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In the icy wilderness of Antarctica, researchers at a remote base discover that an alien lifeform has infiltrated their midst. Realising this 'thing' can take the form of any living creature around it, the crew grow increasingly paranoid as they desperately try to figure out who may already be infected. Horror maestro John Carpenter directs one of the great American motion pictures with this rigorously crafted bone-chiller, made all the more memorable by Rob Bottin's extraordinary practical make-up effects which set a new standard in gruesome ingenuity. Kurt Russell leads an electric ensemble of character actors, including Keith David and Wilford Brimley, who capture the tension and exhaustion of the situation with fatalistic finesse.

“Workers at a remote Antarctic research station discover a parasitic alien that can invade, assimilate and imitate earthly lifeforms, leading to extreme paranoia as the twelve men try to work out who’s harbouring ‘the thing’. John Carpenter’s groundbreaking adaptation of John W. Campbell’s novella Who Goes There? (previously filmed as THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD) set the benchmark for special makeup effects for years to come, showcasing Rob Bottin’s extravagant parade of grisly, mutating creatures. Underappreciated on its initial release (critics felt the gore effects were overused), THE THING has been re-evaluated in recent years for its undeniably scary premise, bleak setting and foreboding atmosphere of dread, and is now considered one of the 1980s’ best horror films.” – British Film Institute

MA15+ | Horror theme