With most of its ten episodes bookended by interviews from the real-life veterans on which the story is based, it’s compelling from start to finish, and will likely leave you in floods of tears by the end. Special effects artist Stan Winston had to come in and complete one of the most memorable scenes in the movie, when the Alaskan Malamute transforms into the Thing inside the dog kennel. The grotesque nature of the monster transformation and its ability to hide in plain sight by assimilating both man and animal makes the alien a dangerous antagonist, and one of the best monsters to ever be featured in a film.
Beyond the 1982 and 2011 films:
The Evil Dead is a horror movie from 1981 starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raimi. The film follows Ash Williams, who after visiting a cabin in the woods, is tormented by deadites and must fight for his life after his friends are possessed. The Evil Dead not only started a long-running horror franchise, but it is also the film responsible for putting both Raimi and Campbell on the map as a director and actor, respectively.
You can’t help but wonder or hope somehow that the two remaining characters survived, but the audience knows it’s unlikely. The heroes don’t just defeat the alien, but they pay the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives ,and the two last survivors share a bottle of whiskey while waiting for death to arrive. This underlying sense of uncertainty is even present in Ennio Morricone’s score. It plays like an eerie heartbeat to the impending doom lurking inside Outpost 31. This element of doubt is at the core John Campbell’s short story, “Who Goes There?”. According to science fiction historians, Campbell was raised by his mother and aunt; both were identical twins.
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The Glenn Howerton-led sitcom about a disgraced Harvard professor who reluctantly returns to his hometown to “teach” high school biology aired for two seasons on NBC before it was canceled and then resurrected by Peacock for another two seasons. They thought that I had betrayed some kind of trust, and the piling on was insane. Even the original movie’s director, Christian Nyby, was dissing me.
Better yet, it’s all available to stream in beautiful 4K UHD – provided you have a TV with the prerequisite number of pixels, natch. Kurt Russell leads the strong cast (familiar faces Richard Jenkins, Matthew Fox and Patrick Wilson top 10 movies also appear) as a stoic small-town sheriff spurred into action when a group of cave-dwelling Native Americans kidnap two of his townspeople. Resolving to rescue the victims and punish the perpetrators, a small posse ventures out into the dry, rocky wilderness, not realising what awaits them. Mad Men may be among the most painstakingly crafted television series of all time; it’s certainly among the best. Like The Sopranos, it succeeds in skirting the line between entertainment and “high art” brilliantly, all while being funnier than 90% of comedy shows. Often so surreal, awkward and bizarre that it’s hard to believe Fielding’s unsuspecting clients aren’t in on the joke (they’re not), Nathan For You is a true comedy original.
Jack Nicholson was never more menacing than when playing Jack Torrance, the recovering alcoholic and aspiring novelist who found himself slowly being compelled into a murderous rampage due to the spooky influence of the spirits of the Overlook Hotel. With endless symbolism and a healthy dose of the supernatural, The Shining captured the eerie essence of King’s book, even if the author himself was not a fan. We didn’t have a blockbuster January like we did in 2023‘s, when genre surprises M3GAN and Plane went Certified Fresh. But Daisy Ridley got her post-Skywalker win with Sometimes I Think About Dying.
Being a 1950s film, The Thing from Another World can come off quite cheesy by today’s standards, and the pace can feel a bit languid. The monster also isn’t very scary when looked at through a modern lens. Still, it’s not fair to judge such an old film by what audiences are used to today. Those with the patience needed to watch it play out will be rewarded by an interesting story, characters worth spending time with, cool sci-fi concepts, and some very tense moments. This 2011 adaptation of The Thing is technically a prequel to the 1982 John Carpenter film, but in actuality, it basically functions as a remake.
As good as The Thing from Another World is, there’s no doubt that John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece The Thing betters it in every way. It’s possible that Carpenter wouldn’t agree though, as his fandom of the first adaptation of Who Goes There? Carpenter’s take is actually a lot closer to John W. Campbell’s book, and features better acting, a better score, tighter plotting, and of course some of the most amazing practical monster effects ever committed to film. – based on a long-lost longer version of the story called Frozen Hell – in the works, it seems like a good time to revisit the prior three versions of The Thing. (Musical / multi-day) People’s Light presents a creative, interactive twist on the classic Peter Pan story with all your favorite characters, Broadway talent, and a TikTok-loving crocodile. (Musical / multi-day) Arden Theatre presents an interactive adaptation of J.M.
However, they soon find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior with advanced technology and a penchant for collecting human trophies. As the creature picks them off one by one, Dutch must rely on his wits and combat skills to survive the ultimate test of man versus alien. The Fly has gained an important place in popular culture and has been parodied numerous times, like in The Simpsons’ “Treehouse of Horror VIII,” when Homer used a matter transporter machine that switched his head with that of a fly.
Keith David Doesn’t Think His Character Was the Thing
Horror movies can traverse many different genres as they often combine elements of comedy, fantasy, sci-fi, or, in the case of Predator, action movies. This action horror starring Arnold Schwarzenegger led to an entire franchise as humans faced off against the highly skilled extraterrestrial creatures known as Yautja. By taking the action-hero persona that Schwarzenegger had developed in movies like Commando and blending it with the horror of a seemingly unstoppable alien foe in the jungle, Predator was a claustrophobic classic with impressive special effects for its time. Some of the greatest horror movies ever made were released in the 1980s as all-time great directors like David Cronenberg, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven really came into their own. The 1980s saw the creation of franchises that have continued right up to this day and the introduction of horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who have become icons of modern popular culture.
The location where the story takes place traps the characters as well as the audience, and the vast region of Antarctica suddenly becomes incredibly claustrophobic for anyone watching. Isolated on a research facility in Antarctica surrounded by miles of snow, ice, and cold weather, there is no escape for any of the characters, or the viewer, for that matter. The location amplifies the danger facing the men battling this mysterious creature from outer space. When the movie starts, we watch two Norwegian men ride in a helicopter over barren landscape on a search and destroy a mission to kill a fleeing dog. “Halloween” established Carpenter as a force to be reckoned with in the film industry after grossing $47 million at the box office, an impressive feat because the movie was made on a $300K budget.
The filmmaker, a semi-pro cyclist, embarks on a hardcore doping regimen to demonstrate the flaws in the drugs-testing process. This series (now six seasons plus two spin-off seasons strong) shadows world-renowned chefs as they take viewers on a personal journey through their culinary evolution – providing an intimate, informative glimpse into what gets their creative juices flowing. The direction and camera work, Jonny Greenwood’s wonderful score and the lead actors’ performance make this a worthy swan song for Day-Lewis – but don’t be surprised if Anderson manages to coax him out of retirement for another stellar turn one day. Even judge Paul Hollywood’s somewhat sinister presence wasn’t enough to ruin the resulting pudding.