 'awesome', 'cool' or talk about how it has the best effects EVER!!!! People like it because it's set in Antartica, has gory effects alongside explosion, guns, flamethrowers and fist fights. It's explosions and mutations in the snow.

It's purpose now is to serve as a gateway movie for the superior 2011 prequel. That will be the trend going forward. In time people will move on from the worship of the 70s and 80s, in place they'll worship the classics of the early 21st century. I can already see it slowly happening on letterboxd with many now championing the movies of their youth (early 00s to early 10s). You can see this is other circles such as Star Wars fans who love the prequels.

The 2011 movie has superior characterizations and better pacing. The only things people argue against it are the CGI and the fact it has women in it (a lot of fans of the 1982 movie seem to be of the incel breed, why it's such a big talking point that it has no women in it and why that is apparently a good thing is beyond me.)

[–] DMT (3824) 4 months ago

CGI in the 2011 version looked like complete shit. In fact even the best CGI cant come close to the lost art of practical effect. 1982 was the pinnacle of practical effects

[–] e3e34ifj (1339) 4 months ago

Damn, I knew you'd try to shit on this post.

What I'm telling you is that you're entirely wrong and misguided. I just witnessed a bunch of people in the newer generation, including college girls who openly hate horror films, highly appreciate a horror film from 40 years ago NOT because of the gore or effects, but because of its direction and storytelling.

And yes, Among Us is similar because it's highly inspired by The Thing. Don't you think that's another reason why it will stick with the next generation? They'll grow up loving Among Us and will appreciate The Thing for its similarities.

Ironically, and much to your chagrin I'm sure, we actually watched about 30 minutes of the 2011 film today and they all voted to turn it off because it simply isn't as good. That director is no John Carpenter. The cinematography is shaky for zero reason, like the cameraman had Parkinson's. The characters aren't any more or less compelling than those in the 82 film. You can't dissect and analyze the 2011 film the same way you can the 1982 film because the 2011's filmmakers simply didn't care as much. We turned it off at the helicopter scene because we all thought it was so stupid for the thing to pointlessly reveal itself moments before possibly getting away.

I think YOU just don't like the 1982 for whatever reason, and that's fine. There's no way to convince you that gore is NOT the reason why this film is beloved, and you're stuck in your ways. If you can seriously look at the 2011 film and think it has better effects, cinematography, direction, writing, etc, I don't think anyone will ever convince you about any film.

[–] [deleted] 4 months ago

It's very sad that those youngsters couldn't appreciate the 2011 masterpiece. If it had more explosions like the remake they'd have maybe liked it more. I reckon they wouldn't like the 1951 original either, maybe when they mature a bit... or maybe not.

The 1982 remake is like the Fast and Furious of horror movies. It's the current reigning horror movie because it is very low brow and entertainment driven. It's one of the oldest of it's type. Prior horror was most restrained, around the early 80s horror directors just said fuck it and started making gore spectacles and gory horror comedies. Your Evil Deads, Re-Animators, A Nightmare on Elm Streets and so on.

It's enjoying it's day in the sun right now but will drop of as time progresses.

[–] BKB (6126) 4 months ago

Good for you!! You tell them Tik Tok loving Gen Zers 80's Horror Rocked

[–] DMT (3824) 4 months ago

fuck critics and there hate for gore and explosions, those faggots need to stay in Broadway and watch gay ass plays not badass films like this that they can't even enjoy...