John Carpenter's "The Thing" is a movie so cold and miserable you feel it in your bones as you watch it.
Pitting a group of U.S. civilians at an Arctic research station against a shape-shifting alien that can convincingly imitate other living organisms, Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi/horror flick notoriously bombed upon its initial release in theaters. Over 40 years later, though, it's now justly regarded as a masterclass in genre filmmaking. With its incredibly gory practical creature effects (which are as gross as they ever were) and bleak-as-hell atmosphere, Carpenter's nihilistic exercise in paranoia has aged far more gracefully than the gung-ho Reagan-era entertainment the masses were flocking to at the time it was made.
As a film ahead of its time that would go on to find a much larger fanbase thanks to home media, it was inevitable that Carpenter's "The Thing" would return in some new form...
Pitting a group of U.S. civilians at an Arctic research station against a shape-shifting alien that can convincingly imitate other living organisms, Carpenter's 1982 sci-fi/horror flick notoriously bombed upon its initial release in theaters. Over 40 years later, though, it's now justly regarded as a masterclass in genre filmmaking. With its incredibly gory practical creature effects (which are as gross as they ever were) and bleak-as-hell atmosphere, Carpenter's nihilistic exercise in paranoia has aged far more gracefully than the gung-ho Reagan-era entertainment the masses were flocking to at the time it was made.
As a film ahead of its time that would go on to find a much larger fanbase thanks to home media, it was inevitable that Carpenter's "The Thing" would return in some new form...
- 10/21/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Forty-one years after “The Thing” first opened in theaters and terrified audiences, director John Carpenter is still being asked about its widely debated ending. Like Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” (Is Cobb awake or dreaming?) or Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” (Is Rick Deckard a human or a replicant?) Carpenter’s body horror classic ends on a massive existential cliffhanger. In this case, it’s whether or not R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell) or Childs (Keith David) is still infected with a body-snatching alien.
One of the most popular and long-standing theories about the end of “The Thing” is courtesy of Dean Cundey, the film’s cinematographer. Cundey suggested that throughout the film a specific light gleam can be seen in the eyes of whichever body is currently inhabiting the alien. A light gleam can be seen in Childs’ eyes in the final scene, which would mean he’s infected with the Thing under Cundey’s theory.
One of the most popular and long-standing theories about the end of “The Thing” is courtesy of Dean Cundey, the film’s cinematographer. Cundey suggested that throughout the film a specific light gleam can be seen in the eyes of whichever body is currently inhabiting the alien. A light gleam can be seen in Childs’ eyes in the final scene, which would mean he’s infected with the Thing under Cundey’s theory.
- 10/12/2023
- by Zack Sharf
- Variety Film + TV
A dozen years have gone by since the release of director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 classic The Thing (watch the prequel Here). Looking back at the project now, van Heijningen has some regrets over the way the special effects were handled on the film, and that he was never able to make the sequel they had plans for.
Directed by van Heijningen from a screenplay written by Eric Heisserer and based on the short story Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell (using the pen name Don A. Stuart), The Thing 2011 has the following synopsis: After Norwegian researchers discover an alien ship buried in the ice, paleontologist Kate Lloyd joins the team at the isolated Arctic outpost to investigate. She finds an organism that appears to have perished in the crash eons ago but, in fact, is about to awake. Freed from its icy prison,...
Directed by van Heijningen from a screenplay written by Eric Heisserer and based on the short story Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell (using the pen name Don A. Stuart), The Thing 2011 has the following synopsis: After Norwegian researchers discover an alien ship buried in the ice, paleontologist Kate Lloyd joins the team at the isolated Arctic outpost to investigate. She finds an organism that appears to have perished in the crash eons ago but, in fact, is about to awake. Freed from its icy prison,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray from Synapse
The life and art of Evil Dead special effects artist Tom Sullivan is the subject of Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist. Directed by Ryan Meade, the documentary will be released on Blu-ray on August 1 via Synapse Films.
It features archival Super 8mm, Hi8, VHS, audio, and photo materials, plus new interviews with Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Josh Becker, Danny Hicks, Hal Delrich, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Scott Spiegel, and more.
The disc carries nearly four hours of extras, including Other Men’s Careers, a documentary on filmmaker/Evil Dead alumnus Josh Becker; a 1989 interview with Sullivan; an unedited interview...
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray from Synapse
The life and art of Evil Dead special effects artist Tom Sullivan is the subject of Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist. Directed by Ryan Meade, the documentary will be released on Blu-ray on August 1 via Synapse Films.
It features archival Super 8mm, Hi8, VHS, audio, and photo materials, plus new interviews with Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Josh Becker, Danny Hicks, Hal Delrich, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Scott Spiegel, and more.
The disc carries nearly four hours of extras, including Other Men’s Careers, a documentary on filmmaker/Evil Dead alumnus Josh Becker; a 1989 interview with Sullivan; an unedited interview...
- 4/21/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Warning: The Thing spoilers jump out of nowhere in this piece!
“The last place you want to be in a storm in Antarctica is locked up with a bunch of Norwegian guys,” Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a Columbia graduate and vertebrate paleontologist, is warned as she is flown into the tundra surrounding “Thule,” the central research station in The Thing (2011). The sequestered Norse researchers have never seen John Carpenter’s claustrophobic 1982 alien invasion classic, The Thing. After all, director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and writer Eric Heisserer’s 2011 prequel is set at the Antarctic facility from which the very Thing from outer space splits at the beginning of the ‘82 film. So the newest movie, which is finding a quasi-renaissance on Netflix these days, is a translation of the prior events by Heijningen and Heisserer.
In the snowbound original film, when exploring a deserted outpost in the aftermath of an as-yet-unknown extraterrestrial disaster,...
“The last place you want to be in a storm in Antarctica is locked up with a bunch of Norwegian guys,” Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a Columbia graduate and vertebrate paleontologist, is warned as she is flown into the tundra surrounding “Thule,” the central research station in The Thing (2011). The sequestered Norse researchers have never seen John Carpenter’s claustrophobic 1982 alien invasion classic, The Thing. After all, director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and writer Eric Heisserer’s 2011 prequel is set at the Antarctic facility from which the very Thing from outer space splits at the beginning of the ‘82 film. So the newest movie, which is finding a quasi-renaissance on Netflix these days, is a translation of the prior events by Heijningen and Heisserer.
