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John Carpenter is widely acknowledged today as a mastermind in the realm of writing, directing, and composing. However, the scenario was not the same in 1982. By then, he had already made a name for himself with the 1978 slasher classic “Halloween,” along with commendable creations like “Assault on Precinct 13” and “The Fog.” Yet, his subsequent venture after the reasonably successful “Escape From New York” turned out to be a significant disappointment.
The film in question was “The Thing,” which, despite its initial failure, has gained recognition for its brilliance over time. It even led to a somewhat perplexing prequel/remake in 2011 and has been referenced in numerous spoofs, from “The X-Files” to James Gunn’s “Slither.” It’s challenging to fathom a time when “The Thing” was not hailed as a remarkable piece of horror and science-fiction. The movie forced viewers to grapple with Cold War-era fears of anyone potentially being an enemy while simultaneously delivering some truly terrifying special effects. However, it seems that the audiences of the early 80s were not prepared for it. In a conversation with Variety, Carpenter provided a brief overview of his film career and revealed that finding work after “The Thing” was nearly as difficult as determining whether MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David) was the Thing at the film’s conclusion.
The Thing’s Impact on Carpenter’s Career
Universal Pictures
In the interview, Carpenter discussed why he believed “The Thing” initially performed so poorly with critics and audiences:
“‘The Thing’ was a disaster. It was despised by fans and critics alike. They felt I revealed too much of the monster. That’s something you simply don’t do. Only a low-budget director, like me, would expose the monster. It’s supposed to be concealed in the shadows. I was in dire need of employment after ‘The Thing’ as no one would hire me. Then ‘Christine’ came along, and I accepted the job, which turned out to be more successful than anticipated.”
Although there are certainly instances when concealing the monster in the shadows is the scarier choice, Carpenter made the right decision with “The Thing” by displaying the horror in all its grotesque and gory splendor. His rendition of “The Thing From Another World,” which he was initially reluctant to remake, was a narrative about mistrust and paranoia. The real nightmare wasn’t necessarily the monsters but the uncertainty of which among your companions might turn out to be a lurking monster. The shocking instances when humans and animals transform into mutated Things serve as a break from the tense drama unfolding among the survivors as they try to thwart this enigmatic alien invasion.
However, unlike Carpenter, Russell attributed the film’s box office failure to aliens — specifically, a particular alien fond of Reese’s Pieces.
E.T. vs The Thing
Universal Pictures
While Carpenter may attribute the failure of “The Thing” to the violation of some unwritten horror rules, Russell offers a more practical perspective. In a 2015 interview with Esquire, he suggested that the film’s release just two weeks after the beloved blockbuster “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” played a significant role in its downfall. He believed that the stark contrast in the portrayal of alien narratives, coupled with the paranoid despair of “The Thing,” was probably too overwhelming for the audiences at the time. “It was released the same year as ‘E.T.’ and we had an alien that most of the audience couldn’t bear to watch! It was merely a story of paranoia, masterfully executed,” he explained. His viewpoint seems valid, considering “The Thing’s” relentless bleakness and the availability of more digestible alternatives in the cinemas in 1982.
Fortunately, by 2024, “The Thing” has earned respect as a cinematic masterpiece, and people have begun to appreciate its profound commentary on the human condition, our deepest fears, and our propensity to turn against each other under certain circumstances. It also boasts some of the most gruesome practical visual effects in film history, offering a truly unique horror experience.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
