The Thing

The Thing is that the 1982 American science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter and written by Bill Lancaster based on the 1983 novella who goes there by John W Campbell Jr. The film tells the story of a group of American researchers in Antarctica have encountered the thing a Paris cystic extra-terrestrial life, simulates and imitates other organisms. The groupies then overcome by paranoia and conflict as they can no longer trust one another as any one of them could be the thing. The film stars Kurt Russell as the team’s leader and helicopter pilot RJ MacReady as well as A. Wilford Brinley, TJ Carter, David Clennon, Keith David, Richard Dysart, Charles Hallahan, Peter Maloney, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, Joel Polis, and Thomas G Waites. The thing is a lot more than just a typical 80s horror film however, The Thing is an exploration into paranoia and mistrust, showcasing the erosion of small communities and the distrust people have with their own bodies. The film wraps itself up in Cold War/Vietnam tensions in this criticism of masculinity, focusing on paranoia and detachment, and indifference towards humanity, showcasing a fear of loss of self-identity and humanities three wilfully parable mirroring the HIV and AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.

In the opening shot of the thing a UFO is seen hurtling towards the earth in the only indication throughout the entire film as to where The Thing comes off. The film then cuts to a remote Arctic base as a helicopter flies past. She is very clear within the opening sequence of the film paranoia and mistrust of the key themes within the movie. Throughout the film the story showcases the distrust humans have from each other and their detachment from violence as the thing is heavily steeped in the Cold War tensions of the time as well as reacting to a post-Vietnam war America. Within the filmic characters are held up in Antarctica military base. This breed paranoia and mistrust throughout the film is the same comment on the erosion of the small community due to the tensions pulled about by the Vietnam and Cold War. This is telling in the way that Mccready drinks and plays chess with a computer as opposed to another person. The characters within the theme have distrust of braiding to them therefore when the alien attacks it is merely a natural progression to their already inbuilt paranoia.

The Norwegians and the helicopter then chase after a dog is, they go into the area of the American outpost camp. This scene further highlights the paranoia and mistrust throughout the film as a response to the Cold War environment in a post-Vietnam setting. The Norwegian then tries to throw a grenade at the dog killing the Americans rushed out as the dog comes near them causing the helicopter to blow up. One of the Norwegian forces shoots at the dog hitting one of the Americans which causes the Americans to fight back and kill the Norwegian. The service showcases the main theme of the film being paranoia and mistrust the idea that every man for himself as a theme running throughout the film. This also further showcases the erosion of small communities and how outside invaders destroy connections with other human beings causing a distrust for others. This distrust others also parallels the paranoia from the Cold War and the Vietnam and constantly checking over your back and being wary of an outside invader. This causes the characters within the film to have an indifference and detachment towards humanity which is paralleled by the thing taking advantage of this idea allowing itself to mimic the individuals throughout the film.

As they quickly put the helicopter fire out the film again showcases the paranoia and mistrust giving small communities due to the Cold War tensions at the time a post-Vietnam war America. Due to the Norwegians attacking the base cabin fever sets in as they try to get through via the radio but cannot. This scene indicates the detachment paranoia and mistrust running throughout the film due to the Cold War tensions at that time. This is further solidified with Nauls saying “maybe we are at war with Norway”, highlighting the cold war paranoia at that time.

From this they worried that the Norwegians went crazy, showcasing a key theme throughout the film being paranoia and mistrust. The thing comments on the erosion of small communities and the ability not to trust by another in a Cold War post-Vietnam setting, which is made apparent by people turning crazy and going against each other throughout the film. McCready a helicopter pilot and the main character. Does not want to go up to the Norwegian base however the doctor convinces him to do so. The film hints at the idea that McCready was an ex-Vietnam helicopter pilot, showcasing his ability to follow the orders of the doctor parallels him following orders of the general was Vietnam war is in both situations he enters hell. The dog belonging to the Norwegians that is disguised as the thing manages to get its way inside the base. This further showcases the paranoia Miss trust present throughout the film as the thing is ultimately about the erosion of small communities and humanities nature to distrust by another and sinking to paranoia mirroring and the view of Americans during the Cold War and Vietnam.

