A Norwegian helicopter is seen chasing a dog through the
Antarctic until it reaches a US Research Station. A man emerges and tries
killing the dog but is himself shot by one of the researchers. Eager to
understand what drove the man to such lengths, helicopter pilot MacReady (Kurt
Russell) and Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart) head off to find out what is going on
in the Norwegian station. When they arrive they find death and destruction but
discover that the Norwegians had discovered a craft and frozen body deep inside
the ice. The US
team take the body back to their base for an autopsy but soon discover it isn’t
a dead body but a thawed out creature that is capable of killing and metamorphosing into anyone with which it
has contact. Not knowing who amongst them is still human the team enters into a
climate of fear and mistrust and battle to stop The Thing from reaching civilization.
This film was recommended
to me by a friend a few months ago at the same time as I watched The Fly. I liked that film but The Thing is on a whole different level.
I enjoyed it from start to finish and although never scared, thought it was a
brilliant thriller with wonderful creature design.