Saw this when I was about 12. Never seen anything like it before or since

Tension, incredible effects and a simplicity in acting from all the cast make this perhaps THE best Horror. Kurt Russell (again) nails his role (as does everyone).

Everything works (even the dark comedy) and make this film everything the prequel was not. Class...

one of carpenters best don't know why they bothered remaking this as the original is far superior great cast and special effects

Tense, and with special effects that stand up brilliantly today. Wonderfully tense and with a sense of how alone the characters are out in the Arctic. A true classic sci-fi horror

Watched this again recently after it was voted in the top 10 sci-fi movies of all time by Skeptics Guide to the Universe Podcast. Still an enjoyable movie and worth watching again. Special effects look a bit dated, but this doesn't detract from a well told story with plenty of tension and scares!

John Carpenter is one of those directors who should be considered in the same league as directors such as James Cameron, Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg. What Carpenter delivers here is a powerful, supercharged horror roller coaster on a budget far less than the aforementioned directors are used to exept from when they started out. Carpenter rarely works on movies with large budgets. His best work are on movies of the lowest budgets, this film has been discussed on academic levels on the subject of filmaking. The visual effects for their time were ground breaking. This movie does not deal with people in alien costumes here. This is a genuinely terrifying alien creature trying to survive any way it can which includes infecting earth dwelling creatures by their DNA. The tension the movie creates is second to none where being able to trust is as difficult as trying to remain human. The Ennio Morricone score is strong and adds additional tension which cannot be understated. It is a shame the fully composed score was not used in the finished film. In some deleted scenes you can find some of the unused score. If you get a chance to listen to the score check out the main title theme and a fabulous piece of music composed from the film but never used called 'sterilization'

This film's only real rival for the best scifi/horror movie of all time is Alien.

Visceral & disturbing effects, characters who behave intelligently yet are still doomed, one of the most terrifying 'creatures' committed to film & a pervasive atmosphere of isolation, paranoia & fear make this a must for any horror fan.

No dumb blond running around screaming in this film, no cheap scares, or jumps. Just awesome tension and hehe, "you gotta be kidding me!".

Don't need to say anything else, except see Rob Ager's analysis of this film on You Tube.

Great film to watch..all the actors were fantastic.. 6 stars

The original was good.

This was even better

And it got worse again with the 2012 Remake

Horror as it should be: suspense, tension and the occasional mutating alien. What a great movie!

Simple one of the best films you'll ever watch. The plot and style has inspired for 30 years and continues to endure. Enjoy.

This film is up there with shawshank in my opinion, on a different level tho obviously. Watch it alone !!!

Everything about this film is great. Suspense throughout with a great storyline and shocking alien effects. Everything about this film makes it a classic. If you haven't seen this film yet, you owe it to yourself to do so ASAP. Draw the curtains, dim the lights and enjoy!

This is the best film iv ever seen. It's that good i watched it 3 times in 1 day. Treat yourself and get it.

Hardly any movies made since the release of this movie have come any where near close to being atmospheric and creepy. Class acting and effects. Top movie.

An absolutely amazing film, watched this in1982, effects and story line brilliant. JC at his best, I still watch it today. A must see film if you are into gore/horror.

Absolutely amazing,the greatest horror movie ever made even the prequel is really entertaining!

The Best Sci-fi Horror I ever had and seen. You must watch this movie.

Can't wait for the prequal in the cinema later this year, long over due

OMG! that is THE grossest film my eyes have ever beheld!!!!!!!

I watched this this when it first came out on vhs for rental. It was one of those films that everyone was talking about and seemed to do a lot better on rental than it did at the cinema. Many years have passed and this film has lost none of its impact. Everything about it seems designed to unsettle the viewer. The effects are incredible, as they are actual physical effects using rubber, gunge and pneumatics and are so much more grotesque than can be achieved with the aid of computers.

I've seen many horror films, some which were banned at one time. I've also seen the current crop of nasties like Hostel, Saw etc. None of them disgusted me or made me nauseous. The Thing really turned my stomach. Its almost breathtaking in its grotesqueness.

Its a great film with a superb cast and soundtrack.

I personally think there has never been a horror film as good as this! The special effects even by todays standards are unbelieveable! After first watching this I was truly stunned and thought that the setting, ideas, acting, story and constant sense of danger is unmatched! My advice: Dont watch alone!

... and one of the best films - in any genre - of all time.

Amazing film with great suspense . Prepare to be scared. Ha ha ha...

Brilliant

This film is that great I'm disappointed there's not been more follow up, one of my all-time fav' movies xXx

The remake of one of the most terrifying sci-fi blockbusters ever will remain an unforgatable experience for those who watch it for the first time.

Set in a world as cold and as distant as outter space, comes a horror film with the most fiercesome of all known extraterrestial menace seen on the big screen. JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING is the real deal.

Criticised (in my opinion, by sexcist critics) for having an all male cast, it still delivers the lurking horror, the hopeless despair and the grim apocalyptic sense of human exticntion far better than presented in films of this genre now and back then.

Abandoned by the warmth of civilisation, trapped in an ice world, twelve men find "something" that should never have been found. Now it needs a home to hide in and guess what?... "Man is the warmest place to hide".

Paranoia in the film is so gripping, even you become so attached you never know who is who as the Thing is "nothing like they have ever seen and yet, it becomes everyone they know".

Prepare to have your skeleton leave you forever!

I never thought u could top alien... I was wrong the pneumatic props that are the thing are amazing! Best horror ever 20 out of 10 but be careful, it's very, very scary

Quite simply one of the greatest horror films ever made.

Saw this when I was 8 watched it many times, took about 9 watches before I could watch the first 20 mins without covering my eyes. The effects are superb the characters are brilliant and the acting and story are first rate. They will never make another like this. John carpenter at his best,dark star, assault on precinct 13, haloween, escape from new York, the thing, the fog, big trouble in little china, prince of darkness, they live, then it all went down hill. Very sad. Watch this you won't be dissapointed!!

I remember renting this film on VHS years ago - didn't seem to be anything else worth getting at the time so wasn't really expecing anything good. Boy was I surprised - right from the start, the eerie music, the bleak setting hit the fear factor in me even before the 'Thing' showed up.

I've never seen a finer horror movie in my life - the directing, acting and effects are all brilliant. The cast is superb and Kurt Russell is perfect as the Helo pilot.

If you haven't seen this movie yet and horror movies are your thing (no pun intented) then you HAVE to watch this - it will scare the living daylights out of you.

Kurt Russels the man. This movie has blood, explosions and beards, a real mans film.

I remember watching this when it first came out and thought wow, I didnt think that anything would top Alien. The cinematics and acting in this film are absolutely superb. Defo on the top 10 list of films ever!

Treat yourself

Classy horror, great gorey effects :).

This is one of the best Horror movies I have ever seen. You are seriously missing out if you don't give this a try people! Horror to its perfection!

Greatest. Horror movie. Ever.

If you haven't seen this and you love scary movies then you owe it to yourself to check it out - John Carpenter at his zenith. Utter brilliance.