# Let's talk about "The Thing" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [February 15, 2023, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840 "2023-02-15T18:03:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/41 "2023-02-16T05:09:18Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > IIRC, the grotesque horror effects were pretty controversial and disturbing for the time. I think that was a problem for some folks, including Ebert. Funny how they’re much more acceptable now. Their ahead-of-their-time designs and concepts might be, in part, why it’s still so watchable today. I was six or seven when I saw The Thing on video. I don’t think my parents loved me very much. My opinion on what’s grotesque is rather skewed. But I suspect you’re correct, listening to Ebert talk about the movie was a little surprising. Then again, both Gene and Roger didn’t seem to care for excessive violence and gore. > [@scabpicker](#): > > But really, that’s the thing about this movie that is brilliant, it’s so ambiguous, and so well executed. Yeah, even after all these years we can still talk about who was and who wasn’t a Thing. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/42 "2023-02-16T05:16:47Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Yeah, even after all these years we can still talk about who was and who wasn’t a Thing. And hell, when they were and weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/43 "2023-02-16T05:18:00Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > No, not the orange rock dude from F4, Or the eponymous MacGuffin of the 1950 Phil Harris song. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/44 "2023-02-16T05:19:12Z")
And the rebranded Nazi jeep. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/45 "2023-02-16T05:37:45Z")
I watched it a couple months ago with my daughter (24) and she laughed at the effects I thought were so scary. She said it reminded here of Beetlejuice. I suppose there’s something to be said there. I still love the dialogue and the two guys at the end just waiting for the fire to go out. ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/46 "2023-02-16T05:40:02Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > I know you gentlemen have been through a lot, but when you find the time, I’d rather not spend the rest of this winter TIED TO THIS FUCKING COUCH Best. Line. Ever! ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/47 "2023-02-16T11:25:49Z")
I loved the move when I first saw it on HBO sometime in the early 80s. It still holds up as a truly scary horror film. Whenever I hear the word Sweden, I reply “They’re Norwegian Mac.” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/48 "2023-02-16T11:36:30Z")
It’s definitely in my Top 5 list of horror movies. One thing I love are the practical effects. I don’t care how good CGI is nowadays… practical effects that are well done will _always_ trump CGI, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/49 "2023-02-16T12:57:32Z")
Just when you think it’s perfect and can’t be beat, BAM! you remember Wilford Brimley is in it. I love to watch him. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/50 "2023-02-16T13:30:39Z")
I have seen the (1982) movie many times, but a couple weeks ago I watched it with my 31 yo. girlfriend and my children (ages 16 and 13), who all had never seen it, and are nowhere near the age group that watched the movie new, so no nostalgia was factored in. Everyone was impressed, and didn’t argue my point that I’ve always held this movie as a prime example of old-school special FX that still look great. “Computer-generated effects are usually cheesy and lame in comparison” was heard from the younger crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/51 "2023-02-16T14:34:44Z")
“Cheatin’ bitch” - MacReady playing Chess is the best line in the film. “I was wonderin’ when El Capitan was going to get a chance to use his popgun.” also good. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/52 "2023-02-16T15:09:42Z")
I tried to watch this again recently and couldn’t find it online. I think you can rent it on Amazon or something but I was looking to watch it from somewhere I was already paying for. There was a [prequel in 2011](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(2011_film)) and it was pretty decent. There didn’t seem to be any reason for it to actually exist but I thought the filmmakers did a good enough job with the property. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/53 "2023-02-16T16:44:20Z")
> [@Wolf333](#): > > Whenever I hear the word Sweden, I reply “They’re Norwegian Mac.” Ha! Whenever I hear the word “Swedes” or Sweden I always retort: “Crazy Swedes!” ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/54 "2023-02-16T18:42:57Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I tried to watch this again recently and couldn’t find it online. I think you can rent it on Amazon or something but I was looking to watch it from somewhere I was already paying for. > > There was a [prequel in 2011](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_(2011_film)) and it was pretty decent. There didn’t seem to be any reason for it to actually exist but I thought the filmmakers did a good enough job with the property. I thought the prequel was supposed to be closer to the original story, there’s always room for that. **The Thing** (1982) really should have been called **The Thing II**. I agree also the ‘prequel’ wasn’t great, but good enough. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/55 "2023-02-16T18:50:44Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > If you haven’t seen the 1942 original, directed by Jacques Tourneur, I recommend it. It is generally held up as the acme of subtle, unseen but vividly-imagined horror. Yes! I also recommend _The Curse of the Cat People_ which is kind of a sequel. Tourneur and Val Lewton were masters of that creepy unseen horor. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/56 "2023-02-16T20:24:37Z")
And Richard Dysart (later to be in L.A. Law) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/57 "2023-02-16T20:26:19Z")
And Childs. First he’s “Then we’re wrong.” about Mac. Then he’s “Which makes you a murderer.” Guess he just didn’t like Mac. (I think it was the sombrero.) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/58 "2023-02-16T20:27:57Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > And Childs. Played by Keith David, who is currently the voice of the President on _Rick and Morty_. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/59 "2023-02-16T20:32:18Z")
Holy crap! I never realized the guy who was Spawn and Goliath was Childs too! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840/60 "2023-02-16T20:55:34Z")
Donald Moffat was of course the corrupt US President in one of the Harrison Ford Tom Clancy films, _Clear and Present Danger_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-talk-about-the-thing/979840.md?page=4)