I love the movie the Thing by John Carpenter. I find myself watching it just to figure out the clues and nuances the actors incorporated into the movie. When did they get taken over? Did they know it happened? Does the Thing itself hide so deeply into the being of the person it has consumed to blend with the others... lose itself? It's a brilliant movie. One that wouldn't be considered as such until much later.
I saw it for the first time with my Dad in Concord California around 82. He had a small condo there and I would be shuttled off to him via the BART from South County by my mother to stay the following weekends. Men and women of my age know exactly what I am talking about, because an entire generation of us came out of divorces from our parents in what seems exactly at the same time.
During those Saturdays and Sundays I loved seeing him. We spent hours at video arcades, race-karts, and softball games. We cruised around in a Datsun Z 280 and hung around Pier 39 checking out model stores. The divorce was a very ugly time in my life, and those few moments with him were some of the shining points that dug out some happiness.
At night it was homework and when I was done, it was HBO. There the Thing reared it's distorted head and captured my imagination in a gruesome way. I was hooked. Never missed it since when it comes on. Eventually I would buy the VHS copy and then the DVD. Most likely I'll buy the BluRay as well.
I read the script later on while in college. It's a fascinating body of work. I find myself bent over it every once in a while late at night, or while having a slow period at work. There is this one scene that was deleted due to budget constraints. It's called "out on the ice". The original artist Michael Ploog boarded it. It's incredible art that depicts MacReady, Childs, and Bennings chasing after three of the dogs that escaped.
They are most likely now Things and it's heading for the ocean. In this scene Bennings is killed by a Thing under the snow, rather than the grotesque consumption in the locker room. I've always wanted to see this sequence. So, I'm now doodling it out. More to come in the next few weeks.
Now they are saying that a prequel is in the works. The story of the Norwegians is being brought to light. I'm mixed on this. Part of me is curious if the director can pull off a companion piece to what many consider a near perfect movie in Carpenter's career. As they say time can only tell.
Kevin