In the snowbound original film, when exploring a deserted outpost in the aftermath of an as-yet-unknown extraterrestrial disaster,...
- 4/6/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
There's a horror movie remake that's absolutely blowing up on Netflix, leaving some film fans befuddled. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s 2011 remake-slash-secret-prequel of John Carpenter's 1982 horror masterpiece "The Thing" is a divisive film that left most fans of the original feeling left out in the cold, but for some reason it's one of the hottest things on Netflix right now. Honestly, some folks who love Carpenter's version might find faults with any remake, but this remake allegedly had a troubled production with lots of studio meddling, and it ended up being a victim of its own marketing hype. So why is it suddenly trending on Netflix? Are new fans without all of that baggage discovering it for the first time, or are old ones finally giving it a reappraisal with the clarity of time? Or are people just confused and think it's the Carpenter version because they share the same name,...
- 4/4/2023
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
The Forgotten Battle Trailer — Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.‘s The Forgotten Battle (2020) movie trailer has been released by Netflix. The Forgotten Battle stars Gijs Blom, Jamie Flatters, Susan Radder, Jan Bijvoet, Tom Felton, Coen Bril, Theo Barklem-Biggs, Scott Reid, Marthe Schneider, Justus von Dohnányi, Joep Paddenburg, Mark van Eeuwen, Pit Bukowski, and [...]
Continue reading: The Forgotten Battle (2020) Movie Trailer: A Dutch Boy, English Pilot, & Zeeland Girl’s Lives Become Intertwined During WWII...
Continue reading: The Forgotten Battle (2020) Movie Trailer: A Dutch Boy, English Pilot, & Zeeland Girl’s Lives Become Intertwined During WWII...
- 9/17/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
Even as the Snyder Cut of Justice League moves towards an HBO Max release next month, there’s a second Zack Snyder project for 2021 that’s even more interesting. Yes, it’s Army of the Dead, his collaboration with Netflix. Interestingly, I only just learned that this was long intended to be (and perhaps still is) a sequel to Dawn of the Dead. Well, today we learned that it’s officially dropping on the streaming service this spring. Specifically, it hits on May 21st. A Trailer is just days away, too, so be sure to look out for that as well. It’s sure to be a big time spectacle from Snyder, to say the least. Here’s a bit from Variety: Zack Snyder’s zombie heist film, “Army of the Dead,” has set its release for May 21 at Netflix. The director announced the news on Sunday via Twitter along...
- 2/21/2021
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
Zack Snyder’s zombie heist film, “Army of the Dead,” has set its release for May 21 at Netflix.
The director announced the news on Sunday via Twitter along with the film’s official poster, adding that a teaser is coming on Thursday.
Survivors take all. #ArmyOfTheDead on @Netflix May 21.
Teaser this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/sIgDoz6rmz
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) February 21, 2021
“Army of the Dead” was first announced in 2008 as a sequel to 2004’s “Dawn of the Dead,” with Universal Studios and Warner Bros. producing and Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directing. However, the project never got off the ground and was acquired by Netflix in January 2019, with Snyder on board to direct. Snyder also wrote the script based off of his own story, along with Shay Hatten and Joby Harold.
“Army of the Dead” follows a group of mercenaries as they attempt a heist at a Las Vegas casino during a zombie outbreak.
The director announced the news on Sunday via Twitter along with the film’s official poster, adding that a teaser is coming on Thursday.
Survivors take all. #ArmyOfTheDead on @Netflix May 21.
Teaser this Thursday. pic.twitter.com/sIgDoz6rmz
— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) February 21, 2021
“Army of the Dead” was first announced in 2008 as a sequel to 2004’s “Dawn of the Dead,” with Universal Studios and Warner Bros. producing and Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directing. However, the project never got off the ground and was acquired by Netflix in January 2019, with Snyder on board to direct. Snyder also wrote the script based off of his own story, along with Shay Hatten and Joby Harold.
“Army of the Dead” follows a group of mercenaries as they attempt a heist at a Las Vegas casino during a zombie outbreak.
- 2/21/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead must be one of the only movies in history that’s already had a prequel green lit, scripted, shot and completed before it’s even been released. That’s a bizarre and yet fascinating set of circumstances, one that makes it abundantly clear that Netflix have envisioned the property as a sprawling multimedia franchise.
The concept of a team of expert thieves staging a heist on a Las Vegas casino in the midst of a zombie outbreak is an undeniably cool one, but Army of the Dead had been lingering around Hollywood for a dozen years before the architect of the Dceu took it to the world’s biggest streaming service. The Thing remake director and enemy of autocorrect Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. was attached to helm the movie as far back as 2008, while Snyder’s regular home studio Warner Bros. also passed...
The concept of a team of expert thieves staging a heist on a Las Vegas casino in the midst of a zombie outbreak is an undeniably cool one, but Army of the Dead had been lingering around Hollywood for a dozen years before the architect of the Dceu took it to the world’s biggest streaming service. The Thing remake director and enemy of autocorrect Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. was attached to helm the movie as far back as 2008, while Snyder’s regular home studio Warner Bros. also passed...
- 1/7/2021
- by Scott Campbell
- We Got This Covered
Kirsten Howard Jan 28, 2020
Universal and Blumhouse are apparently working on a The Thing remake based on an extended version of the novella Who Goes There?
Despite very cold reviews when it was first released in 1982, John Carptenter's The Thing has gone on to become a celebrated horror classic. Starring a young, bearded and incredibly on-form Kurt Russell, it was in itself a kinda-remake of Christian Nyby's The Thing From Another World (1951) and they were both based on John W. Campbell Jr.'s 1938 novella, Who Goes There?
A couple of years ago, it was revealed that an extended version of that novella had been discovered, and sci-fi writer John Betancourt then set out to make it available to interested fans via Kickstarter. Now, the newly-refurbished novel, called Frozen Hell, has apparently raised a lot of interest from the likes of Universal and Blumhouse, who are reportedly working on a feature film...
Universal and Blumhouse are apparently working on a The Thing remake based on an extended version of the novella Who Goes There?
Despite very cold reviews when it was first released in 1982, John Carptenter's The Thing has gone on to become a celebrated horror classic. Starring a young, bearded and incredibly on-form Kurt Russell, it was in itself a kinda-remake of Christian Nyby's The Thing From Another World (1951) and they were both based on John W. Campbell Jr.'s 1938 novella, Who Goes There?
