 two films released within weeks aliens steven spielbergs et john carpenters thing two them et one hearts people world over even though thing debuted first people entranced spielbergs warm fuzzy feelgood alien fable stayed away thing drovesbr br its hard see why two diametrically opposed one optimistic tale designed warm cockles stillbeating heart harsh uncompromising film paints alien life something purely determined destroy us guess audiences felt et much cuter prospect things tentacles slime coated salivabr br its taken time thing gone win substantial cult audience should thing rare example superior remake takes best qualities  classic reinvents startling imaginative ways indeed carpenter job well actually succeeds making film every inch equal genres showrunner alien thats even rarerbr br carpenters film follows source material faithfully thing another world did keeps frigid wastes antarctica setting perfect backdrop trying establish heightened sense isolation although bit thin characterisation remake gets right inside mindset actors amplifies uncertainty fear slowly surrounds thembr br frequent carpenter collaborator kurt russell returns hot success escape new york cast one carpenters perpetual antiheroes plays macready helicopter pilot antarctic research station what theyre researching anyones guess trouble begins norwegian chopper nearby station flies macreadys trying gun siberian husky airbr br they end dying troubles camp tries solve mystery happened take husky add own except husky husky all shapechanging alien norwegians discovered frozen ice thawed out massacred crew capable absorbing victims will duplicate living right smallest detail soon paranoia suspicion works way man crew noone certain human notbr br the thing one john carpenters finest films fact im tempted say best film hes ever made even surpassing classics like halloween dark star reason place thing top carpenters list feels like last film could truly called classic others thereafter felt like carpenter slumming it films flow cool sophistication ragged intensity prevalent earlier worksbr br but thing john carpenter peak powers never generated suspense unbearable degree even ferocious assault precinct  second alien makes presence known carpenter ratchets tension level relentlessly delivers punches come agonising joltbr br the film blend pure atmospherics visceral horror approach often seem odds one another carpenters hands melds together beautifully bringing rob bottin howling fame lays bear astonishing transformation effects ever see horror film amorphous shapes halfformed human features starkly contrasted gaping jaws spider legs fully flexible tentacles indeed films effects amazing squirminducing thing came fire realisticbr br that type thinking misses point entirely shortchanges films values many carpenter stages effects setpiece needs to films quieter moments seems especially attuned story thing often bewildering tale shadows whispers implications characterisation never one john carpenters strong suits works advantage thing hardly know anything cast makes present situation much confusing were never certain one moment next who this thing holds well maintains mystery subsequent viewingsbr br a special mention go excellent film score ennio morricone pulsing thud thud every two seconds creates eerie spooky feeling hard shake whole film wonderful exercise paranoid manipulation scene bloodtest see whos human wound dexterity carpenter may find biting nails without even realisingbr br the thing pure unadulterated classic even ending leaves vague suspicion everything resolved underrated film well worth reappraisal received much better et