Quote:
Originally posted by gorefreak
...what would you consider "The Thing" to be?
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I agree: The Thing fits better into the Horror genre rather than Science Fiction. John Carpenter did the re-make after the 1951 Howard Hawks production, the Thing from Another World which was loosely based on the science fiction novella by John Campbell, Jr. entitled "Who goes there".
If I remember correctly, John Carpenter wanted his re-make to be closer to the novella. Not having ever read it, I don't have any basis for saying how close it is. However, his unique approach to the film is the key element that brings it closer to Horror than Science Fiction.
The fact that they are dealing with an alien being that mimics what it absorbs into itself, this is certainly Science Fiction. But John goes further and brings conflict and paranoia into the equation, among the characters in the film. They are not only isolated from the world, they are also isolated from each other and don't know who they can trust.
The theme of isolation and paranoia, coupled with the virtually indestructible enemy within (furthermore, as a metaphor or commentary on the strange new disease in the blood - AIDS) brings this film to a whole new level of horror.
I'm glad that cinephiles are beginning to take notice of this film, compared to its time of release. It is indeed one of John Carpenter's best.