A couple of years ago, it was revealed that an extended version of that novella had been discovered, and sci-fi writer John Betancourt then set out to make it available to interested fans via Kickstarter. Now, the newly-refurbished novel, called Frozen Hell, has apparently raised a lot of interest from the likes of Universal and Blumhouse, who are reportedly working on a feature film...
- 1/28/2020
- Den of Geek
Before Zack Snyder jumped on board to direct the Vegas zombie heist film Army of the Dead, the movie was in development with another filmmaker about a decade ago in 2008. That filmmaker was Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. (The Thing), and Snyder was a producer on the film at the time.
Turns out that the original script included scenes where there were "male zombies [raping] human females. Yes. And they have human hybrid zombie offsprings. It’s a new take on the zombie genre, which is crazy."
That’s pretty damn disturbing. But according to The Playlist, the script is being “completely redone,” and those scenes will not be included in Snyder’s film. Hell, ten years ago that would have been controversial, these days stuff like that is considered completely unacceptable. There’s no way that zombies raping human women would fly with audiences today! The new script is being written...
Turns out that the original script included scenes where there were "male zombies [raping] human females. Yes. And they have human hybrid zombie offsprings. It’s a new take on the zombie genre, which is crazy."
That’s pretty damn disturbing. But according to The Playlist, the script is being “completely redone,” and those scenes will not be included in Snyder’s film. Hell, ten years ago that would have been controversial, these days stuff like that is considered completely unacceptable. There’s no way that zombies raping human women would fly with audiences today! The new script is being written...
- 1/31/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
If you’re not a fan of director Matthijs van Heijningen’s 2011 The Thing, then you’re not alone. Although I didn’t have an issue with the film (outside of the wretched CGI, of course), apparently a lot of people think it’s… Continue Reading →
The post Want to See the Workprint Version of 2011’s The Thing? Sign This Petition! appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Want to See the Workprint Version of 2011’s The Thing? Sign This Petition! appeared first on Dread Central.
- 8/24/2015
- by Todd Rigney
- DreadCentral.com
Movies with perfect pace aren’t those that move quickly or slowly - they’re the ones that move at the right speed for the story being told and the style being used to tell them. There are lots of movies that I love which fail the pace test, including 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Superman (1978), Dawn Of The Dead (1979), Apocalypse Now (1979) and Taxi Driver (1976).
Consider in this list - and those aforementioned that didn’t make it to the finals - that pace is not the only thing a film needs to offer, and that it can still be a terrible film even if it is well-paced. So this is not a collection of ‘best’ movies - it’s a collection of movies with great…
...timing.
Psycho (1960)
What contrasts. What innovation. Hitch’s adaptation of Robert Bloch’s gory, Ed Gein-inspired shocker knows exactly when to speed you uncomfortably to an uncomfortable place,...
Consider in this list - and those aforementioned that didn’t make it to the finals - that pace is not the only thing a film needs to offer, and that it can still be a terrible film even if it is well-paced. So this is not a collection of ‘best’ movies - it’s a collection of movies with great…
...timing.
Psycho (1960)
What contrasts. What innovation. Hitch’s adaptation of Robert Bloch’s gory, Ed Gein-inspired shocker knows exactly when to speed you uncomfortably to an uncomfortable place,...
- 3/2/2014
- Shadowlocked
Let's Not Do It Again! continues at Trailers from Hell, with writer-director Jesus Trevino introducing "The Thing" -- and not the John Carpenter version.That director Matthijs van Heijningen used John Carpenter’s 1982 remake of The Thing as the touchstone for his 2011 prequel rather than Howard Hawks’ 1951 original says as much about contemporary audiences as his own artistic bent; Carpenter’s garishly gonzo version is far more in keeping with current audience expectations than Hawks’ intensely suspenseful but comparatively discreet monster movie. Ironically, van Heijningen’s film disappointed at the box office because its approach was deemed too slavish to Carpenter’s version.
- 2/12/2014
- by Trailers From Hell
- Thompson on Hollywood
Last fall, there were three '80s remakes in theaters: Craig Gillespie's Fright Night, Craig Brewer's Footloose and Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.'s The Thing. Out of the three, Footloose was the highest-grossing and had the best reviews. Many felt the underdog of the three was Fright Night. DreamWorks hadn't planned on their previous film, The Help, having such staying power in theaters and built up a following that ultimately ended in a Best Picture nomination and Best Supporting Actress win at the Academy Awards. The film was seemingly ignored by the moviegoing populace but found a cult audience that supported it.
Still, it seems it wasn't enough. DreamWorks has reportedly sold off the Fright Night name to a smaller studio. Their plans include making a sequel to the film (supposedly gearing up for production in Romania of all places) and having it become a "brand" ala "Tales from the Crypt...
Still, it seems it wasn't enough. DreamWorks has reportedly sold off the Fright Night name to a smaller studio. Their plans include making a sequel to the film (supposedly gearing up for production in Romania of all places) and having it become a "brand" ala "Tales from the Crypt...
- 10/30/2012
- by Zack Parks
- GeekTyrant
The Thing
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | Written By Eric Heisserer | Directed By Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Though it has the same name, this 2011 film titled The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film, showing the events leading up to the beginning of the John Carpenter original, but for the most part it manages to do all right as it’s own film. I’ve never seen the original film, nor do I know much about it, but I managed to enjoy it.
The Thing follows a group of American and Norwegian scientists as they discover an alien buried deep in the ice of Antarctica. Before they get the chance to study it, the ‘Thing’ escapes, and starts imitating people, hiding inside their bodies till it attacks, and starting off a series of murders and fights between the aliens and the humans.
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | Written By Eric Heisserer | Directed By Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Though it has the same name, this 2011 film titled The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film, showing the events leading up to the beginning of the John Carpenter original, but for the most part it manages to do all right as it’s own film. I’ve never seen the original film, nor do I know much about it, but I managed to enjoy it.
The Thing follows a group of American and Norwegian scientists as they discover an alien buried deep in the ice of Antarctica. Before they get the chance to study it, the ‘Thing’ escapes, and starts imitating people, hiding inside their bodies till it attacks, and starting off a series of murders and fights between the aliens and the humans.
