Since the beginning of the horror movie genre, monster movies have been a huge draw for audiences. While movies like Jaws and The Birds get thrills from animal attacks, there is something even more unsettling about an unnatural creature that is hunting the characters. As such, there are some true monster movie classics that horror fans still watch.
Certainly, one of the best of this subgenre is Alien. Ridley Scott’s sci-fi horror movie introduced one of the most iconic movie monsters of all time in the form of the deadly and heartless xenomorph. The creature design is nightmarish, solidifying it as an unforgettable creation that has lasted for decades. The recent series Alien: Earth serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of Alien.
The Thing is the greatest monster horror movie
Having already defined the slasher horror movie genre with Halloween, director John Carpenter managed to create a monster movie masterpiece with 1982’s The Thing. The movie is actually a remake of the 1951 movie The Thing from Another World, which was an adaptation of the sci-fi short story Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell.
The movie is set in Antarctica, where the small crew of a remote research facility encounters a seemingly unstoppable alien that is able to take on the form and disguise itself as any living organism that it comes in contact with. As the heroes struggle with knowing who to trust, they must stop the alien before it reaches the mainland.
The Thing was a box office flop when it was initially released and was dismissed by critics as a disgusting B-movie. However, over time, it has become renowned as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. Fans praise the brilliant mix of tension, gore, and thrills that the movie delivers, while also creating an unforgettable movie monster.
The Thing’s monster is a brilliant creation
The Thing certainly owes a lot to Ridley Scott’s Alien for paving the way for other sci-fi horror movies, but when it comes to creating a one-of-a-kind monster, The Thing deserves all the acclaim it has received over the years. While Alien created a monster that is now recognizable across pop culture, The Thing’s monster is brilliant for never truly revealing itself.
When the monster is first introduced, it is disguised as a dog. It becomes clear that there is something unusual about the dog, but what is eerie is how much it can act and look like all the other dogs at the facility. This sets up the true terror of the movie; that this deadly alien can be alone at any time, and the rest of the team will not be able to tell.
It is a monster that hides in plain sight, yet when we see its transformations, it is an awe-inspiring and grotesque experience. The Thing contains the greatest creature effects of all time, with some truly original and haunting images of the alien’s constantly changing organisms. Part of the reason The Thing has had such a lasting impact is that the practical effects hold up so well more than 40 years later.
The monster is also one of the most resilient threats in any horror movie. As long as the smallest part of the alien is still alive, it can still survive, still mimic, and still hunt. The heroes are completely outmatched by this creature, and the possibilities of what it might do if it reaches a populated area increase the stakes and create a true nightmare.
The Thing remains a perfect horror movie
When people seek out monster movies, they want something that will deliver a terrifying foe and some memorable deaths. Of course, that is not enough to make a great horror movie. The Thing certainly does deliver on those two points, but it also works on a much deeper level with its themes and characters.
The ensemble is terrific, led by Kurt Russell as the exciting yet grounded hero MacReady. Seeing these characters as real people and a team makes it all the more impactful when they are gradually torn apart due to mistrust and fear. It is within those very human sentiments that the real dread of The Thing comes from.
The movie works as a reflection of the Cold War paranoia of the time, but the idea of not knowing who to trust and being wary of those around us is an idea that resonates just as strongly to this day. It grounds this monster movie in something relatable, all leading to the still-debated ending that highlights the debilitating nature of distrust.
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