Some films are revisited, rebooted, remade and re-imagined on such a frequency I feel as if they are coin releases from the Franklin mint and I’m somehow obligated to collect them all. As is the case with some of these coin collectables, not necessarily from the aforementioned source, only the original, government issued one has any intrinsic value. The remainders have a certain entertainment worth and may be a lot of fun but are not able to rise to the originality of the progenitor. A prime example of the hypothesis is the franchise of films generally referred to as ‘The Thing’. It began with one of the cold war eras’ best blend of science fiction and horror, ‘The Thing from Another World’ released in 1951’. Set in the site of Americas’ early warning missile defense system, the Arctic, a group of scientist and U.S. Air Force men save the world from a blood thirsty extraterrestrial vegetable. In 1982 undisputed master of horror John Carpenter moves the action to the other pole, the Antarctic’ this time the menace from beyond our solar system is far more insidious. It is able to assimilate and then imitate and life form including humans. Here the horror was generated by the extremely effective plot device of paranoia instead of the brute force offered in the 1951 version. Both were based on the novella ‘Who Goes There?’ by John W. Campbell, Jr. and it is generally accepted that Carpenter’s version is truer to the book. This latest version released in 2011 was created as a prequel, apparently out of respect for the Carpenter film but with little reference to the classic variation most of us grow up with and remembering fondly. Since Carpenter’s version was able to present a purer horror independent of the subtle anti Communist mess\age woven into the 1951 form I can see a valid case for this opinion and thematic slant. This new version does fall short of the abject terror generated by Carpenter’s but that is to be somewhat expected. The 2011 ‘Thing is a worthy part of the franchise, I statement I do find difficult to believe I could make. It is scary and well made but does lack that unique Carpenter twist.

The film opens at the bottom of the globe in 1982 when a team of scientist uncovers an object that turns out to be an interstellar space craft imbedded in the sheet of glacial ice. The team consists of some of the most preeminent researchers on Norway; Edvard (Trond Espen Seim), Jonas (Kristofer Hivju), Olav (Jan Gunnar Røise), Karl (Carsten Bjørnlund), Juliette (Kim Bubbs), Lars (Jørgen Langhelle), Henrik (Jo Adrian Haavind), Colin (Jonathan Lloyd Walker), and Peder (Stig Henrik Hoff). The team leader Dr. Sander Halvorson (Ulrich Thomsen) has his assistant, Adam Finch (Eric Christian Olsen) arrange to add a noted paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) to the team. Out at the crash site they realize the discovery is more monumental that first thought; a survivor was thrown free and buried in the ice. It was only natural that they liberate the being and bring it back to their base for further examination. This would quickly become a decision they would regret. This regret would begin shortly after the bases’ helicopter pilot helicopter co-pilot Derek (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) witnesses the creature bursting free from its block of ice. There are certain elements that are so vital to the fundamental story that not filmmaker would risk the ire of the fans through alteration or omission. The factors that must survive throughout the franchise include the block of ice that surrounds the alien, its inadvertent liberation and the resultant deadly rampage; another is the juxtaposition of the cerebral minded scientist and the pragmatic military man. Although altered to suit the new intentions of the filmmaker this version does respect the traditional aspects of the story. Once this is achieved the film move one to what puts the butts in the seats; violence, gore and gruesome special effects. Since this a prequel to the 1982 version the killer carrot remains replaced by the ultimate shape shifter. Fire is the only way to destroy the creature in any of its forms it also is a handy and visually explosive way to test if the guy next to you is who you think he is. Of course, a flame thrower is inherently a formidable means to generate terror and is well employed here.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead does well in providing the requisite plot devices. First of all an attractive young woman is needed for eye candy, romantic potential and a good old fashion scream. She also is cast as an American in order to help our audiences connect with the characters. The director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. is making his feature film start here and does very well. It takes a lot to choice to take on an established horror director like Carpenter but van Heijningen seeks to improve his credential by doing exactly that. The suspense is compromised to a degree which is part of the issues raised in a prequel. The fans already know the ultimate resolution so surprise becomes a relative thing. The cast also lacks a dominant male on par with Carpenter’s favorite lead actor, Kurt Russell. The chemistry between actor and filmmaker demonstrated by this pair creates cinematic magic. These are incredibly high standards for a new comer to horror films to take on. Since the producers are from the zombie aficionados it is reassuring that van Heijningen did not take the well trod undead pathway so many new directors in the genre have taken. He shows a lot of promise and is off on the right track. It should be noted that included as an extra is the pas code to activate the Ultraviolet digit copy though ‘Flickster’.

U-Control: Picture-in-Picture
Deleted/Extended Scenes
The Thing Evolves
Fire & Ice
Feature Commentary with Director Matthijs van Heijningen and Producer Eric Newman
D-Box Motion Enabled
Pocket Blu
BD Live Enabled
Ultraviolet Digital Copy Of Feature Film

Posted 02/03/12