- 3/21/2012
- by Maahin
- Nerdly
In going back in time to tell the story of what happened before the fateful early moments of John Carpenter’s The Thing Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. had an already high mark to overcome and the prequel with the same name certain;y succeeded in keeping many of the same visual and thematic flavours of the 1982 film,
With the DVD and Blu-ray out next Monday we’ve been given a look at two of the special features to be included on the disc and fans of the bodyhorror within will enjoy the look at how the creature was created in some of its nastier forms and there’s also a deleted scene for you.
As you’d expect there’s some nasty stuff here, so consider this a Nsfw warning thing.
The Thing Evolves – DVD special feature
Deleted Scene – That’s not Karl…...
With the DVD and Blu-ray out next Monday we’ve been given a look at two of the special features to be included on the disc and fans of the bodyhorror within will enjoy the look at how the creature was created in some of its nastier forms and there’s also a deleted scene for you.
As you’d expect there’s some nasty stuff here, so consider this a Nsfw warning thing.
The Thing Evolves – DVD special feature
Deleted Scene – That’s not Karl…...
- 3/16/2012
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The Thing (2011) Film Review, a movie directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ulrich Thomsen, Kim Bubbs, Stig Henrik Hoff, Jonathan Walker, and Carsten Bjornlund.
One could say that The Thing (2011) is like the Halloween remake and the Star Wars prequels: the original is better than new incarnation in almost every way. Like the Halloween remake, what was copied over into this The Thing from John Carpenter’s original film was done better the first time and what material was originated in this film should have been expanded upon. Like the Star Wars prequels, The Thing should have created its special effects in the same manner as the original film instead of going the hyper real CGI route. In that way, this prequel and its effects could have seamlessly transferred the viewer from one film (the prequel) to the...
One could say that The Thing (2011) is like the Halloween remake and the Star Wars prequels: the original is better than new incarnation in almost every way. Like the Halloween remake, what was copied over into this The Thing from John Carpenter’s original film was done better the first time and what material was originated in this film should have been expanded upon. Like the Star Wars prequels, The Thing should have created its special effects in the same manner as the original film instead of going the hyper real CGI route. In that way, this prequel and its effects could have seamlessly transferred the viewer from one film (the prequel) to the...
- 2/18/2012
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
The Thing 2011 was recently released to Blu-ray/DVD and I had a chance to revisit the film. Although I don’t have the same hate for it that some of the other fans and critics did, I see the film as a missed opportunity that more closely resembles a fan film. The most disappointing area is the over use of CG, when practical effects were created for the film. Continue reading for more thoughts on the movie and Blu-ray extras.
Almost 30 years after John Carpenter’s The Thing arrived in theaters, Universal has released a prequel. Although the story has elements of a prequel and is marketed as one, like the creature itself, this new movie is just an imitation of the original. Any prequel elements in the film seem to have been included to avoid instant fan backlash, and the final product more closely resembles a remake.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead...
Almost 30 years after John Carpenter’s The Thing arrived in theaters, Universal has released a prequel. Although the story has elements of a prequel and is marketed as one, like the creature itself, this new movie is just an imitation of the original. Any prequel elements in the film seem to have been included to avoid instant fan backlash, and the final product more closely resembles a remake.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead...
- 2/13/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
With Matthijs van Heijningen Jr..s prequel to John Carpenter.s legendary The Thing reaching DVD, the director made a few press rounds and discussed the movie (he, like the rest of us, was disappointed with the unoriginal title) as well as the fate of future projects. A while back, van Heijningen was rumored to be circling Army of the Dead, an extension of Zack Snyder.s 2004 Dawn of the Dead reboot that reportedly was going to feature a father infiltrating a zombie-infested Las Vegas in order to rescue his daughter. Tremendous concept, but as you might have guessed, turning Sin City into a buffet of brain-eaters was more expensive than some producers were willing to go. .I don.t know if that.s going to happen . it was really expensive, because it was going to have to shoot in Las Vegas., van Heijningen Jr. told Moviehole while out promoting...
- 2/8/2012
- cinemablend.com
Speaking of interesting cinematic possibilities not coming to pass (I'm looking at you, Blade Runner), turns out that the sequel to Zack Snyder's Dawn Of The Dead is, well, dead. I actually had no idea this was even happening in the first place, but now the word from would-be-director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. (The Thing remake/prequel/thing) is that the project is officially no longer in the works. Arrow In the Head shared a small update late last year from...
- 2/7/2012
- by Alejandro Stepenberg
- JoBlo.com
2011.s The Thing is an unnecessary CGI-slick prequel to John Carpenter.s 1982 classic sci-fi/horror film The Thing. It isn.t horrible and does several things right, but is easily forgettable as soon as the end credits roll. Based on John W. Campbell Jr. short story "Who Goes There?," the prequel was directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and written by Eric Heisserer. The film stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Paul Braunstein, Trond Espen Seim, Kim Bubbs, Jørgen Langhelle, Jan Gunnar Røise, Stig Henrik Hoff, Kristofer Hivju, Jo Adrian Haavind, and Carsten Bjørnlund. Heijningen and company do an excellent job of tying the prequel to Carpenter.s film (a fire axe placed...
- 1/30/2012
- by Patrick Luce
- Monsters and Critics
By Lianne Spiderbaby
Last February I wrote a controversial article entitled I Spit On Your Movie that was published on Fangoria’s website. I have strong opinions about the 2010 I Spit On Your Grave remake, and I wasn’t afraid to share them publicly, figuring I was entitled to my opinion, but a few readers did not enjoy my idea of free speech (especially when cutting up their precious and pathetic remake). I prepared myself for praise and the death threats, both of which I still receive in plenty as a result. I concluded my article (now housed on my own site) by stating that I hoped to see some nondiscriminatory portrayals of women in the future – an equal playing field for women in horror on the big screen. I had no idea that my dream would come true just one year later, in 2011.
Give yourself a pat on the back,...
Last February I wrote a controversial article entitled I Spit On Your Movie that was published on Fangoria’s website. I have strong opinions about the 2010 I Spit On Your Grave remake, and I wasn’t afraid to share them publicly, figuring I was entitled to my opinion, but a few readers did not enjoy my idea of free speech (especially when cutting up their precious and pathetic remake). I prepared myself for praise and the death threats, both of which I still receive in plenty as a result. I concluded my article (now housed on my own site) by stating that I hoped to see some nondiscriminatory portrayals of women in the future – an equal playing field for women in horror on the big screen. I had no idea that my dream would come true just one year later, in 2011.
