“MAN IS THE WARMEST PLACE TO HIDE.”

On the first episode of Hype from Outer Heaven in 2024, join Kyle, Brandon, Caleb and Prince as they catch up after the festive period by breaking down one of Kyle and Brandon’s favourite movies of all time, none other than John Carpenter’s 1982 Sci-Fi Horror classic: The Thing (both Caleb and Prince have never seen this movie, so expect some controversial opinions!).

Despite being a cult classic, The Thing was initially poorly received due to the unfortunate timing of the movie’s release during the box office success of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. which presented a child-friendly take on an alien life form, which was the polar opposite to the blood-drenched, shape-shifting nightmare found in Carpenter’s movie.

To quote the back of the VHS box:

“Set in the winter of 1982 at a research station in Antarctica where a 12 man research team finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has remained buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon it is unfrozen and unleashed, creating havoc and terror as it changes forms and becomes one of them.

Put this frightening story together with outstanding performances, incredible special effects by Roy Aborgast, make-up by Rob Bottin, and special visual effects by master Albert Whitlock and you’ve got a movie that Time Magazine describes as ‘Horrific’.”

Starring Hollywood big hitters: Kurt Russell and Keith David; The Thing would be heavily criticised at the time of it’s release for its use of hyper gore, cited by critics as distracting away from the film’s psychological themes in favour of being overly gruesome; however, in the modern age where movies are over-saturated with CGI, the hyper realistic, analogue effects that were used in The Thing are one of the main reasons as to why the film is revered as a benchmark of classic horror over the decades (regarded by some as the greatest horror movie ever made).

The spectacular practical effects from Rob Bottin, excellent cinematography from John Carpenter and Dean Cundey, and haunting score from Ennio Morricone has solidified The Thing in the annals of cinema history, standing as a benchmark for what horror films should aspire to be.

Stay Frosty!

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Intro/Outro Song Segments: Hot Nights in Los Angeles

Artist: Three Chain Links (Jim Hall)

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