Review: 'The Thing' Satisfies Die-Hard Horror Fans

By Michael Lopez

We know what you're thinking. It's two more weeks until Halloween, where are all the horror flicks? Instead of Freddies and Jasons, we've got Winter the dolphin on our movie screen! But fear not gore fans, Universal has got a pretty creepy offering in theaters this weekend with its shape-shifting shock fest, The Thing!

For those of you unfamiliar, The Thing is actually a prequel to a beloved John Carpenter movie of the same name. Though it wasn't a big box office hit, the original Thing has become a cult classic. Not just for its creepy storyline, but for its disgustingly bloody special effects!

Well the good news about this week's release is that they've delivered in the creature feature department. The only problem is, the script needs some work. There's no doubt that die-hard Thing fans will eat up the homages to the first film, but for everyone else the plot may seem a bit thin.

The story revolves around Dr. Kate Lloyd (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead), an American paleontologist who's recruited by Norwegian researchers in Antarctica. What she thinks is a routine gig soon turns into the discovery of a lifetime as the team unearths an actual alien trapped in ice.

Eager to study the creature, the team leader (played by Ulrich Thompson) orders it autopsied, much to the chagrin of Kate. But here's the kicker, the "deceased" monster is actually alive (and ready to devour some humans!).

From there, it’s your typical horror action fare. One by one, members of the cast get gobbled up. But the interesting twist is that the creature can replicate the humans it eats, adding a great "don’t trust anybody" vibe throughout the film. Yes the predictable ending may leave you a bit disappointed, but we dare you to make it through the whole movie without jumping up at least once!

Bottom line: If you're looking for a good pre-Halloween scare, you can't go wrong with The Thing. It's got mystery, gross out scenes, and even some sci-fi elements (that are put to much better use than Cowboys & Aliens). We say enjoy the ride, but don’t expect any Oscar-worthy performances.

Are you planning on watching The Thing this weekend? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Halloween, Horror Movies, John Carpenter, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Movie Reviews, Movies & CineMás, The Thing