Give yourself a pat on the back,...
- 1/4/2012
- by Justin
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
The beauty and the wonder of science fiction is that the genre allows almost any kind of story to be told, and by its very nature has room for breathtaking creativity and wild invention. And yet cinematic science fiction keeps telling us the same stories over and over again... in this case, that’s the literal truth. This useless, entertainment-free xerox copy of John Carpenter’s 1982 film of the same name purports to be a prequel, in that it wants to tell the story before the story, and in the process ruins the wonderful mystery by lifting a veil that didn’t need to be lifted and then offering nothing in the least bit interesting or even varying from the story we already know. Seriously: everything that happens at the Norwegian Antarctic research station in the wake of the resident scientists’ discovery of an alien spaceship buried in the ice...
- 12/1/2011
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Blu-ray/DVD Release Date: Jan. 31, 2012
Price: Blu-ray/DVD Combo $34.98
Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ulrich Thomsen check out The Thing.
The science fiction-horror movie The Thing, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., is a prelude to John Carpenter’s 1982 film of the same name.
In other words, the 2011 Thing is a prequel serving as a sequel to a remake of a movie that was originally made in 1951 and directed by Christian Nyby and Howard Hawks. Hmmm.
The movie is set at a remote Antarctic research station where paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and pilot Carter (Joel Edgerton, Warrior) discover a mysterious organism buried in the ice. It’s not too long before a simple experiment frees the strange creature, seemingly an extraterrestrial lifeform, from its frozen prison. The shapeshifting alien quickly unleashes a flood of chaos and paranoia upon the camp,...
Price: Blu-ray/DVD Combo $34.98
Studio: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ulrich Thomsen check out The Thing.
The science fiction-horror movie The Thing, directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., is a prelude to John Carpenter’s 1982 film of the same name.
In other words, the 2011 Thing is a prequel serving as a sequel to a remake of a movie that was originally made in 1951 and directed by Christian Nyby and Howard Hawks. Hmmm.
The movie is set at a remote Antarctic research station where paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) and pilot Carter (Joel Edgerton, Warrior) discover a mysterious organism buried in the ice. It’s not too long before a simple experiment frees the strange creature, seemingly an extraterrestrial lifeform, from its frozen prison. The shapeshifting alien quickly unleashes a flood of chaos and paranoia upon the camp,...
- 12/1/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
“Reboot”, “reimagining” and “reinvisioning” are fashionable terms bandied around by studios to try and explain the presence of usually unnecessary quasi-remakes of classic films. Almost always shot through without due respect for the original work, keen only to exploit a new generation’s lack of awareness about cinema history and their appetite for the latest in quality visual effects, they are among the crassest calculations in Hollywood’s sizeable repertoire. A more disturbing trend may be emerging, then, with The Thing, a film so unimaginative that it not only mimics the title of its 1982 John Carpenter predecessor, but shamelessly remakes that film while disguising itself tenuously at best as a prequel.
The opening of Carpenter’s The Thing featured a Norwegian gunman trying to kill a fleeing dog, before the American crew of the Antarctic base discovered some disturbing and unusual remains, as well as the...
“Reboot”, “reimagining” and “reinvisioning” are fashionable terms bandied around by studios to try and explain the presence of usually unnecessary quasi-remakes of classic films. Almost always shot through without due respect for the original work, keen only to exploit a new generation’s lack of awareness about cinema history and their appetite for the latest in quality visual effects, they are among the crassest calculations in Hollywood’s sizeable repertoire. A more disturbing trend may be emerging, then, with The Thing, a film so unimaginative that it not only mimics the title of its 1982 John Carpenter predecessor, but shamelessly remakes that film while disguising itself tenuously at best as a prequel.
The opening of Carpenter’s The Thing featured a Norwegian gunman trying to kill a fleeing dog, before the American crew of the Antarctic base discovered some disturbing and unusual remains, as well as the...
- 11/30/2011
- by Shaun Munro
- Obsessed with Film
The Thing
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | Written By Eric Heisserer | Directed By Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Though it has the same name, this 2011 film titled The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film, showing the events leading up to the beginning of the John Carpenter original, but for the most part it manages to do all right as it’s own film. I’ve never seen the original film, nor do I know much about it, but I managed to enjoy it.
The Thing follows a group of American and Norwegian scientists as they discover an alien buried deep in the ice of Antarctica. Before they get the chance to study it, the ‘Thing’ escapes, and starts imitating people, hiding inside their bodies till it attacks, and starting off a series of murders and fights between the aliens and the humans.
Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje | Written By Eric Heisserer | Directed By Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Though it has the same name, this 2011 film titled The Thing is a prequel to the 1982 film, showing the events leading up to the beginning of the John Carpenter original, but for the most part it manages to do all right as it’s own film. I’ve never seen the original film, nor do I know much about it, but I managed to enjoy it.
The Thing follows a group of American and Norwegian scientists as they discover an alien buried deep in the ice of Antarctica. Before they get the chance to study it, the ‘Thing’ escapes, and starts imitating people, hiding inside their bodies till it attacks, and starting off a series of murders and fights between the aliens and the humans.
- 11/29/2011
- by Maahin
- Nerdly
★☆☆☆☆ Claiming to have taken his cues from both Christian Nyby/Howard Hawks' The Thing from Another World (1951) and John Carpenter's seminal 1982 re-imagining, debut director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. seemingly had high aspirations for his 2011 'prequel' if he thought he could bring anything new to a story that had already been satisfyingly covered by two previous efforts. Not only has Van Heijningen Jr. failed in this regard, but has also produced one of the most stultifyingly pointless, insipid horrors of the year.
Read more »...
Read more »...
- 11/29/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
On Friday, we kicked off the Halloween weekend by talking to director John Carpenter about his new comic book, John Carpenter's Asylum. The veteran filmmaker spoke at length about the horror tale he co-created with his wife, Sandy King, and actor Thomas Ian Griffith, but that wasn't all we discussed during our chat with the "Halloween" and "The Thing" director.
Given the comic's debut at Long Beach Comic Con over the weekend, we had to ask whether this meant Carpenter was warming up to the idea of directing a comic book movie.
"Well, I've thought about it before," Carpenter told IFC. "Way back in the '70s, I was approached to talk about the story I'd write for a Spider-Man movie. They also talked to me about Batman. I had to think about it, but that was way, way back when."
