If you are a fan of the 1982 The Thing which benefited from more advanced special effects than in the early 50's version. Finally the writers decided to add women characters to the mix. The lead being Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) in the Kurt Russell role. This is intended to be a prequel to the earlier version but the screening was filled with rabid fans eagerly awaiting it. Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr and written by Eric Heisserer and Robert D. Moore the film drags in many places and by far the best performances is by The Thing itself, who is vastly visually improved via effects is still eerily creepy.
The earth opens up to swallow some researchers who discover the frozen Thing and it's spacecraft buried deep within the ice. Of course this first proof of alien life is treated as scientists will...they must bring it up and study it for fame and fortune and "science". It proceeds to infest and imitate pretty much everyone at one time or another. Including the dog. It's "stop it from leaving and getting away at all costs” results in a lock down quarantine. Uninspiring performances from characters who looked bored at times and consequently bore us with all their "how will we survive this and destroy it without dying?" chatter drags the film down. Creature/human encounters are the only saving grace. Those sequences are horrifying and explicit but hardly terrifying. Basically it is the 1982 film presented as a prequel. Same story twice just a slight change of characters. The fans were pleased and they applauded the ending. Stay for the credits to see the segue to Part II materialize. Not bad but not great, it is simply visually interesting.
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)
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