subject: The Thing Prequel Poster Surfaces Online [print this page] The Thing is a cinematic classic, a thing of such creative genius that it's very difficult to conceive topping its narrative flow, its haunting special effects and horrific alien/earth hybrid creatures. So what do you do in Hollywood when you can't outdo the original genre-topping film? Make a prequel with roughly the same narrative and baddies, of course!
This poster's discussion wouldn't be complete without a little bit of back-story. The film's about as bastardised an idea as it gets. The 1982 cult sci-fi original, The Thing, was in itself a remake of a 1951 film titled The Thing From Another World, which was a film adaptation of the novella Who Goes There, by John W. Campbell, Jr. Complicated enough for you?
After three versions of Chinese whispers-style film-making, we're left with the rumours of a prequel that surfaced a few years ago in the press. Based around the Norwegian team who in the 1982 film had found the Thing before Kurt Russell and friends arrived on the scene. The movie it will tell the tale of the ship's uncovering; or rather, it will if they stay faithful to what came before them.
Personally, I remember watching The Thing for the first time and being blown away by how gory and unapologetically violent and scary it was. It really was sci-fi at its most base, a movie in which the terrifying moments served the narrative well. However, the fact the special effects were all animatronics and maquettes, helped make the film a lot more credible at the time and even now.
This time around we'll be seeing a lot of CGI. There's no reason to spend millions building a detatchable electronic head with legs if you can simply animate one for half the price. Sadly that also means less realistic interaction with the Thing and its various infestations, which may be a shame when it comes to the release date.
It's also a huge cult phenomenon, having spawned comic books, games and now the prequel. Fans are likely to be fiercely protective of the mythos surrounding the 1982 version, if not the original film or even the novella. Hopefully they'll welcome the latest effort with open arms and not take to calling it a scourge on sci-fi.
It goes to show that sci-fi and horror are showing a resurgence; films like Skyline and District 9 are showing us the power of alien life, and the terror that comes with either the transformation of our world or our bodies, and The Thing's prequel might just take that idea even further.
by: Chris Tosan
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