"I've gone through various periods with superheroes," he explained.
Given the comic's debut at Long Beach Comic Con over the weekend, we had to ask whether this meant Carpenter was warming up to the idea of directing a comic book movie.
"Well, I've thought about it before," Carpenter told IFC. "Way back in the '70s, I was approached to talk about the story I'd write for a Spider-Man movie. They also talked to me about Batman. I had to think about it, but that was way, way back when."
"I've gone through various periods with superheroes," he explained.
- 11/1/2011
- by Rick Marshall
- ifc.com
Here is a sneak peek at what's opening in theaters this weekend, including the animated "Puss in Boots," starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek; the alcohol-fueled dramedy "The Rum Diary," starring Johnny Depp; the sci-fi thriller "In Time," starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried; and the period Tudor drama, "Anonymous."
In Theaters Now (October)'Puss in Boots' (Oct. 28)
Who: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris; director Chris Miller...
In Theaters Now (October)'Puss in Boots' (Oct. 28)
Who: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris; director Chris Miller...
- 10/28/2011
- Extra
Here's a preview of what's opening in theaters this weekend, including the third "Paranormal Activity"; the swashbuckling "The Three Musketeers"; the taut financial drama "Margin Call," starring Demi Moore and Zachary Quinto; and the British comedy "Johnny English Reborn," starring Rowan Atkinson.
In Theaters Now (October)'Paranormal Activity 3' (Oct. 21)
This prequel shows how a young Katie and her sister may have summoned the demon that haunts them for the rest of their lives.
In Theaters Now (October)'Paranormal Activity 3' (Oct. 21)
This prequel shows how a young Katie and her sister may have summoned the demon that haunts them for the rest of their lives.
- 10/21/2011
- Extra
Almost 30 years after John Carpenter’s The Thing arrived in theaters, Universal has released a prequel. Although the story has elements of a prequel and is marketed as one, like the creature itself, this new movie is just an imitation of the original. Any prequel elements in the film seem to have been included to avoid instant fan backlash, and the final product more closely resembles a remake.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes center stage in this film, playing Kate Lloyd, a paleontologist who joins a Norwegian scientific team that has discovered an alien ship and creature under the ice in Antarctica. They bring the frozen creature back to their base, but of course, it doesn’t stay frozen for long and begins to prey upon the team.
Since Universal had nearly 3 decades to greenlight a new version of The Thing, I’m surprised they didn’t spend more time crafting a quality film.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes center stage in this film, playing Kate Lloyd, a paleontologist who joins a Norwegian scientific team that has discovered an alien ship and creature under the ice in Antarctica. They bring the frozen creature back to their base, but of course, it doesn’t stay frozen for long and begins to prey upon the team.
Since Universal had nearly 3 decades to greenlight a new version of The Thing, I’m surprised they didn’t spend more time crafting a quality film.
- 10/19/2011
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Any horror fan worth a grain of alien fiber loves 'The Thing,' but neither fans nor critics have been as receptive to 'The Thing.' Rule #1 when it comes to prequels is that they shouldn't share a name with the film they're a prequel of, because then you wind up with sentences like the one above which serve to rip apart the fabric of the world and its reality.Clearing up any confusion, the 1982 film, 'The Thing' from director John Carpenter is widely hailed as a classic. It's so sharp; it's so tension filled; and it has that stoner character (David Clennon) with his unparalleled 80's deadpan delivery. Horror fans eat it up. With the 2011 prequel, 'The Thing' from novice director, Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., the love hasn't been as great. The devout are pointing out continuity errors and just getting themselves really wound up.
- 10/19/2011
- LRMonline.com
For the horror buff, Fall is the best time of the year. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling and a feeling of death hangs on the air. Here at Sound on Sight we have some of the biggest horror fans you can find. We are continually showcasing the best of genre cinema, so we’ve decided to put our horror knowledge and passion to the test in a horror watching contest. Each week in October, Ricky D, James Merolla and Justine Smith will post a list of the horror films they have watched. By the end of the month, the person who has seen the most films wins. Prize Tbd.
Justine Smith (11 viewings) Total of 31 viewings
Purchase
Spider Baby or The Maddest Story Ever Told
Directed by Jack Jill
This movie is very fun, not so much scary as gleefully depraved. The film revels in it’s childhood attitude,...
Justine Smith (11 viewings) Total of 31 viewings
Purchase
Spider Baby or The Maddest Story Ever Told
Directed by Jack Jill
This movie is very fun, not so much scary as gleefully depraved. The film revels in it’s childhood attitude,...
- 10/18/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Steel took a licking, still ticking. Real Steel was Number One at the box office for two weeks in a row with $16.3 Million. Footloose premiered in Second Place with $16.1 Million. The Thing was premiered in Third Place with $8.7 Million. The Ides of March was Fourth with $7.5 Million. Dolphin Tale was Fifth with $6.3 Million. Moneyball, 50/50, Courageous, The Big Year (which premiered this year), and The Lion King rounded out the top ten respectively.
Footloose is a 2011 American dance film directed by Craig Brewer. It is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name and stars Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, and Andie MacDowell. The film follows a young man who moves from Boston to a small southern town and realizes that the town has banned dancing.
The Thing is a 2011 science-fiction horror film directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., and written by Eric Heisserer and Ronald D. Moore. It...
Footloose is a 2011 American dance film directed by Craig Brewer. It is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name and stars Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, and Andie MacDowell. The film follows a young man who moves from Boston to a small southern town and realizes that the town has banned dancing.
The Thing is a 2011 science-fiction horror film directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., and written by Eric Heisserer and Ronald D. Moore. It...
- 10/17/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
First off, consider me to be a full-fledged obsessive fan of John Carpenter's The Thing. It was one of the formative films of my youth and remains to this day one of my all time favorite movies...period. It's an expert examination of escalating paranoia and pressure-cooker suspense with a stellar cast, nimble and effective screenwriting, dread-soaked photography and score, and expert finely-tuned direction that never missteps once. All of this, and one of the most kick-ass "downer" endings that earns its hard-won finality from a film whose tone signals death and resigned self-sacrifice from the very get-go.
I am one of those devotees who loves to debate when the creature assimilated certain characters and who exactly was responsible for the sabotage of the blood supply. When was Blair assimilated? In the shack, or even before that point? Is Childs still himself at the end of the picture, or is he some "thing" else?...
