The Thing (2011)

October Challenge Day 5:

John Carpenter's The Thing is like scripture in my family. We quote it regularly, perhaps too regularly. 

Just last week my niece was put into quarantine after her college roommate tested positive for COVID-19. One of my brother's in our group chat responded with Blair's "I don't want to stay out here anymore. I want to come back inside" (as just one of thousands of examples). We all laughed and laughed and are very concerned of course.

I'm stressing this because when another brother and I decided to watch this prequel we were both intrigued and guardedly optimistic about what was in store. And now I have a few things to say about:

The Thing

Okay, so it started off pretty interesting. It really did. We were both fully tuned in and excitedly awaiting the creature's appearance. But as time went on and we spent more and more time with graduate student Kate Lloyd, irritations began to arise. I'm really terribly sorry actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead, but we legit didn't understand your character's history or actual purpose in this film. So much so that it became distracting. 

And then - the creature emerged from the melted ice. The ultimate test!

Which failed our expectations thoroughly.  

Considering how many easter eggs and tributes were on display for John Carpenter's version, throughout the film, you'd think more effort to not CGI this monster would have taken a priority. I'm sad to say ... I'm just sad. 

I have all the sads.

Let's get back to the positive for a second though and stress what a great idea this movie was. For those unaware, the 1982 version starts off with a husky running out of nowhere to an American scientific lab on Antarctica. We learn later this dog arrived from a Norwegian scientific lab not too far away. Brilliance follows. In this film we start with the Norwegian lab and learn about what happened ... what lead to that dog running away. I LOVE IT! Super great idea.

While this film had some promising moments, overall - for these passionately devoted fans of The Thing - it just wasn't good enough. Could have been done better. 

That said, I understand this was a difficult one to pull off for fanatic fans of John Carpenter's version. Although, expectations were not met (particularly in our family), if you're not a fanatic fan and/or never seen the 1982 version then I actually recommend this film. I recommend even watching the films in chronological order. Start with this one and prepare for life changing experiences. 

I know I'm giving this film a little bit of a hard time but I'm also going to embrace my Simpson's comic book guy side for a moment regarding my love for the original remake of the original. 

Check it out, you may like it. Fair warning for certain fans though. It isn't garbage, it just isn't all I was hoping for. 

Pairs with watching 1951's The Thing from Another World and a load of cozy blankets. Best watched when ready. 

I watched this film on HBO, or use the Find It! Watch It! links on Horror Habit's sidebar to see where else you can find this (personally) meh feature. 

The Thing (1982)

October Challenge Day 2:

I was chatting with a neighbor recently. She relayed how she enjoys falling asleep to classic black and white spooky movies.

I said, fondly: "Yeah, I love falling asleep to the original The Thing.

Her head shot back and responded, shocked: "Wow, you're hard core".

I made it worse by looking off into the distance and adding: "It just makes me think of family."

Folks, this movie is an institution with our family. We live, breath, speak this film. When the whole family is together we usually end up playing the board game (The Thing: Infection At Outpost 31) until late into the evening (2 AM is not out of the question). So when I said I like to fall asleep to this film and it makes me think of family, I'm referring to wonderful memories and happy times.

I will admit, we are also somewhat of an odd but lovable family. 

To kick off this year's October Challenge, instead of starting the movie binge with a film I have never seen (usually the case), I curled up into bed, snug as a bug, and joyfully began watching this classic.

This film is so much fun. It's rowdy, weird, gruesome, and oh oh oh so quotable. The plot follows a research crew in Antarctica who are carrying on with business as usual until an alien that crashed landed there countless years ago, is awakened. A shape shifting alien...

Folks. I feel it's important for you to know that the special effects in this film are absolutely spectacular. No matter how many times I watch it, when the creature makes an appearance my jaw drops.

I'm actually having a hard time trying to provide a review of this film, because how can you type up a movie review of your heart? So, instead - this will be more of some sort of shape-shifting ode for my love of the film:

Clark, you sketchy dude you. I love how you call it how it is. It is weird and pissed off whatever it is. Amen.

Nauls, you have no idea how I hard I laugh out loud when you suggest we might be at war with Norway. Love your skates.

Dr. Cooper, thank you for reminding everyone that Norway and Sweden are two different countries.

MacReady, I really love how you're casually carrying around a whiskey bottle, taking sips here and there through the beginning of the film. It's just, it just - my heart swells. I can't explain it. 

Childs - oh Childs. Thank you for never taking shit. I heart your sparkling flame-throwing personality.

Blair, what can I say. You called it first. You knew what was coming. You can't come back inside though. You have to stay outside.

To the rest of the research crew: Thank you. Thank you for turning into a shape-shifting alien (or fighting it) for my total entertainment.

HEART YOU

via GIPHY

Pairs with flamethrowers, whiskey, snack food served in petri dishes, and a few trusted individuals. Best watched on a cold night.

I own this film. Use the links on Horror Habit's side bar to locate where else you can watch this monumental feature.

Boo (2005)

Good evening, horror movie fans... [insert evil laugh].

Tonight's spooky tale is brought to us from the producers of Dog Soldiers. I love Dog Soldiers, I believe it is one of the best werewolf films ever made, period. I rented this movie because it had the words Dog Soldiers on the cover.

Speaking of a cover, unfortunately the DVD cover of this film is absurdly spooky. I've found that when movies have absurdly spooky covers, the cover is the spookiest element of the movie.

But I'm holding out hope for this one though (see also: Dog Soldiers), even though the tagline says: "You don't have a ghost of a chance" [groan].

So apparently in this film a bunch of kids break into an abandoned hospital on Halloween night. I have yet to see where, in a horror movie, this ever turns out good for anyone. But we'll see what happens tonight in, Boo.

Tonight's movie pairing: left overs. See you all after the show!

Update:

And the movie was not that bad. There were scenes that gave me the creeps, and there is one scene in particular that I'll likely have nightmares about (and I suspect the producers of Dog Soldiers came up with it).

Very gruesome. Very.
.
Of course there were the stock characters:

The blonde ingenue
The dark haired temptress
The dirt bag boyfriend
The nice guy
The comedian

But I didn't expect Dynamite Jones. My favorite character in the film. In the film this character, a retired 1970's movie star turned cop, apparently starred in the following (fake) movies:

• Meet Dynamite Jones
• Dynamite Ignited
• Dynamite Jones vs. The Dope Pope
• Dynamite Jones vs Count Pimpula
• Dynamite Jones vs Fankenfro

This character made the film very entertaining. I didn't see enough of him.

Story line was alright, but I just kept seeing a mix between Scream, The Thing (1982), and Cabin Fever. Watch with friends who have a strong stomach, and wait at least 45 minutes after eating before watching.