When Mac enters the Norwegian base, they find the area frozen over with dead bodies as a have seemingly killed themselves. This further highlights of paranoia and mistrust as evidence by the dead Norwegians as within this environment nobody can believe anyone else. Before grabbing the Norwegian paperwork again highlighting Cold War tensions, they find a giant hole dug in the ice on the ground as well as the burnt remains of the individuals that turned into the thing is highlighted by the gasoline canisters. This further showcases the paranoia and mistrust throughout the film is a mother and could potentially be the thing. The film again highlights the erosion of small communities and how a foreign invader descends the individuals into paranoia and madness. This trust is a key element of human nature is within the thing her film comments on humanities inability to fully trust you understand one another and how the film plays into how primordial fears of believing people have ulterior motives. Tensions are revolving around the Cold War and Vietnam are very much present within the film as the paranoia in these warlike situations are reflected within the paranoia of the men throughout the thing. These men are people who have lived through situations where they cannot trust one another forward in a detachment between themselves and everyone else, the alien invader of the thing therefore seems to be a metaphor for the inability to understand one another many people faced during these world changing situations. From this paranoia the film breeds a detachment from their fellow human beings. This detachment is symbolic of the thing is they are transformed into replicas of themselves in the film highlights the character’s loss of humanity, identity and free will.

They take the remains of the thing back to their base where they conduct an autopsy. The thing is a body horror film, body horror is a horror sub-genre concerned with the psychological violations of the human body and how they manifest themselves in a physical and graphic way. This is clearly shown through the autopsy seen showcasing the infection and a mutation of the human body with clear parallels to HIV. After windows not being able to reach someone on the base fabric showcasing the isolation and detachment from fellow human beings that are at the heart of the things narrative the dissection scene begins. In this classic scene the film showcases thing to have a normal set of organs explain how this alien creature changes its biology to change into other creatures it assimilates. Throughout the film thing shows an indifference towards humanity, rather than a loss of typical horror villains showcasing a personal or general hatred towards its victims the thing really sees him as a biological obstacle that gets in the way of its ultimate goal of the assimilation of mankind.

When Clark puts the dog back in the pen the film further showcases the idea of enemy hiding in plain sight. The dogs body horror transformation into the thing showcases the aliens indifference towards humanity commenting on the loss of self-identity and the assimilation of humanity into another type of organism, this scene also showcases clear parallels to HIV infection a large societal worried during the 1980s and how infections such as the scanning of a erode and ultimately destroy both your body and yourself. From this the teeming shoots the thing in the form of the dog with shotguns and burn it to life. This further showcases the paranoia and detachment as well as the lack of empathy within the setting is due to characters who cannot bring themselves to form bonds with the dogs or even their fellow human beings and therefore must dismantle their companions quickly and efficiently if they are to survive. They then shoot the thing with shotguns and burning alive. This further showcases the paranoia and detachment within the characters of the film is due to the Cold War post-Vietnam setting these men have created a lack of empathy with everything as well as contrasting to clear parallels concerning HIV, this is further showcases with the fire had been extinguished quickly further showcasing paranoia and detachment.

Blair discovers that the thing in the defeat organisms of other life forms perfectly, mimicking its victims by shaping its own cells accordingly. This further showcases the paranoia and mistrust running throughout the film as therefore none of the men in the thing known whether they are human or not. The thing has an indifference towards humanity rather than simply killing human beings it imitates and mimics them using their bodies as a vessel to survive. The film comments on the fear of the loss of self and how your own identity and existence can easily be wiped from the world and replaced with a flash puppet of the human you want were. The things assimilation parallels HIV infection in that a disease like organism infiltrate your body and changes your biology to ultimately destroy you highlighting the fears paranoia is tensions relevant within the 1980s. Blair then interrogates Parker on the dog that was not put into the kennel until last night and that Parker was alone with the dog for a lengthy period of time. The thing is about the erosion of small communities in this trust that humans have for one another. These tensions are paralleled within the Cold War post-Vietnam setting of the film as this paranoia breach detachment and indifference towards humanity creating a fear of the loss of self-identity and humanities free will.