I am one of those devotees who loves to debate when the creature assimilated certain characters and who exactly was responsible for the sabotage of the blood supply. When was Blair assimilated? In the shack, or even before that point? Is Childs still himself at the end of the picture, or is he some "thing" else?...
- 10/17/2011
- by mfelsher
- DreadCentral.com
The Thing prequel landed in theaters October 14 (check out our The Thing review) and star Kim Bubbs is thrilled to finally have audiences witness what it was that she and the entire Thing crew had worked so hard on for months. Above all else, Bubbs tells us exclusively, they were seeking to pay tribute to the John Carpenter directed classic, 1982’s The Thing, and hopes fans see that love in every frame of film.
Bubbs also told Movie Fanatic about the Canadian shoot and how their Arctic freeze was really shot during one of the warmest winters in that country’s history. Needless to say, the special effects weren’t the only thing that were hot during The Thing shoot led by director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Movie Fanatic: When you read the script for The Thing, what was it that first popped off the page for you?
Kim Bubbs...
Bubbs also told Movie Fanatic about the Canadian shoot and how their Arctic freeze was really shot during one of the warmest winters in that country’s history. Needless to say, the special effects weren’t the only thing that were hot during The Thing shoot led by director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Movie Fanatic: When you read the script for The Thing, what was it that first popped off the page for you?
Kim Bubbs...
- 10/17/2011
- by joel.amos@moviefanatic.com (Joel D Amos)
- Reel Movie News
From Jack Burton to Snake Plissken, Kurt Russell and John Carpenter constructed some truly iconic roles together and R.J. MacReady in 1982.s The Thing is most definitely included. There.s been talk for years about a remake of Escape From New York, but the idea of someone else playing the Plissken role is unfathomable. But what if you.re not doing a remake, but rather a prequel and you.re making a character that isn.t ripped straight from the original? If you.re Joel Edgerton you just stop yourself from thinking about it. I recently had the chance to speak with Edgerton on the phone about his role in Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.. The Thing and spoke with him not only about dealing with the pressure of being a male lead in the film, but also feeling like a kid while making movies, wearing winter clothes in the...
- 10/17/2011
- cinemablend.com
The word ‘uninspired’ is an easy shortcut to communicate an impression of unpleasant mediocrity, and so it gets thrown around a lot. It is also the perfect term for The Thing, the new film by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. that acts as a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 film of the same name. Uninspired, right off the bat: no one could even bother to tack a subtitle onto this movie, much less an entirely new name. The Thing ‘11 is slavishly devoted to the ‘82 effort, which has evolved from box-office flop to a revered horror icon. Ostensibly a prequel, this film is so heavily attached to the old, like a pre-surgery Belial [1], that I’m not sure there was ever a chance it could grow a personality of its own. It appropriates some of Ennio Morricone’s score for the ‘82, noticeably the low bass throb of the original main theme [2], but...
- 10/17/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Real Steel and Footloose are at a near-dead-heat for first-place at the North American box office this weekend (Oct. 14-16), according to studio estimates found at Box Office Mojo. The gap between the two movies is about $200,000: Real Steel with $16.3 million and Footloose with $16.1 million. Their positions may be reversed when weekend box-office actuals are released tomorrow. [Right: Kenny Wormald in Footloose.] Having fallen short of the $20 million some had been expecting, Footloose wasn't the only box-office disappointment this weekend. The Thing earned only $8.7 million at no. 3, when most pundits had been expecting earnings between $10-15 million. Worst of all was The Big Year, which brought in even less money than the predicted $4 million after a dismal Friday bow: despite the presence of Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson, the Daniel Frankel-directed comedy drew an estimated $3.32m at no. 9 ($1,547 average at 2,150 sites), making it one of the worst wide-release openings in recent memory and,...
- 10/16/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
*here be spoilers.
Director: Matthijs van Hejiningen Jr.
Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay) and John W. Campbell Jr. (short story).
Unless audiences are not paying attention to movie news, The Thing (2011) is a prequel that leads up to the events that started in John Carpenter's classic of the same name. Short of mentioning the year of release, to which movie, the original or the prequel, can easily become a running joke just to distinguish which film is the better of the two. Both movies are better off watched back to back.
Even though there will be similarities between the two products, that is only because what else can these scientists placed in Antarctica do? They lack the resources to save the world. But is there anything new that either director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. or writer Eric Heisserer can add to the product? They offer a few new ideas like...
Director: Matthijs van Hejiningen Jr.
Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay) and John W. Campbell Jr. (short story).
Unless audiences are not paying attention to movie news, The Thing (2011) is a prequel that leads up to the events that started in John Carpenter's classic of the same name. Short of mentioning the year of release, to which movie, the original or the prequel, can easily become a running joke just to distinguish which film is the better of the two. Both movies are better off watched back to back.
Even though there will be similarities between the two products, that is only because what else can these scientists placed in Antarctica do? They lack the resources to save the world. But is there anything new that either director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. or writer Eric Heisserer can add to the product? They offer a few new ideas like...
- 10/16/2011
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Title: The Thing Directed By: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Paul Braunstein, Trond Espen Seim, Kim Bubbs, Kristofer Hivju, Stig Henrik Hoff When you’re trying to live up to the standards, or perhaps exceed those set by John Carpenter’s The Thing, you’ve got your work cut out for you. While Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s version offers a nice thrill, it doesn’t come close to, well, replicating the elements that made Carpenter’s piece iconic. It’s 1982 in Antarctica. A team of Norwegian scientists travel across the snowy tundra trying to track a mysterious signal. Upon pinpointing the position of...
- 10/16/2011
- by Perri Nemiroff
- ShockYa
Directed by: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.
Written by: Eric Heisserer, Ronald D. Moore, John W. Campbell
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Eric Christian Olsen
Bad things often follow a funny joke.
A group of Norwegian scientists stumble upon the frozen remains of an alien spacecraft buried deep in the ice of the Antarctic. A team is rushed together, including paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Dr. Sander Halversen (Ulrich Thomsen), Adam Goodman (Eric Christian Olsen). The rest consist of other Norwegians, along with a couple of Americans, and all together they manage to find one of the frozen occupants of the alien ship and cut it out of the ice. Not realizing what they have - the title of the film makes it pretty obvious to us - they haul it back to base, ogle it for awhile, and then get down to getting drunk...
