The Thing (2011/1982)

DVD CASE/SIDE

Length of both films altogether:  212 Minutes

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Rated:

The Thing (2011)	The Thing (1982)
15	X (18+)

Director: 

The Thing (2011)	The Thing (1982)
Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.	John Carpenter

Starring: 

The Thing (2011)	The Thing (1982)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Joel Edgerton Ulrich Thomsen Eric Christian Olsen Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Paul Braunstein Trond Espen Seim	Kurt Russell Wilford Brimley Keith David Richard Masur T.K. Carter David Clennon Richard Dysart

IMDB Rank:

The Thing (2011)	The Thing (1982)	Total
6.2 / 10	8.2 / 10	7.2 / 10

Film 1 Runtime:  103 Minutes

Film 2 Runtime:  109 Minutes

Where does the first film end? Lars (Jørgen Langhelle) and Matias (Ole Martin Aune Nilsen) realizing the sled dog is now the Thing, give chase in a helicopter in an attempt to kill the alien once and for all. The film credits roll in between scenes.

Final line of dialogue on the first film: “Get it up, get it up now! Come on!” Lars shouts at Matias as the helicopter takes flight.

First line of dialogue on the second film: The first scene continues Lars and Matias unsuccessfully tries to shoot the Thing. The following scene has MacReady (Kurt Russell) playing Chess Wizard (an interactive chess game). Chess Wizard announces MacReady’s turn, “Your move: Bishop to knight four.”

How jarring is it when the first film ends? Jarring, the first film leaves you on a cliffhanger as Lars and Matias are in pursuit of the Thing (which has now assimilated into a sled dog). Will Lars and Matias be able to stop the Thing from reaching the next outpost station?

Which part is better? Although released 29 years after the first film adaptation, the 2011 version of The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film version, documenting the Norwegian camps discovery of the alien spacecraft and aftermath. The 1982 film picks up following the Norwegian events, eventually leading to an American research facility. Although part one gives background into the chaotic events of the Norwegian camp, part two is significantly better as it feels more authentic and has an equal amount of action, paranoia and suspense.

Academy Awards: None