Category: Good

Messages and Meaning

The Thing effectively continues the themes from the first film. The sense of paranoia and distrust remains, and while it doesn’t reach the depth of the original, the 2011 story works well – not as a film that claims to be on par with the first, but rather as a complement to it and an expansion of its universe.

The film also presents us with the classic scenario – the wealthy refuse to listen to the competent scientist, and everything goes to hell. The theme of people who ignore authority because of their greed always works and always leaves the viewer with a sense of satisfaction, as they are subconsciously placed in the position of the one who knows better.

Plot

The plot makes the smart choice to serve as a prequel to the first film. The 1982 film *The Thing* stands on its own and has an excellent ending. So continuing the story beyond that point would feel flat. But the 2011 sequel decides to unravel the only unresolved mystery from the first film – what happened at the first camp.

The film is coherent and reveals more about the alien life form, which is interesting and adds additional layers to the story.

Characters

The characters are acceptable, and while they aren’t on the same level as the originals, they still adhere to the basic principles of natural reactions and well-depicted archetypes.

Kate – Kate is in the classic role of the know-it-all that no one wants to listen to. And while she doesn’t go much further than that, she’s likable enough that you want her to survive, which is enough.

Important details

The film pays close attention to recreating small details exactly as they appear in the original – such as the axe stuck in the wall – which creates an exceptionally good atmosphere.

The scene with the teeth is clever because it makes a direct reference to the original iconic scene, yet presents it to us in a new way.

The idea of ending the story where the original begins is a good one and creates a sense of closure.