1) The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter’s remake of Howard Hawks’ 1951 sci-fi classic is, in our eyes, the best horror movie to come out of the ’80s. It’s an arresting, uncomfortable feature that marries balls-to-the-wall paranoia with an unforgettable, palpable dread that veritably oozes atmosphere and style.
Set entirely in an isolated research station in Antarctica, a group of scientists uncover a space craft that crash-landed into the nearby ice 100,000 years ago. The group unwittingly release a hostile alien organism that can re-create its hosts with 100% authenticity. Kurt Russel’s MacReady shines brightly as the cocky, amiable helicopter pilot, while the ensemble cast that surrounds him are fascinating characters played with understated brilliance, nuance and depth. Elsewhere, Carpenter’s trademark synth soundtrack fires on all cylinders and is an absolute doozy, too.
It’s a rare example of a director building upon and improving its preceding inspiration; Carpenter’s vision sticks closely to the original John W. Campbell Jr.’s novella Who Goes There? that both of the films are based upon, and deftly crafts a gripping, claustrophobic thrill-ride filled with chin-stroking intrigue and outrageously gruesome visuals. Rob Bottin’s practical special effects, meanwhile, are nothing short of masterful, and have aged gracefully — we rarely get visual effects like this anymore, which is a mighty shame.
The thing is, The Thing is an utterly haunting visual and aural nightmare that’ll stick with you long after the curtains have closed. For our money, it’s one of the greatest horror films ever made and is, arguably, John Carpenter’s magnum opus within a body of work that is second to none.
And that was all without mentioning that unforgettable scene where that head-thing sprouts legs. *shudders*