There are some filmmakers in the history of horror cinema who have radically changed the genre. john carpenterwhile he is known to make very intense films With striking images of pure visceral fear, Carpenter’s work is particularly scary because of his understanding of human behavior. Carpenter’s work, inspired by the supernatural, addresses authentic feelings of crisis that are based on paranoia. No film is better proof of this than his 1982 masterpiece talkA film based on the decade 1951 something from another worldStill improves it in every possible way. Although it is a work of constant paranoia from the moment it begins, talk Foreshadows its ending with a clever Easter egg in its first ten minutes.
‘The Thing’ foreshadows its end
to begin Antarctica’s extremely cold winter, talk It follows a group of American scientists who are assigned to work on a remote research station that is far from any other form of civilization. Although most researchers consider this situation to be little more than menial labor, the team is first alerted to the presence of an existential threat when they encounter a Norwegian helicopter from a neighboring base. American researchers watched a Norwegian pilot blow himself up in the first moments talkFills the audience with an intense feeling of paranoia. The justification for why a character that the audience doesn’t know would result in such violent madness is an effective hook that continues throughout the rest of the film.
While American RJ Macready (Kurt Russell), Children (keith david), and Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart) While attempting to reason with the mysterious pilot and bring him to safety, the Norwegian appears to be screaming hysterically while being chased by a sled dog. As a result, the station commander, Gary (donald moffat) shoots the pilot in self-defense. Although the Americans believe the pilot intended to harm them, the Norwegian was actually being cautious. they became frightened at the sightWhen translated, The pilot says, “That’s not a dog” and warns the Americans to “Get away.” This implies that the Norwegian researchers have already dealt with the alien threat and that the pilot was actually trying to prevent “the thing” from wreaking similar havoc on his crew.
Connected
Kurt Russell was John Carpenter’s last choice for ‘The Thing’
Carpenter’s frequent collaborator considered almost all of Hollywood before getting the job.
Although the truth was not revealed to Macready and his associates until later, pilot’s death makes talk The story is even more tragic. The titular creature is one of cinema’s greatest villains because the audience never sees the monsterBecause it has the power to conceal itself and inhabit mortal beings. The Norwegian character’s death speaks to the cyclical nature of how “the thing” haunts its victims; Since the characters are unwilling to harm the dog due to the belief that it is an innocent creature, they are unaware of the real danger that awaits them.
‘The Thing’ addresses the dangers of miscommunication
Apart from explaining why the Norwegian scientists were the first to disappear, talk Its opening sequence reflects its thematic focus on the dangers of miscommunicationWhile the violent force of the alien creature makes it a terrifying adversaryIts power lies in its ability to hide its true nature. The characters’ inability to recognize what their opponent looks like results in a breakdown of communication where everyone is distrustful of each other’s intentions. in the dark world of talk, Even acts of compassion can be misinterpreted as aggressionA Norwegian pilot goes out of his way to send a warning to people he doesn’t know so he can save them from the same fate that befell his comrades, and in the process gives up his life.
Although this is a cruelly ironic twist to those who can understand what the character is saying, talk Forces the audience to interpret events through the eyes of its characters, If the actual lines from the pilot were provided to the audience via subtitles, the audience would have received information that the characters were not aware of. The pilot’s actions, though later explained, were as shocking to Macready and his crew as they were to the audience. This lets the characters in talk feel more trustworthyBecause they are only reacting to the situation in the way that feels most appropriate to them. This comes across well because of Russell’s excellent performance as MacReady, which of course He is one of the best ever given,
Why ambiguity makes ‘the thing’ even scarier
Although this is a conclusion that film fans have debated since the film’s release in 1982, ambiguity of talk is ending makes it more effectiveThe lingering terror that MacReady or Childs might be infected forces the audience to question the characters they have invested in throughout the story; Neither character knows the truth, and it’s clear that whatever alliance they’ve formed will result in one of them despising the other. The isolation the two men face while waiting for the next iteration of “the thing” puts them in the same vulnerable position as the pilot in the opening sequence. talk It remains such a classic because its open-ended nature invites viewers to share their own interpretation of its ending.
Although it was not commercially or critically successful upon its initial release, talk has only increased in popularity with timeand now it is believed One of the definitive cult classics of the decadeAlthough much of the film’s genius lies in its groundbreaking make-up and visual effects, it also uniquely experiments with paranoia within the story. While certainly relevant during the film’s release amid the Cold War, its message about the importance of communication and trust feels even more relevant today than ever.
‘The Thing’ showcases the genius of John Carpenter
Although he is now retired, Carpenter has made more classic genre films than almost any other living filmmakerBecause at least ten of his projects are considered among the best science fiction and horror films ever made. It may be challenging to determine which of their projects is the best, but talk It is often cited as his crowning achievement because of how it perfected the feeling of paranoia and fear. The manifestation of the organism itself is one of the most Horrible scene in the history of body horrorBut equally disturbing are the scenes in which the team begins to doubt each other. The notion that there is something hidden in the darkness that cannot be predicted is an important theme that comes up in many of Carpenter’s masterpieces, including halloween, fog, And prince of darkness, talk This is perhaps the most original of these masterpieces, as Carpenter gives very little detail about the mythology behind the creature. He has always been a filmmaker who knows that the audience becomes more frightened when they are not given answers.
It may be easier to classify talk Purely as an exercise in style, but Carpenter is a more politically motivated filmmaker than one might imagineIn many ways, talk Is The plot is reminiscent of a 1970s thrillerwhich were derived from reactionary reactions to the Nixon administration and the Vietnam War. It is easy to see how division and widespread consumerism were influential in American politics within the Reagan era talk, As the film examines the consequences of mistrust, selfish narrow-mindedness and over-dependence on technology. Although some viewers may be able to see beyond these more subtle concepts talkCarpenter’s later work was even more straightforward and direct; they live is a commentary on subliminal messages in capitalist societies, in the face of madness addressed offensive fan culture, and big trouble in little china Satirized the role of white privilege in the American concept of heroism. Take a deeper look into John Carpenter’s darkness, and there’s more hidden than you might first imagine.
talk Available to rent in the US on Prime Video
talk
A team of researchers set out to study an alien spacecraft found in Antarctica, where they also found an alien body at the site. The alien buried in ice is actually alive and has the ability to mimic human form. The group must find a way to survive and identify who the real person is. John Carpenter’s 1982 film is a remake of 1951’s The Thing from Another World and stars Kurt Russell as protagonist RJ MacReady.
- release date
- 25 June 1982
- Order
- 109 minutes