Written by: Eric Heisserer, Ronald D. Moore, John W. Campbell
Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Eric Christian Olsen
Bad things often follow a funny joke.
A group of Norwegian scientists stumble upon the frozen remains of an alien spacecraft buried deep in the ice of the Antarctic. A team is rushed together, including paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Dr. Sander Halversen (Ulrich Thomsen), Adam Goodman (Eric Christian Olsen). The rest consist of other Norwegians, along with a couple of Americans, and all together they manage to find one of the frozen occupants of the alien ship and cut it out of the ice. Not realizing what they have - the title of the film makes it pretty obvious to us - they haul it back to base, ogle it for awhile, and then get down to getting drunk...
- 10/15/2011
- by Tristan Sinns
- Planet Fury
Kenny Wormald, Footloose If early, rough estimates are correct, the Footloose remake will not reach the $20 million mark as some had been expecting. As per The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.com, Footloose collected approximately $5.7 million on its Friday debut, which would translate into a $17 million weekend. Directed by Hustle & Flow and Black Snake Moan's Craig Brewer, the Paramount release stars relative newcomer Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough, Dennis Quaid, and Andie McDowell. Kevin Bacon starred in the 1984 original (itself a derivative effort similar to countless movies of the previous three decades). Hugh Jackman's Real Steel is expected to land in second place with $15m-$15.5m for the weekend, following grosses of $4.5m on Friday. At no. 3, the horror/thriller The Thing — another remake of an '80s flick (itself a remake of a 1951 B movie) — will likely cume at $10m-$11m after only $3.8m on Friday. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr....
- 10/15/2011
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
So you have "The Thing" in your DVD collection, you say. So you're worried about another blasphemous remake, you say. We don't blame you. Hollywood has been pulling from the well for some quite some time. But is 2011's "The Thing" just another carbon copy or is it a fresh take on a cult classic? Maybe these reviewers can settle the debate. Spoiler alert: it's not looking good...
Film.com: "'The Thing,' while technically a prequel to 'The Thing' -- is clearly a remake. The characters have different names, but they fill the same functions, and they die in approximately the same order, and in approximately the same fashion."Detroit News: "It's not rocket science, but 'The Thing' does offer solid cheap thrills for the slick gore crowd, proving once again: Horror doesn't have to be horrible."New Orleans Times-Picayune: "Yes, it is derivative,...
Film.com: "'The Thing,' while technically a prequel to 'The Thing' -- is clearly a remake. The characters have different names, but they fill the same functions, and they die in approximately the same order, and in approximately the same fashion."Detroit News: "It's not rocket science, but 'The Thing' does offer solid cheap thrills for the slick gore crowd, proving once again: Horror doesn't have to be horrible."New Orleans Times-Picayune: "Yes, it is derivative,...
- 10/14/2011
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
By Adam Frazier
Hollywoodnews.com: With Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s prequel to John Carpenter’s “The Thing” now in theaters, we decided to look at three horror films that could use a bit of the old retroactive storytelling treatment.
The problem is, most of the influential (and not-so-memorable) horror films of our time have already been remade, which makes it hard to justify a prequel. If you look at recent horror remakes like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” these films serve more as prequel/remake hybrids as they attempt to explain the motives of their killers by showing us their origins.
We’ve seen this before with 2006’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning,” which showed the birth of Leatherface. Oh, and don’t you dare forget about 2004’s “Exorcist: The Beginning.” Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he encountered the demon Pazuzu in East Africa.
Hollywoodnews.com: With Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s prequel to John Carpenter’s “The Thing” now in theaters, we decided to look at three horror films that could use a bit of the old retroactive storytelling treatment.
The problem is, most of the influential (and not-so-memorable) horror films of our time have already been remade, which makes it hard to justify a prequel. If you look at recent horror remakes like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or Rob Zombie’s “Halloween,” these films serve more as prequel/remake hybrids as they attempt to explain the motives of their killers by showing us their origins.
We’ve seen this before with 2006’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning,” which showed the birth of Leatherface. Oh, and don’t you dare forget about 2004’s “Exorcist: The Beginning.” Years before Father Merrin helped save Regan MacNeil’s soul, he encountered the demon Pazuzu in East Africa.
- 10/14/2011
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
Everett Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and Joel Edgerton in “The Thing”
Originally written by John W. Campbell Jr. in the late 1930s and called “Who Goes There?” the story inspired several versions including “The Thing from Another World” in 1951, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” in both 1956 and 1978, “Alien” in 1979, John Carpenter’s 1982 and now Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s 103-minute horror with the same name.
The basic premise is this. An alien spacecraft from long ago crash-landed in Antarctica with a creature on board.
Originally written by John W. Campbell Jr. in the late 1930s and called “Who Goes There?” the story inspired several versions including “The Thing from Another World” in 1951, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” in both 1956 and 1978, “Alien” in 1979, John Carpenter’s 1982 and now Matthijs van Heijningen Jr.’s 103-minute horror with the same name.
The basic premise is this. An alien spacecraft from long ago crash-landed in Antarctica with a creature on board.
- 10/14/2011
- by WSJ Staff
- Speakeasy/Wall Street Journal
Title: The Thing Director: Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. Starring: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kim Bubbs, Jorgen Langhelle, Jan Gunnar Rosie Well the first 30 minutes-and-change of this remake of a remake (1982 – original was 1951) is basically a wash for the most part. If you can plow through that portion then The Thing actually proves to have something to it; even though this is essentially the same screenplay from the 1982 version that starred Kurt Russell. The gist of the story is that a discovery is made just outside of a remote base on Antarctica in 1982. A group of scientists...
- 10/14/2011
- by joe
- ShockYa
Here's a preview of what's opening in theaters this weekend, including the dance remake "Footloose"; the family drama "Fireflies in the Garden," starring Julia Roberts and Ryan Reynolds; the comedy "The Big Year," starring Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black; and the sci-fi thriller prequel "The Thing."
In Theaters Now (October)'Footloose' (Oct. 14)
Who: Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell; directed by Craig Brewer What: City kid Ren McCormack moves...
In Theaters Now (October)'Footloose' (Oct. 14)
Who: Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell; directed by Craig Brewer What: City kid Ren McCormack moves...
- 10/14/2011
- Extra
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