The Thing (1982)
A third teaming with Carpenter created an instant classic in the form of the never bettered creature feature, The Thing. A loose remake of 1951’s The Thing From Another World (itself directed by an uncredited Howard Hughes and quite the classic in B-movies spheres), this slow-burning masterpiece sees Russell star as MacReady, the seemingly lone voice of reason on an isolated Arctic research base. When his compatriots discover an alien being in the snow that, once thawed, can incubate in, imitate and eviscerate whoever it likes, it’s down to MacReady to keep a cool head when everyone else is quite literally losing theirs. The blood test scene remains an iconic moment in cinema history, thanks as much to tight performances from all concerned as much as some incredible special effects work (way before CGI did the job for you).
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