They then watch for teachers it shows Norwegians finding a UFO in the Arctic via thermite charges which allows the creature to be woken up. This scene further indicates the Cold War post-Vietnam tensions of the film and the experiments conducted by unknown foreign enemy. They then find a UFO and go down to investigate really activate the creature further highlighting the Cold War post-Vietnam tensions in society. They try to make sense of the alien but have little to no answers creating tension to mount between McCready and Childs as McCready tries to explain the situation but himself and by extension the others ultimately do not know. This paranoia and mistrust of others highlights Cold War post-Vietnam tensions within the breakdown of society.

The computer shows the cells of the dog assimilating with the cells of the thing is the creature infiltrates humanity showcasing their fear of the loss of self-identity and the free will within human beings. The computer shows the cells of the dog being assimilated with the cells of the thing is it infiltrates humanity again commenting on the fear of the loss of self-identity and free will. Blair then descends into madness as Fukes reads his notes to McCready. This further showcases the paranoia and mistrust of the characters have for one another as well as the erosion of small communities within the thing as they distrust to their fellow humans. When the thing attacks Benin City is attaches itself to him like a cocoon forming a second layer of skin showcasing humanities fear and distrust with their own bodies. The thing again has an indifference towards humanity which is what makes it a terrifying enemy adept raisin humanities fear of the loss of itself identity and free will drawing clear parallels to HIV. The thing transformed itself into Baines as Mac pours petrol over it and burns it alive. This further illustrates he paranoia and mistrust throughout the film and the erosion of small communities.

The thing transformed itself into Baines as Mac pours petrol over it and burns it alive. This paranoia and mistrust further showcase the erosion of small communities and the distrust humans have reduced their fear of betrayal from others and that own bodies. The film also showcases its Cold War post-Vietnam tensions in not knowing who to trust as the thing is a criticism of masculinity showcasing the men in this film to be human and not your typical action movie stars. This paranoia is reflective of the HIV epidemic of the 1980s showcasing humanities fear of infection. The Thing has an indifference towards humanity and feeds on people’s fear of their loss of self-identity and free will. In McCready burning the people’s remains the film further showcases the distrust of these characters due to Cold War post-Vietnam tensions and paranoia. Blair then goes crazy smashing up the helicopter, the radio equipment, the base and kills the dogs as they managed to corner him and knock him out. They then lock Blair in the tool shed as McCready talks to him and Blair warms McCready about Clark. This further showcases the paranoia and mistrust people have for each other, highlighting the erosion of small communities humanities distrust Cold War Vietnam tensions the role of masculinity within society as well as the characters paranoia detachment and ultimate indifference to board humanity as they fear the loss of self-identity and free will.

With the radio on choppers being smashed up the film comment on a fascinating idea being that whether you would know if someone else was a human whether you yourself would know if you were the thing. Someone sabotaging the blood and the fact that Kopper and Gary where the A1 is that has access to it starts a fight amongst the others further cementing the key themes of the thing. All of this escalates with windows grabbing the shotgun as Gary pointed his gun at him with McCready having to take command of the group. As a brandy leftover blood McCready gives a short and simple speech not full of heroics but instead commenting on what the thing is. “I know I’m human and if you were all these things you would just attack me right now so somewhere you are still human. This thing there is not one to show itself it wants to hide inside an imitation, it will fight if it has to but is vulnerable out of the open if it takes us over there is no more enemies nobody left to kill it and it’s one.” With them deciding to do a blood test showcasing the things parable to HIV infection and AIDS McCready decides to leave a tape.

“I’m gonna hide this tape when I’m finished making it so at least there be some kind of record. Storms been hit as hard now 48 hours we still have nothing to go on one other thing, it rips to your clothes when it takes you over. Windows fans and shredded long-johns nametag was missing, they could be a breeze. Nobody trusts anybody now and we are all very tired nothing else I can do just wait”. This combined with the idea of preparing separate meals and eating out of cans further showcases the paranoia and mistrust this is further shown with features finding McCready’s rip shirt and Palmer on Windows not wanting to go with each other.

As Blair talks to McCready about letting him back inside again showcasing all the themes talk about previously future is transformed into the thing is indicates that he tried to burn himself along with it. They then barricade themselves in a fortress further showcasing their paranoia and mistrust that has been taken to new heights as the small community due to Cold War post-Vietnam tensions has been completely eroded as now they do not even trust their fellow human beings. When Nauls comes back with McCready’s shredded show at the film undercuts the traditional hearing narrative of the main character might be the thing commenting on all the key themes present throughout the film. However, this is also undercut with child suggesting that Nauls might have done this and by extension he might be the thing is the whole film descend into paranoia and mistrust. All this climaxes with McCready holding up a flat stick of dynamite as they back off showcasing that humanity has truly been destroyed within the film.

The distribution scene in which Norris’s stomach opens and bites off Kopper’s arms killing him as a brilliant showcase of all these key themes throughout the film as he transformed into the thing causing McCready to burn it. The head then detaches itself from its body and tries to sneak away when McCready notices it and burns it alive. The blood test seen showcases a clear parallel to HIV infection is a examine the idea of every part of the things body acting like its own organism and therefore it will try and defend itself when subjected to heat. McCready ends up killing Clark in self-defence as the film plays with the ambiguity of its heroes as Palmer transforms to the theme from a blood testing causing McCready to burn him alive before exploding him with a stick of dynamite. As it turns out that everyone else is okay McCready gives child’s orders that if there isn’t with them when they will get back his burning showcasing the cold paranoia feels detachment that these characters have.

When they go to give Blair the test they find out that he is the thing that he has reassembled the UFO, Charles then runs off to supposedly find there is the film hints that he could be the thing commenting on the film’s key themes. Blair in the form of the thing is blown the generator to freeze the area so that they will all be killed in action hibernate until a rescue team comes to find them ultimately infecting humanity. In the scene where they decide to set the place on fire to kill the thing it symbolises that they have come to terms with their own mortality and that they won’t get out of this situation alive but are instead determined to bring down the thing along with them. They blow up the spaceship and by extension part of the base which causes the thing to come out of hiding, these are men that have nothing to lose and therefore face their fears head on which she showcased by them blowing up the base as they have no hope left.

They find out that Blair is the thing and that these rebuilding his spaceship from parts he has assembled all over the base such as ripping out the generator, again commenting on all the key themes throughout the film. As they all set charges to block the base again commenting on the fact that these are all men with nothing to lose their grabs Barry and absorbs him, as nulls disappears and presumably killed the thing comes after McCready. The thing showcases itself in all its horrors McCready froze a stick of dynamite asset by up and supposedly killing as this entire section summarises all the film’s key themes. McCready and Charles then reunite with one another with child saying that he was lost in the so still trying to find Blair. The film ends with two characters that have been at odds throughout the film realising the futility in their distrust and sharing a bottle of Scotch bonding over the fact that they will most likely die soon. The ending to the thing never gives a clear answer as to whether they are both human McCready could very well be the thing as much as Childs, originally the ending showcased none of them to be the thing however this more ambiguous ending gives the action level of dread perfectly cementing the key themes of the film.

The thing is a film commenting on the paranoia and mistrust are all human beings have is the thing comments on the erosion of small communities. The film represents the way that humans have an innate distrustful one another and the fear of their own bodies. The films tensions mirror that of the Cold War and Vietnam’s innate criticism of masculinity in showcasing the paranoia and detachment of these men and their and by extension the thing’s indifference towards humanity. Fear of loss of self-identity and humanities free will are at the heart of the key themes of the thing as well as commenting on the HIV crisis of the 1980s.